I love the chance to use a new pattern, and this one is no different! It’s my stop on the “Extraordinary Girl” pattern tour, and I get to review both the women’s and girl’s version of this pattern from Filles à Maman. This post is also a futile attempt to show you all 5 of the shirts I’ve made without over sharing and too many photos! (These shirts are addictive.)
Hang in through everything and there’s a list of blog tour stops for more inspiration, and a giveaway! {Disclaimer: I received these patterns as part of this blog tour. All opinions are my own, I wouldn’t have made 5 of these if I didn’t like the pattern! Thanks for reading.}
I love the name of this shirt. I thought it was strange at first, but when I wore it I thought about the name and it actually changed my mood, for the better. It seemed the perfect thing to put on my kids too. They are extraordinary in so many ways! I decided to focus on my youngest today, but I did make a fifth shirt for my oldest as well that you can kindoff see on Instagram (it’s behind the flowers).
I haven’t used a pattern from Filles à Maman before, and I was so happy to find it was well laid out and easy to follow. The instructions for the girl’s and women’s patterns are the same. By the 3rd shirt I got the time to make one (with a serger) down to 1 hour. I can’t complain about that – it included cutting time!
I did use my serger for every seam, except the black one I made for myself. That was the last one I made, and the seams are more precise so it fits much better than the green and gray one. I will likely use the sewing machine for each seam, then serge to finish my edges on my shirts in the future. The serger works just fine for the girls’ clothing, since the fit doesn’t need to be as exact.
Both patterns cover a wide range of sizes. The women’s pattern is sized XS to XXL. The girl’s comes in sizes 12 months through 14. All steps in both patterns are well illustrated and the instructions are very clear. If you have a good handle on sewing knits you will not have any trouble with this pattern.
The sizing is true to the measurements as well. My 4 1/2 year old daughter is wearing a size 5 with the sides graded out to a size 6 to better fit her frame. The length is a 6, since she wears a lot of leggings, I like longer shirts! My shirt is a size small with the sides graded out to a Medium through the waist to the hem, and I used the Large length – again with the long shirts! Though, I think we are long-waisted, so the extra length adds just enough extra to compensate. This shirt also has a slight high-low hem, super comfortable, and I love how it looks.
I managed to use only stashed fabrics and my shelves are a little bit more empty as a result – hooray! I finally got to use the castle scene knit I let my 3 year old pick out over a year ago. It arrived and was so bright I couldn’t bring myself to use it. Now that I have I wish I had made something with it sooner – the shirt turned out just right to match her happy personality! The gray and green in my shirt are solid jersey knit from Jo-Ann Fabric. The purple print is as well, it’s slightly sheer and works perfectly with a tank top underneath. I really like how the three-quarter sleeves turned out on that one.
Apparently, we were supposed to look serious in this photo. #whenkidstakeover
The Ann Kelle mermaid shirt was a bit of an experiment. Actually, I had totally different knits pulled out to make her second shirt – but I wanted to try something. Something that incorporated this sewing trend to add a bit of gold to everything! I decided to make the back and top yoke panel out of a woven fabric. And I used a stretchy gold fabric for the front and back neckband. SO much more fun that way! The green striped fabric is a woven I up-cycled from a large t-shirt.
Since the pattern calls for knits I was nervous that it wouldn’t fit, so I added 1 1/2″ to the centre back when I cut it out. Amazingly, and hooray, it worked. Though I would cut at least one size larger through the top of the shirt if I did it again. The shoulders really are too small because the woven fabric doesn’t stretch like a knit would.
Summary? Buy the pattern (it’s only on sale until Friday the 20th!). It’s great and I really like it a lot. I’ve already got another one waiting to be cut out. It’s purple, with bunnies – for my 7 year old , ’nuff said!
Find more inspiration from the other stops on the blog tour here:
The Extraordinary Girl Shirt Patterns are on sale during this blog tour – February 16-20. The Girl’s or Women’s Pattern is
$9.79$7.00, the Girl’s & Women’s bundled together is$19.58$13.00.
There are two prize bundles full of patterns for you to win! Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter, the giveaway is open until February 20, 2015.
| Bundle #1:• Filles a Maman 2 patterns winner’s choice • Sofilantjes – 1 pattern winner’s choice • Julie pattern by Muffin Head • AimeLea & Finn – 1 pattern winner’s choice • FABulous Home Sewn -1 pattern winner’s choice • Fancy Schmancy – 1 pattern winner’s choice • E+M Patterns – 1 pattern winner’s choice |
Bundle #2:• Filles a Maman 2 patterns winner’s choice • Sofilantjes – 1 pattern winner’s choice • Fancy Schmancy – 1 pattern winner’s choice • MCM Studio Designs – 1 pattern winner’s choice • MandyK Designs -1 pattern winner’s choice • Striped Swallow Designs – 1 pattern winner’s choice |
Love the lap shoulders (not sure that’s the official term!)- such a fun and different detail!
Thanks so much Sarah! They are super comfy and easy for dressing 🙂
Looks like some great projects materials: the patterns are terrific.
Thanks so much Molly! It really comes together quickly too 🙂 And fun to play with colour blocking!
Super cute sherri! Fantastic fabric too! Lailey would be all over wearing that! Mermaids…but not Ariel! My dream come true!
Yes Tara! It’s Ann Kelle’s fabric – so, so super cute! It’s available here: http://doubledeckerfabric.com/product-category/collections/girl-friends-collections/ along with princesses and ballerinas in the same style.
Looks really great! I love all of your fabric combos!
Thanks so much Ruth! I’ve been throwing caution to the wind a bit trying to de-stash and I have been amazed at how much fun it is and that they are thankfully working out ok!
I just died of cuteness overload!! 🙂 Love the picture, and the shirts are adorable. The castle scene knit is great!
Thanks so much Janette! I’m so happy with this pattern! 🙂 And the photoshoot was lots of fun!
Your shirts are wonderful and what a sweet girl!
Hooray Leanne! I’m so glad you like them. I agree – she’s very sweet 😉
I really need to dig some knits out of my stash! How heavy were the fabrics you used in these shirts?
Oooh, you’d love it Lisa! The green, black and gray are medium weight jersey. The purple is sheer – but not too lightweight either. The castle fabric is Lillestoff (http://www.simplififabric.com/collections/lillestoff/products/world-of-knights-by-lillestoff-organic-knit) – super nice to work with and the stretch recovery is great. Anything lightweight might be tricky to sew, but I’m sure it would work. The fit on both of my shirts is different because I used different fabrics on each. Hope that helps!
I may have to try this pattern.
Do it Donna! I think you’ll really like it 🙂
I hadn’t really looked at this pattern but now I feel very inspired. I love all of the tops you have shown us! You both look stunning and super comfortable!!
Hooray Elena, I’m glad you like them, and *blushing* thanks for the compliments! It comes together quickly and is so cute!
Hi Sherri, Thank a lot for being on this tour! Deborah has a 6th sense to find fabulous bloggers. I love what you did…5 times!! Your pictures are awesome, you daughter is adooorable and you are gorgeous too! Love!! <3
Hooray Mel! Thanks for coming over to take a look! I’m so glad you like them. I’ve got more in the works and I’ll let you know when they get posted – so many ideas for the colour blocked front yoke… LOVE your pattern. Thank you so much!
They look great! I have a bit of knit in my stash, this just might be the project for them.
Oooh. Reece – you should try it! I love the lapped neckline. Much simpler than the rounded ones, and so fast to make! I’d love to see what you could do with it.
Gorgeous clothes – and a gorgeous little model – love the fabrics you used too.
Pauline
Awwww…. thanks Pauline! I’m so glad you like them! I agree – gorgeous model! (Though I’m a tad biased!) We had an especially fun time taking photos too.
Love the tops! Great job, Sherri! Am planning to buy the mother-daughter combo of patterns tonight. Then, I’ll have a good excuse for shopping for some cute knits!
Hooray Amber! Sounds like a good reason to me! 🙂
You’ve made realy great shirts with this pattern!
Thanks so much Mirjam! They’re super comfy too!