Jalie 4014–Coco Bra

Racer Back View

Pattern: Jalie 4014 – Coco Bra

Date Sewn: Nov 2019. I was a tester for this pattern

My measurements at the time: Bust 39, Waist 32, Hip 47.5

Size used: Straight X

Alterations: None! Wahoo!

Fabric for Bra #1: Racer back view fabric was a thicker, brushed yoga knit with thicker navy cotton lycra. I used the yoga knit for all layers in front and it made the bra much too tight and compressing. The original pattern stated you could use main fabric for all layers, The released pattern no longer says this but to use swim lining or mesh.

The picture below was from November when I made the bra.  I have lost about 15lbs since then.  The band fit a lot better in this pic because I made it for those measurements. However, I can barely breathe in this picture, lol. My yoga knit, while amazing, is way too compressing and thick to be used as all layers.

Pants in above pictures are my Burda Style 11/2007 #122 Yoga pants I made back in 2017

 

Criss Cross View

Fabric for Bra #2: Criss Cross View I used a brushed yoga knit with blue athletic poly knit. I used swim lining for the inner 2 layers and it worked great. Much better fit. I would suggest something like mesh, swim lining, or a stretchier less compressing knit for the inside layers. This bra feels great. You can see the band is a little loose in these pictures because I lost weight since making it.

Thoughts: I love this bra! I love the style and the fit once I used the right fabrics. As I mentioned above, the first bra was too tight because I used the main fabric for all layers, which was just too much. After I used less thick of fabrics the bra fit great! The band fits perfectly (or it did when I first made it for my larger measurements). My 14yr old wanted to steal these after I sewed them up. I think I need to make her a couple now.

Inside of Criss Cross view on right with swim lining.

In RTW bras I am a D cup (32-34 D to be exact).  I do feel the first bra was more supportive if you were doing something like high impact aerobics or something that caused a lot of bouncing.  But I don’t do anything near that so I like the second bra better because it does support me and still allows me to breathe.  The shorts in these pictures are my Patterns For Pirates – Palazzo shorts I made in 2017 (the have some fit issues but I wear them nonstop. I am also a size bigger or so than when I made them).

I was going to wait and edit my photos to hide any lumps and bumps, but then I got to thinking, no. No I will not hide any imperfections.  I’m a real human and I will post real, unedited photos. I’ve had multiple stomach surgeries and pretty massive health issues. I can’t hide that fact so I will just let them be shown as is.

Jalie has now added a tutorial on their blog for sewing these.  You can find the racer back here and the criss cross here.

 

Thanks for reading!

Kristin

Sewing for guys ~ Greenstyle, Jalie, Ottobre

Since I’m trying to catch up on past makes I thought I would do a big post of things I’ve made for the guys in my life.  Both Mr. Sunny and Mr. T have had things made that just didn’t get to the blog.

Mr. T is 18 now and will be leaving me soon for college. I have mixed feelings about that!  Here are some of the things I forgot to blog about that I made him 2018 and 2014.

Greenstyle - Hampton shorts with Ottobre tank from 04/2015 #36

Date Sewn: 03/31/18

His measurements at the time: Chest 33, Waist 30, hip 38

Size Sewn: straight medium for the Hampton shorts. The Ottobre tank I used size 170.

Fabric: the softest double brushed poly.  Mr. T has issues with textures and these soft pjs are perfect for him. the cactus fabric is Ivory dbp from purple seamstress.  I paired it with the very light green dbp I got in a mystery fabric box from knitpop.  Then I designed and embroidered the cactus on the pocket.

Thoughts: What a fantastic pattern.  They both fit him perfectly. He still wears this set all the time for bed. I didn’t add pockets since they were for pjs so they were a fast sew. I probably should have made him more of these since he is constantly asking for them to be washed.

Jalie - Nico with the 3355 Hood

Date Sewn: 04/13/18

His measurements at the time: Chest 33, Waist 30, hip 38

Size Sewn: I cut a size V and added 1.5” to hem as T is long waisted and likes his hoodies long.

Fabric: both are cotton lycra’s from purple seamstress. The sleeves and hood are olive, the middle is light gray.

Thoughts: He loved this hoodie. I loved it. It was a win win. I tried to make it look like his favorite old navy hoodies. I even took the time to put in eyelets for the drawstring on the hood.

I kept trying to get a picture of him in the hoodie but at 16 he was just too busy.  It was super easy to add the 3355 hood. It fit without any modifications!

Jalie 3242 boxers from Aug 2014 – I don’t know how I never blogged these from 6 years ago, they are too cute to not share.

Size: Q (US 13). They fit him perfectly at the time. He has since long outgrown them but he did wear them often.  The pirate fabric is a soft cotton interlock, the blue is a cotton lycra.

My little guy had grown up to such a handsome dude. I am excited for him to experience young adulthood.

Mr. Sunny also had a few things sewn up for him that I haven’t posted.

Greenstyle – Hampton shorts

Date Sewn: 06/14/18

His measurements: Waist 42.5, hip 47.5

Size Sewn: XL – they fit him great but he could use a little more room in the hips, maybe 1/2”

Fabric: gray cotton lycra from purpleseamstress with charcoal gray cotton lycra also from purple seamstress.

Thoughts: This pattern is everything perfect in a pair of guy shorts. they are loose, longer, and have pockets.  I enjoyed sewing these up. Mr. Sunny loves them and wears them nonstop.  I added the fake adidas logo with my Silhouette Cameo. I definitely need to make more of these for him.

**update July 2026** These were my favorite shorts to EVER make Mr. Sunny and Mr. T.  These Adidas ones lasted Mr. Sunny EIGHT years and just this year, sadly had to go to the repurpose or bin as they are beyond faded and old (yes i did shed a tear). 

Jalie 3909 – Henri Joggers

Date Sewn: 02/08/19

His measurements: Waist 43, Hip 47, Inseam 34; he is 6’3” tall

Size Sewn: View A, Size FF

Alterations: Husband has a bit of a belly, so his “waist” measurement is usually way larger than his actual pants waist measurement. The pattern asked for 43.5 elastic for the waistband, but I know husband needs 39” elastic for his actual pants waist. I reduced the elastic to the 39”. I also used the sweatshirt fleece for the pockets – husband needs sturdy pockets for all his stuff, and I knew the jersey would bounce around too much for him.

Fabric: Ink Blue Sweatshirt Fleece; 100% cotton – has the required stretch. I purchased it in July 2015 for $6.50/yard from fashionfabricsclub.  I used 1.5 yards for these joggers so $9.75 total.  I used a mystery rib knit from my stash for the waist and cuffs, I wish it had more recovery. I think it might have rayon in it as it is soft.

Thoughts: I actually was a tester for these joggers.  They sewed up nicely.  The fabric behaved beautifully.  I was foolish and used a rayon type rib knit for the cuffs and waistband – which did not work nicely.  It is floppy, too stretchy, and doesn’t have any recovery.  Mr. Sunny likes the pants but hates the waist because of that fabric.  However, I used it because it was the only fabric that matched in color.  I will hack off the waist and put in cotton lycra for the band and he will be happy with them. Also, they are very low rise in the back, Mr. Sunny would like it a little higher like an inch or two and he feels the waist is really big. Which is due to the bad fabric choice on my part.

Jalie 3885– Gerald Boxers

Date Sewn: 12/23/19

His measurements: Waist 42.5, hip 47.5

Size Sewn: CC, I added 1” to the back rise, used 34” waist elastic and did the saxx hack

To make the flaps for the saxx hack I just took the fly piece and traced off about 1.5” wide starting at the side; cut two pieces and used fold over elastic to go down the non-seam side. I put the side flaps on top of the topmost flap when sewing it up, not under them.

I’ve made these twice before for him in Blue space dye with the longer length, and charcoal gray active fabric.

Fabric: Rugrats cotton lycra from JoAnn's that I purchased May 2019

Thoughts: They fit great, I am so close to perfecting the fit on this pattern for Mr. Sunny.  He just wants them higher in the back again by about an inch. He also told me that he doesn’t really like the saxx hack as much as he thought he would.

Now I am all caught up on the guys makes with my blog posting!

Thanks for reading!

Kristin

Catching up: 2 more patterns that didn’t make the cut

Pattern: Patterns for Pirates – Cocoon Cardigan

Date Sewn: sometime in 2017

My measurements at the time: 39 bust, 31 waist, 45 hip

Size used: L at bust/waist to XL at hip. I sewed the tunic length with hemmed sleeves and inseam pockets.

Fabric: a soft two tone red sweater knit, brushed on one side.  Very soft and nice fabric, I’m sad to see it not be worn.

Thoughts: All sorts of nope.  The fit of the cardigan is not good for a pear shape like me.  The bands flip out constantly and that drives me nuts.  I remember thinking that the bands were too short for the length of the cardigan and I struggled putting them on the curve with the measurements and marks given in the pattern.  The inseam pockets are not tied to anything so they flop around and they show beyond the bands when your hand is in them.  I really don’t like the shape of the cardigan on my body.  I won’t be making this pattern again.

 

Pattern: Patterns for Pirates – Sweet Tee

Date Sewn: sometime in 2017

Made before: plain black, teal floral, and another plain black

Size used: L for the bust/waist to XL at the hip. I sewed the Curved hem length, with long sleeve option.

My measurements at the time: 39 bust, 31 waist, 45 hip

Alterations: 1/2: square shoulder

Fabric: Crimson Red/Black Poly/Rayon/Lycra Heathered Jersey Knit, 1.5 yards purchased in May 2016 for $2.84 per yard with coupon from Fabricmart fabrics. It is almost sheer, very lightweight. Total $4.26

Thoughts: I have mixed thoughts.  I don’t like rayon spandex fabric – I’ve realized this over the years. This fabric is super light and feels more like rayon spandex than poly/rayon jersey.  I also don’t care for dolman sleeves, they feel weird.  I do like this pattern in double brushed poly so I guess its the fabric choice that made this one not work out - I don’t find it very flattering.

Thanks for reading!

Kristin

A perfect swim outfit: Jalie 3668 Valerie & Jalie 3462 Cora

Every summer Miss K is bored and to combat this we purchased a pool many years ago.  This year my skin is having a weird reaction from the sun (due to medication) and now I’m also having a reaction to sunscreens. I can't use regular sunscreens and now my zinc ones are bugging me.

This doesn’t matter to 14 year old Miss K, she still wants to go in the pool and she only has me to go in with her since Mr. Sunny works a lot and her brother Mr. T is now 18 and working a ton to save for college.  So I set out to make a rash guard and leggings in an effort to minimize how much skin shows to the sun or needs sunscreen.

Pattern: Jalie 3668 Valerie Rash Guard

Date Sewn: 06/08/20

My measurements at the time: 38.5 bust, 32 waist, 45.5 hip

Size used: W for the bust, Y for the waist, and AA for the hip

Alterations: only the grading between sizes

Instructions: typical Jalie instructions. I had no issues. The drawings are very clear in what needs to be sewn and the written instructions are too. This is a fast sew since it is essentially a raglan tee.

Fabric: Purple swim panel $4.25/yard that I purchased in July 2016 from Hancock’s going out of business sale – I’ve almost used all of this up; And Black Swim that I have no clue where or when I purchased.

What I want to change for next time: The sleeves are long. I need to take about an inch off because they bunch up at my wrist and that feels weird when I swim.  The top is short!  I need to add at least an inch if not 1.5 inches next time. When I made this pattern for Miss K last year she pointed out that it was short and wanted it longer; I should have remembered that when making mine.  I need to also move up one size in the bust/shoulder because it likes to ride up my shoulders there. You can see that I need a bit of a swayback adjustment in the back, too.

Thoughts: I really do love this top despite needing more adjustments.  It covers my arms and chest fully so no sun burning or sunscreen needed there. I love how fast it sewed up. I printed the copy shop file, traced it, cut out the fabric and sewed this up in 2 hrs - just in time to hit the pool that day.  It works good in the water. There is no added bra top under this so I wear a sports bra with it now. I need to make a swim bra top to wear underneath.

Pattern: Jalie 3462 Cora Leggings

Date Sewn: 05/25/20

My Measurements at the time: 32 waist, 46 hip

Size Used: straight CC, I sewed up View A

Alterations: added 1/8” to sides of calf for my large calves. I added 1/2" to back inner leg piece for full thigh and then I also added 1/2” to crotch gusset to match.  I added 3/8" to the front of the back piece for thighs - this sounds so weird but makes sense when you lay out those color blocked pieces.  I added 1/4” from crotch to knee on inner front piece edge and 3/4” from hip to knee on outer front piece edge.  I added 1/8” from knee to calf on all pieces too.  Basically my alterations are for large calves and thighs.

Instructions:  These leggings are a bit complex putting together. They aren’t hard, there are just a bit of steps because of all the color blocking.  I have to sew slow and very carefully when putting the butt part in because you are sewing into the curves there.  Otherwise these are easy enough.

Fabric: Purple swim panel $4.25/yard that I purchased in July 2016 from Hancock’s going out of business sale; And Black Swim that I have no clue where or when I purchased.

Thoughts and changes for next time: At first the front seam bothered me – it twists around the front of the leg from calf to ankle. But now after wearing them many times, I’m used to it.  I do need 1/2” to 3/4” more room at the back rise due to my rear - you can see in the back view above that my waistband dips down at center back.

I think these are awesome. I love the design. I love the fit. They feel amazing in the water.  They fully cover my legs so no sunscreen needed there.  I made Cora's last year but in the shorts version and I wasn’t very happy with them.  I have to say the pants version really steals the show.  There is no inner swim brief in these because this is a leggings pattern, not a swim pattern.  But I just wear swim briefs under them.  I can’t wait to make this pattern up again! It is a real winner!!

Thanks for reading!

Kristin