The French Market Shorts Pattern for Women ~by Seamingly Smitten~ Pattern Review

I had a plan all laid out in my mind for this pattern review....it was going to be THE BEST pattern review that I had submitted to date.....I mean, hey....I have two whole weeks to get it done...the pattern looked easy...the fabric and notions were already in my studio....what could happen to get this chick side tracked from submitting the MOTHER of all pattern reviews.....

Well...what could happen...did happen!!! But that's life....and the girls and I have learned very well the last two years that we gotta roll with the punches....whatever life throws our way...we keep on trucking!!!

My original plan was to sew up a pair of these shorts for both myself AND my oldest daughter.....we were going to do a mommy daughter photo shoot with our hot little shorts....we were going to have a blast...

Then we found out that our local preforming arts center was holding auditions for Hansel and Gretel which was being put on by The Missoula Children's Theater and they both HAD to audition....and wouldn't ya know....they both got parts! I had one Walleybird, one New Camper, and a whirlwind week of back and forth to practice...late nights and early mornings....rehersing lines....costumes....dinner packing....school....homework....and the list goes on...but it was worth it to see my baby girls on the big stage! Their first play that they actually had to audition for....and they nailed it!

So...the French Market Shorts got put on the back burner for the first week...

Second week....that's plenty of time....sure...it's plenty of time unless you and every single person in your house hold is sick and you spend the week trying to get everyone well only to come down with the same crappy crap crap they had....oh well....I did find and awesome chicken noodle soup recipe that is THE BOMB...so something good came out of all this nasty sickness....yummo soup!!!

So now we are down to the wire....and if I am to be honest...I could have whipped up two pairs of these shorts in no time flat! This is a GREAT pattern....fast and great for a beginner sewist but fun for experienced sewists as well!!!

But since I am still recovering from this nastiness that seems to be going around....my eyes are puffy...my nose and upper lip are so red there isn't enough concealer to cover it up....my skin is dry and flakey....and lets face it....I am not a professional photographer nor am I a master of editing so this sick mamma stayed behind the camera and I let my kiddo strut her stuff....and boy did she love love love these shorts!!!

I know you are probably thinking...."shorts....it's too late in the season for shorts"....but it's not!!!! It's NEVER to late for shorts!!! Now I have to admit....with the heat index, it was well over 100 degrees last night when I took these pictures....and the mosquitos were ruthless...and the sweat was dripping....but we got it done...we were able to pull off a fun fall trend in the over 100 degree heat!!! Of course there was plenty of whining.....a few tears....and maybe I made a few promises of a $1.99 happy meal from McDonalds....but we got it done!!!

How cute would these be in a light weight wool with tights and a sweater and BOOTS!!!! We love love love boots!!!!

This pattern is expertly written! It was so easy to follow with enough detail for beginners but not so much detail that someone who's been sewing for any length of time gets annoyed by it! (hee hee hee)

The pages were numbered.....the pattern was color coordinated by size which for me it a HUGE bonus....for some reason my brain does not like to process black dots of different sizes so I really love the color!!! Of course this is always a personal preference!

The size range is GREAT! XS to XXXL so you really get your bang for your buck! My 9 year old is TALL...with a booty (that's an attribute that I passed along to her...we do have some junk in our trunks!)....so she is wearing womens' clothing...and I love this pattern not only for the sizing but for the fact that there are 3 different inseams (4 inches, 6 inches, and 8 inches) and hem lengths for petite, tall, and regular! You can really custom fit these shorts. I get to have short shorts and I can use the same pattern for miss fancy pants for school shorts! Woo hoo!!! (doesn't she look like she is about to murder me in this picture?!?!?!)

I also have to admit....now this is a shocker....this is my very first adult pattern! And now I'm hooked on making stuff for my oldest and myself....I really am still going to make a pair of these for me so her and I can still do our photo shoot together! 

The fit on there are spot on! The instructions include a table with measurements for the different sizes as well as a chart for the approximate yardage that you will need!

There is really nothing bad I can say about this pattern! I see lots of these French Market shorts in our future...for the little and for me!!!

Well written pattern, plenty of detail, great fit, easy and fast sew (I seriously finished these in just a little over an hour from printing the pattern to hemming them up and I was hopped up on some cold meds to boot!) and these can seriously be worn close to year round!!! This is going to be a staple to your wardrobe!!! 

Now go out and get this pattern and do a little self sewing...of course if your house is like my house you might have to make more than one pair for the other divas in your household!!! 

We love our French Market Shorts!!!

XOXOXOX

Rebecca

The Breeann Top by Modkid Patterns Review

It's been a hot minute since I have been able to blog....life is finally (and I hope I am right when I say this) getting back on track, so hopefully blogging will become a more frequent occurrence at Avalyn Apparel!

So....since life is getting back on track I decided it was high time for me to get another pattern review under my belt! I love being able to review patterns....not only do I get to add a new pattern to the collection, I often times get the opportunity to delve into the unknown...to create from pattern designers that I have never used before....

This pattern review was a special treat for us here at Avalyn Apparel! This was our first time reviewing a pattern in tween sizes and to say it was a hit would be THE understatement of the year! My oldest, who is only 8 but wears a size 16 in girls because she is awesomely tall, fell in love with this design as soon as she laid eyes on it! Not only was I FINALLY going to make her something....it was something that she adored....she's actually wearing it to school tomorrow!!! (This makes my heart so happy!)

Before I get into the review I want to first say...please excuse our pictures....it was sweltering hot outside....we were melting the moment we stepped out....not only was it hot...we were targeted by a million mosquitoes...I swear we both had at least ten bites within the first few minutes....it's like every mosquito in a ten mile radius decided to have dinner on us...literally! What came to mind while shooting these pictures was that commercial where all of the mosquitoes form up into an arrow...ready...aim...fire....too bad we didn't have one of those super awesome repellent thingys hooked to us to repel those buggers away!!! Anyone else ready for fall???

Enough jibber jabber....on to the review!

This review is for the Breeann top from Modkid designed by Patty Young.  This pattern is for a hooded knit top that has a cute kangaroo pocket, a super cute hood, and two different sleeve options...(who doesn't love options)....we went for the more fitted sleeve look...the next one I make (and yes...I see MANY of these in the near future) will have the flutter sleeves! I think it will be PERFECT for cooler weather with a long sleeve shirt under it! Versatility is my middle name...ok...it isn't but it should have been! Anything to make life easier...right?!?!?!?

This pattern is for knits. Are you scared of sewing with knits? Don't worry, I think most people are when they first start venturing out of the norm of wovens but Patty makes it SO easy!!! Because of all of the added information that is included in this pattern it is suitable for a beginner! Anyone who knows how to use a sewing machine and knows the basic functions of it and can read will be able to complete this pattern with ease!

Patty includes many things that so many other patterns that call for knits do not include which leaves you running to your computer to google or you tube the many questions that can come up when sewing with knits! Patty includes a section titled "Things To Know Before Sewing With Knits" which is very helpful to for people who are not very knowledgeable when it comes to the different types of knits. There is also an entire page of the instructions that is dedicated to different types of hemming options for knits which is great for sewists that do not have a serger!

Things that I loved about this pattern....what didn't I love about it?!?!?! This pattern was by far the easiest to print and tape together that I have ever used! Everything lined up perfectly...there was no guessing or trimming or having to be McGyver and figure out how to get all the pieces to line up as they should!

I loved that the instructions were detailed and to the point. Sometimes instructions get so chatty that it makes trying to get through a pattern way more time consuming than it should be! I have had instructions before where I get to reading them and forget that I am sitting at my sewing machine to sew...seriously....as funny as some of the commentary can be....it is often distracting.

I love that the pages are numbered! As simple and maybe even as silly as that sounds, it is a blessing to see that little number at the bottom of the page....it's like a wave of relief rushes over me when I spy with my little eye that number!

I love and I mean I REALLY love that each pattern piece states the designer, how many to cut, the code for the size cutting guide, the seam allowance and the direction of the stretch (so important in knit patterns)!!!

I loved that Patty also included where to cut notches on the actual pattern pieces. It makes it SO easy to get everything lined up...takes the measuring or guess work out of getting everything lined up perfectly! I have used many different patterns from many different designers and very few include this on the pattern pieces! I don't know Patty, but I LOVE her for this!!!!

It was an added bonus that this pattern includes a size chart which not only includes US sizing but European sizing as well!!!

There is only one thing that I would recommend and that would be to color code those marvelous dotted size lines on the pattern pieces....I print all patterns in color and it is so much easier to follow a dotted line in a specific color as opposed to different sized dotted lines all in black. This one tiny minor detail will not in any way shape or form deter me from buying any Modkid patterns....after this one I am HOOKED!

So a little recap! Patty Young is amazing! 

This pattern is well written and designed!

It is a quick and easy sew for even the novice of sewists! This took me about an hour and a half start to finish....printing, cutting, taping, and constructing the actual top. Very easy to accomplish during nap time for those of you who are lucky enough to have little ones that nap or after they go to bed in the evening.

It is trendy and perfect for your tween....because anyone who has a tween knows how hard it is to find trendy things in a store....seriously....if I would have worn stuff they have in stores today when I was a tween my parents would have probably been arrested!

We here at Avalyn Apparel love this design and we are now super fans of Modkid! We plan on making many more of these...I am actually hoping to have it be my daughters first sewing product! How fun would it be for the first thing that she sews is something as awesome as this!!!

I hope that you have had a wonderful hump day!!! Be on the look out, I have another review coming up next week....all I can say is swoon!!!!

xoxoxo

~Rebecca~