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Practical PDF Sewing Patterns

in Blogs by Jess· Christmas Sewing· Sneak Peek Stocking Leave a Comment

Make your own Christmas stocking

I’m not sure if you agree or not, but this year has been the longest year ever, but also the shortest year ever, and just like that, Christmas is on our doorsteps! Christmas is my favourite time of year, and I love decorating my apartment and turning it into my own little Christmas wonderland.  

Christmas stockings are a great decoration for the home, and are also super practical for storing gifts. Christmas stockings themselves can also make great gifts to loved ones. Each year I like to think about handmade gifts that I can buy for my team members at work, as well as my friends and family. Our Sneak Peek Stocking is perfect decor for your home, and a perfect Christmas gift to give. 

The Sneak Peek Stocking pattern is suitable for beginners and as the name suggests, has a super cute sneak peek feature on the front of the stocking. The sneak peek feature makes it perfect for stuffing with all sorts of Christmas goodies like candy canes, chocolates, soaps, candles and of course, toys. Our PDF patterns are so easy to follow, and come with so many hints and tips for creation. If you haven’t used PDF patterns before, we have a number of great blog posts to help get you started. If you’ve never used PDF patterns before, we’ve provided all the benefits that PDF patterns have over traditional patterns in this post. If you’re familiar with PDF patterns but not super confident using them, we have developed a step-by-step guide just for you.   

You aren’t limited to using Christmas themed fabric or even Christmas colours when sewing these stockings. If your little one loves Frozen (let’s be real, they all love Frozen) Spotlight Australia have a variety of your children’s favourite characters on wonderful fabric designs. A themed and personalised stocking could make your little ones Christmas that much more magical. 

Here at Flosstyle we love creating and receiving handmade gifts. When you create something yourself, you know exactly what it’s made from. This means you can ensure it’s safe for your little one’s allergies and sensitive skin. Handmade gifts are unique and personal. Even if you make five different Sneak Peek Stockings, they will all look totally different and unique when using different fabrics. Handmade presents can be easily be personalised. Now I know this sounds a bit cringey, but handmade gifts are truly made with love. When you put your time, thoughts and energy into a gift for someone, the end product shows. 

It isn’t all about the recipient: making the gift is a fun and creative activity for you too. Creativity has all sorts of benefits, but sewing in particular has been proven to improve your overall physical and mental well-being. 

Handmade gifts are great for the people in your life that have it all. They’re also good for picky people, because you can ensure it’s customised to their liking and preferences. Another bonus, handmade gifts can help you use up your leftover fabric stash. Depending on the materials you use, handmade gifts can sometimes save you money but this isn’t always the case. 

If you’re stuck for ideas for Christmas presents, or wanted to have your own perfectly customised stockings hanging up in your home, give our Sneak Peek Stocking a go for Christmas this year! 

Happy sewing!

Jess 

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in Alice's Tea Set· Babys First Toys· Blogs by Jess· Flosstyle Patterns· Play Away Leave a Comment

Making Children’s Toys for Christmas Gifts

Are you stuck on Christmas gift ideas for your little ones? Or maybe your friends’ little ones? If you like giving unique gifts that are made with extra love and care, be sure to check out our shop and see the variety of PDF patterns that we have in store. We don’t just sell patterns for making clothes and accessories, we sell patterns to make your own TOYS. That’s right… this Christmas you can be one of Santa’s elves and make your own Christmas toys!

Handmade gifts are super thoughtful, and not easily forgotten by the recipient. This year for Christmas, we challenge you to make toys for the children in your life. One of the major benefits in making your own toys, is that you know EXACTLY what they are made from: this is particularly important for the young ones with allergies and sensitive skin.  

The Babies First Toy Set pattern comes with six different patterns and is suitable for adventurous beginners. With this set, you can create a balloon ball, a mini ball, and 4 different types of soft animals. Balloon balls are great for indoor play with your little one. You can think of a balloon ball like a cover for a regular party balloon that you can play with safely indoors. When the balloon deflates it will be stored safely inside the ball, away from your little ones hands and mouths for ultimate safety. The mini ball and soft animals are sized with your little one in mind, and are super cute. The patter contains a seahorse, dinosaur, elephant and giraffe for you to create. We recommend using different textured fabrics to make play time even more fun with your children. 

The next set of toy patterns we have in our shop is suited to advanced sewers, it’s the Alice’s Tea Set pattern. This set comes with three different patterns for a teapot, a teacup and a saucer: everything you need for a tea party. This pattern is my absolute favourite toy pattern: it’s so adorable!    

This next item is one that the parents will love: the Play Away pattern. The Play Away is an adorable little toy storage bag that folds out into a play mat that your little one can take with them when you go out to appointments and need to keep them occupied. Suitable for beginner sewers and designed for little laps and little toys. 

We hope this post has inspired you to get creative and consider making your own toys this year like one of Santa’s elves. You could even get your children involved to help you make these items as a way to spend quality time together as a family. 

If you make any of the above toy designs, please tag us in a photo of them so we can share your creation with the rest of the Flosstyle Family! 

Happy sewing!

Jess 

Have a picture you want to share or want to be inspired? Make sure to follow our instagram page

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in Artiste· Blogs by Jess· Boutique and Hybrid Bibs· Flosstyle Patterns· Star Shorts· Ventura Lite· Zoo Leave a Comment

Making Christmas clothing for your children

Making clothes for your children is great because you can get them involved in the process. Your little ones can choose the fabric they want and share any other design ideas that they have with you. Have you ever had the perfect article of clothing for your little one in mind but not been able to find it in store? Why not use our PDF patterns to make it yourself. You can also use sewing your own children’s clothing as an opportunity to teach your children to learn how to sew too. I remember when I was little my mum would make all my clothes for me and get me involved in the process. When I was old enough to use a sewing machine, we went through the whole process of sewing a dress together., including picking out the pattern and choosing the fabric and even the zipper! It’s one of the best memories I have with my mum and it taught me a useful creative life skill. Creative activities are a great way for your family to spend quality time together.

Making clothes for your children won’t just make them happy, it will make you happy too! Sewing has been proven to improve your mood, mental health and overall wellbeing. Our shop has a variety of PDF patterns to choose from to get you started creating your own children’s clothing. If you’re not familiar with PDF patterns, read our blog post outlining all the benefits of PDF patterns over traditional sewing patterns. 

Handmade articles of clothing are unique and one of a kind. Even if you use the same dress pattern multiple times, each item will be different and unique. Handmade clothing items aren’t just for your children, but they can be made for gifts for the other children in your life, like your nieces, nephews, and children of friends. 

Below I’ve curated my top six flosstyle PDF patterns to download for Christmas clothing creations: whether they be for yourself or for gifts! If you haven’t used PDF patterns before, give our how-to guide a read and you’ll be an expert in no time.

Bibs 

Boutique Bib and Hybrid Bib pattern duo is a perfect and simple gift idea for newborns up to toddlers. Both bibs are adjustable to grow as the child grows. This pattern is suitable for beginners and is quick and easy to whip up. To make the bib extra special, we have a free how-to guide for inverted applique without using any glue or leaving the design with zigzag edges: just neat lines. 

Dresses

Why not make a dress for the little cuties in your life? The Artiste Dresses Set pattern set comes with three interchangeable patterns for advanced beginners. 

Skirts

Six skirt patterns for six dollars – how good is that? The Milkshake Skirts pattern set is suitable for beginners and will you keep you busy creating all sorts of adorable skirts for the little ones in your life. 

Tees 

There is nothing better than a plain tee. The Ventura Lite pattern is perfect for your little ones t -shirt needs. 

Shorts 

The Star Shorts pattern set contains five different shorts patterns for boys and girls. Shorts are great for everyday wear and for playtime at the park and in the backyard. 

And everything else

If you can’t decide on the above, then the Zoo Collection pattern set is for you. The Zoo pattern is basically a magical pattern that will enable you to make rompers, tee’s dresses and even swimmers! The patterns contained in the Zoo collection range in ability levels from beginner to intermediate. 

We hope this post has inspired you to get creative this festive season. If you use any of the above patterns to create Christmas goodies, please be sure to tag us in a picture of them and we will repost it on our page! 

Happy sewing!

Jess 

Have a picture you want to share or want to be inspired? Make sure to follow our instagram page

Don’t forget to join the facebook group for advice from experienced sewers

Pin our gorgeous designs on Pinterest

in Arts and Crafts· Beginners· Behind the scenes· Guest Blog Post· Sewing Leave a Comment

That time I tested the W-Under Woman cloth pad pattern

The weather outside is frightful (hmmm, kinda), but the fire is so delightful (yeah, no, definitely not fire weather this side of the equator), and since we’ve no place to go (thanks corona), let us sew let us sew let us sew 🧵

What better way to get into the swing of celebrating the festive season than with some uber festive cloth pads (the red dawn doesn’t care what season it is so might as well be prepared) :b

Pretty much started out like any other testing pattern day…send file to the Husbander for him to print; instructions gets printed; Husbander gives me the printouts; put printouts down somewhere; survey fabric options; decide that I’m ready to begin; struggle to remember where printouts are; hunt entire house for printouts; find printouts; start reading through printouts; realize it’s missing the pattern pieces; ask Husbander to print pattern pieces; pattern pieces printed; move sewing projects, random toys & other things that have now magically appeared in the 10minutes I was away from my sewing space; take a deep breath, ok I think we’re ready.

I took the instruction’s advice (make sure to read through the instructions more than once) & measured (more like eyeballed) one of my current cloth pads so that the ones I’m making can be similar in size (plus it gives me a visual for construction). After umming & aaahing for a bit I settled on the 2.75” pattern pieces at a 10”inch length, & I’ll be attempting the 3 different core options (exposed, visible, & hidden), because I like being extra like that.

Cut out pattern pieces, added tape, making sure everything has been connected with the precision of advanced OCD…easy peesy lemon squeezy. 

Cotton woven top, bamboo/cotton fleecy fabrics underneath

Delve into the depths of my fabric containers for suitable fabrics, message your sewing person to double check you’re using the correct fabrics, delve back into the depths because that piece of fleece you spotted before will come in handy & let the cutting begin! 

Honestly out of the whole process I think the cutting & tracing was the most difficult part (thank goodness) although truth be told I’m probably using the wrong thread, most definitely the wrong needle, the fabric is also questionable, but honestly I’m ploughing through a lot of fears here & it actually feels great so might as well give all the different stitches a try (I don’t think I’ve ever used an overcast stitch…where have you been all my life!!! And it actually came out looking pretty good). 

So after all the stressing & worrying about making mistakes, wondering if they’ll look any good, hoping my machine doesn’t give me a mini heart attack when a needle breaks (no needles were harmed in the making of these cloth pads- hooray! Don’t forget channeling stitches & pressing seams are your friends) I think these came out pretty marvelous & best of all, no-one died! Can’t wait to give these festivenessnessnessnesses a try. Hope you’ll attempt them too!

Happy Sewing!

V

Not too shabby