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Free Pattern, Make It Perfect

.A FREE PATTERN:: 2-in-1 Shorts.

I’ve got a free download pattern to share with you today! This one is a favourite pattern from my book, 2-IN-1 SHORTS.
I’m the queen of “to-do” lists…in fact, I’ve got lists for all of the different areas of my life and my Make It Perfect to-do list is very long and full of great ideas that I will hopefully get to one of these days! Releasing this pattern for my 2-in-1 Shorts has been on the to-do list for a long time. It’s such a basic, beginner-friendly and achievable sew that I wanted to make it available for everyone to use.
We are in the middle of Winter, and it has recently started snowing on the mountains, so it does seem a very inappropriate time to release a shorts pattern (let alone send the kids outside in shorts and a tshirt to take photos!) so let me explain…if you haven’t already heard, the Shorts on the Line sewalong is in full swing at the moment and I was happy to be invited to participate as a guest blogger, it only seemed fitting for me to tick this project off my to-do list and release the pattern now! So, all you peeps in the Northern Hemisphere can enjoy some shorts wearing now, while we wait another couple of months for the weather to turn!

So, about the pattern…2-in-1 Shorts is a really basic shorts pattern with an easy to sew elastic waistband. The shorts are completely reversible, I’ve got to admit I’m a lover of reversible clothes for kids for a couple of reasons. Firstly, reversible means two layers of fabric which means double the strength!! My kids have worn holes through so many pairs of their single layer shorts (and not in the seams, but actually ripped the fabric!) but their reversible shorts don’t seem to wear out as quickly because they are extra sturdy. Secondly, you don’t have to worry about finishing any raw edges as they are all enclosed within the two layers of fabric, making the project so much faster to sew. And thirdly, you can mix and match two different fabrics to your hearts content! And they don’t actually have to match either, if you don’t roll up the hem of the shorts then you can’t see the opposite fabric anyway! Win!!

These shorts are all about comfort and practicality, but a great blank canvas for you to customise to your heart’s content…add extra pockets, some applique, colour blocking, fancy trims, what ever tickles your fancy!

The pattern includes instructions for back pockets, which look really cute, but they are optional.

The free download 2-in-1 Shorts pattern is avaliable here in sizes 0-5. Sewing shorts for kids is such a great stash-buster project, so go dig in the fabric stash, find some fabric you want to use up and get sewing! You’ll have these finished in less than an hour!

 

SUPPLIES:
Make It Perfect, 2-in-1 Shorts free pattern
Andover chambray in denim blue
Monaluna, Happy Summer for Birch Organics
Lightweight star denim from Spotlight
Kaffe Fassett shot cotton

This post is part of the Shorts on the Line sewalong.  Shorts on the Line 2014 is sponsored by: Britex Fabrics, Hawthorne Threads, miss matatabi, and Soak Wash.  Hosted by imagine gnats, small + friendly, and Kollabora.

August 4, 2014
Kids Stuff

.Morning Routine Charts.

Our Morning Routine Charts are a lifesaver on school mornings. We have been using them for a whole school term now and have really turned into a part of our everyday routine. I love that I don’t have to ask or remind the kids to get ready and organised in the morning over and over again. The know that as soon as they get up in the morning they have to go to their chart and start ticking everything off. Once they have got all of their ticks for the morning, they are allowed to watch a little bit of TV, but it has to be turned off at 8am so there is even more incentive for them to get ready quickly!

Letting them watch a little bit of TV in the morning is working for now, later on I might mix it up a bit and let them have a lunch order at the end of the week if they get all of their ticks or take them for a milkshake after school on Friday or something like that.

After the initial posting of our Morning Routine Charts I had lots of requests for people to be able to download these for themselves. We have just finished school holidays, and none of us were looking forward to getting up and organised early this morning (although, the pay off for a quiet, clean house right now is feeling kind of worth it!) however, the kids jumped straight back into their charts this morning and it was nice not to have to remind them to do simple things like brushing their teeth or having breakfast!

So, if you want to instill a bit of calm into the busy school mornings, I suggest you choose a chart or two (I’ve given you six to choose from so that everyone can have their own colour), print it off and get ticking! I laminated ours and have stuck them to the pantry door. We keep a jar of whiteboard markers on the bench nearby that are used for the ticking and simply wipe them clean at the end of each week!

Here’s to happy, organised homes!
(Download links below images)
Morning Routine Chart 1
Morning Routine Chart 2
Morning Routine Chart 3
Morning Routine Chart 4
Morning Routine Chart 5
Morning Routine Chart 6
May 5, 2014
Free Pattern, Make It Perfect

.Mini Messenger: a free pattern.

 

Good morning friends! I’ve got a brand new FREE pattern to share with you today in conjunction with Sarah Jane’s new fabric release and blog tour for Wee Wander. This fabric is absolutely to die for, I know that people are going crazy for it and it is by far my favourite collection Sarah Jane has produced. You can view the full range here.

 MINI MESSENGER
This little satchel bag came about because I got tired of carrying SO MUCH stuff in my bag every time we left the house! As well as the usual drink bottles and snacks, I’d end up with books, pencils, little toys and other treasures to cart around and I decided enough was enough! My kids are big enough to carry their own stuff now but they needed something practical to carry it around in.

Mini Messenger is an ideal size for kids. My kids in particular are crazy about sketch books at the moment, if they have a sketch book and a handful of pencils then they are happy. I usually buy them the A5 size as they are more portable so I designed this bag to fit A5 size. The finished bag measures 7″x10″.

 

I’ve used two coordinating prints for my bag, but you can use more or less depending on what you would like the finished bag to look like. It is a really quick and easy sew, especially when you use the webbing for the strap instead of having to make your own strap out of fabric.

 
As well as being a great bag for your own kids to help you lighten your load, the Mini Messenger makes a fantastic gift to give to little friends. Fill it with a couple of treats and you’re set! And I do suggest you use some Wee Wander fabric for your Mini Messenger – it’s gorgeous!
The Mini Messenger pattern is avaliable over at the Make It Perfect website as a free PDF download.
As always, I love to see what you make with my patterns so feel free to send me some pictures or add them to the Make It Perfect Flickr group!
 
 
March 25, 2014
30 Minute Skirt, Free Pattern, Make It Perfect

.30-Minute Skirt – a FREE pattern!.

It’s time to share some love at Make It Perfect today – I’ve got a FREEBIE pattern for you 🙂
 
30-MINUTE SKIRT
 
This skirt is my absolute favourite at the moment…stretchy, comfortable, versatile and it only takes 30 MINUTES to make – that’s from the time you cut the fabric ’till you’ve sewn up the hem.  Brilliant!
 
 
 

If you’re not too confident sewing with knits, let this be the pattern you start on!  With just two pieces to cut, two seams to join and a length of elastic to sew around the top – there’s nothing daunting about this project.

 
 
 

And to make things even easier for you, I’ve written the pattern in loads of detail with step-by-step photographs and lots of information about sewing with knits.  It’s available over at my website as a free PDF download.

I hope you have lots of fun sewing 30-Minute Skirts!  Please pop by and share your creations in my Flickr group or send me an email – I love to see your work 🙂

 

 

June 27, 2012
Free Pattern, Make It Perfect

.Sleepy Bunny Applique.

I was cleaning out boxes of clothes the kids have grown out of over the weekend and came across this cute little top that Lil used to wear.  With Easter just around the corner, I thought I’d make another for her – and while I was at it, have put together a copy of the pattern for you to download and use yourselves!  

You could use it as a quick and easy Easter gift or maybe even applique it onto a little apron or Easter bag.  Or if you don’t get around to using it for Easter, it’s wearable all year ’round!

 

I appliqued the fabric pieces using vliseofix and a narrow zig-zag stitch on my sewing machine.  The mouth and eyes were backstitched by hand using 6 strands of embroidery thread. 

Enjoy!  And be sure to share your creations with me in my Flickr group.

April 2, 2012