The Pop-Top a FREE PDF Baby Pattern

Madquilter's Baby Pattern

The Pop-Top
FREE PDF Pattern


This is the simplest little baby pattern.
It's just two pieces back and front.
It's lined so the seams are all enclosed and don't need finishing.
It is simply fastened with either snaps or buttons
It can be made reversible by using snaps.

I desgined this for my new baby, who is only 5 weeks away!
As Baby is due in mid summer I wanted something nice and cool.
Most of my bubs have lived in singlets and nappies in the summer.
I think this will be a nice cool alternative.

The pattern was drafted from a New born size Basic block.

Down load and print the PATTERN
There are only two pieces and a guide for the car Applique is included.

Requirements
half a meter of 110cm fabric is plenty, this will give you outer and lining.
You can use two fat quarters.
Snaps and Press or four buttons.

Cutting

Cut 2 of front on fold
Cut 2 of back on fold.

SEWING

Place the two fronts right side together and sew around the edge leaving an opening for turning.
Now do the same for the back.


Trim and clip all the way around or do as I did and use some pinking shears.
Turn the front and back to the right side through the gaps left.
Using your fingers, roll the edges out and press both the back and the front.
Tuck the opening in and press.


Now top stitch all the way around closing the opening as you go.
Apply the snaps or buttons and button holes as indicated on the pattern sheet.


Button holes are on the front of the top, buttons on the back.
The photo above shows the buttons and buttonhole version.


Fasten the snaps or buttons to join the two pieces together.
And you are finished!

If you like you can add some Applique or other embellishment.


The pattern fits nicely on two fat quarters, handy if you want to reduce that fabric stash.

This is the fit on a Baby Born Doll, which is smaller than a Newborn



COPYRIGHT
It's ok to make these for sale
It's ok to share the pattern
please don't post the pattern on your site or anywhere else.
Please link to this blog post.
Don't sell the pattern
Don't claim it as yours.
All drafts and blocks have been kept by me to confirm this is an original pattern of mine.

It's my birthday!!

Am I a grown up yet?
I'm 43!

I'm not too old to still have babies.
I'm too young for a seniors card.
I no longer have my ID checked to get into the pub.
I'm a mum!
I still feel like a kid at times.
I still make mistakes.
I still have so much to learn.
And most of the time I love who I am.

I'm loving my 40's
I'm more confident.
A lot grayer.
I even love my wrinkles, they show how often I laugh and smile.

I thought my 30's were the best but the 40's are!
Does each decade just keep getting better?

I was treated like a queen this morning.
I woke with Michael all snuggled up to me, reminding me he is still a baby and now about to be a big brother.
The baby inside was having a boot maybe already aware of the competition snuggling in.
Breakfast in bed.
My children all there singing happy birthday and presenting me with handmade cards.
They were so excited.
Michael helped me open my presents.
Peter had wrapped them beautiful in Dora the Explore gift wrap, which the kids watched close to make sure I didn't tear!


A beautiful silver pendant.
There are matching earings too.
I'd admired them months ago in the Jewelers' window
I love the curve of the cross, reminds me of my own rather 'curvy' faith!


Some knitting magazines for me to read as I sipped my morning tea in bed.


A book I have drooled over for so long.
But could never bring myself to buy as it was very expensive.
This really is a fabulous book full of how to's and tips.


And FABRIC!
12 beautiful fat quarters.

I know I am spoiled, as well as loved!
And as always there was a card all the way from England from my Aunt Janet. She never forgets. I always get a bit teary when it turns up. She's never forgotten the kids birthdays either, even when there are 6 of them!
Thank you Janet!

Off the needles ..

I've not blogged any of my knitting for ages and it's been mounting up.


A crochet baby cocoon.
Crocheted in a polyester chenille type yarn
It worked up very quickly on a large hook.
Worked from the bottom up, it only took an evening to make.
Not sure it will get any use if we get another heat wave.
I used this pattern here, well I started with that pattern lost count of where I was and just made the rest up!

And this set is knitted in a 10ply
The Jacket is the 5 hour baby sweater and it was about 5 hours to knit if you don't include the breaks to feed children and eat.
Pattern Here

The booties were really easy too, not sure if they are practical but I'll soon get to test them out. Or maybe not if it heats up again!
Pattern Here

The soaker is made up.
I can knit soakers in my sleep these days and I normally just stocking stitch the lot and graft. This time I changed to a rib then grafted.

The hat pattern came from a book it was supposed to have pompoms but I sux at pompom making so I put tassels on instead

And this is a baby poncho.
knitted in Powder Puff ( I hate this yarn to knit with)
I did start with a pattern but it was in the flat and annoyed me so I undid it all and cast on in the round and made it up as I went.

And another baby Cocoon
Yarn: Moda Vera Shiver (super bulky)
Needles: 10mm! so huge
I did start this one with a pattern too.
But once again couldn't keep to it!
Undid it and this time worked it in a rib, I thought this might be more snug.

I'm inspired by Shannon here :) Shannon recently put up a list of all her finished knits. And Shannon had done the 5 hour baby Sweater too! and we have the same taste in pillowcases!

I was also been visiting Tracey's Store TBCards. And she has some baby cocoons for sale. In 8ply wools they look great!

Anyone used a cocoon? Are they useful?

Originality, design, creativity. plagiarism and arrogance...

I recently was accused of plagiarism. It was thought that I had copied a design from a commercial company and made a couple of changes and called it mine. The cross over baby top I drafted isn't an original style of garment. It's a commonly known garment style. I have vintage pattern books with sketches of similar garments. I've seen similar styles of garments all over the web.

Including:
The smocket
An Adult version - Apron
Another adult one
One for a premmie baby

There are many more, these are just a few. Although the style of garment may not be 'original'. the patterns and designs of those I have linked to and my own are.

So that makes me ask what is 'Original Design'? Can it be defined? Is there a definition for it?
I went and Googled.. Original Design Definition... that didn't provide me with any answers. That's made me think that originality of design is something defined by the observer and initiator. It's subjective. What one person believes to be original to another may not be so.

It's very easy these days to accuse people of plagiarism, especially with the anonymity of the net. A place where you can't see the hurt you cause to others and can hide your identity and not see or take ownership for the consequences of your actions.

Arrogance is defined as thinking you know or thinking you can do something better than another. To me it is arrogant to think that no one else in this world can design or invent something similar to you without having copied it.

If the radio and other amazing technologies can be simultaneously invented. Why is it impossible to believe the same for a crafted article?

If I designed a skirt and embellished it with a bird and some ric rac does that mean no one else can put a bird applique on a skirt with ricrac? Would that give me the 'right' to go around the net accusing every other person who has a bird appliqued on a skirt with ricrac of copying my design?

So what is original thought and design? Is there such a thing? Are we all inspired and build on the work of others?

As Isaac Newton wrote:
If I have seen further it is only by standing on the shoulders of giants.

Are we too quick to accuse others?

Should you be worried of being accused yourself if you design crafted items? It only takes one accusation, to ruin your day.

I suggest if you really believe someone is 'ripping' off another's design you contact that person! Not leave posts on public forums or make snide remarks over the net going on about how 'sick' you are of people stealing other peoples designs!

I know after being on the receiving end of such an accusation the feeling isn't nice. Maybe it was a lesson I needed to learn? I used to get really annoyed seeing designs I thought belonged to another not being credited.

In future I'll put up or shut up!



Some interesting links:.
http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/daily/090120-armani-accuses-dg-of-copying.aspx

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/6569403/French-fashion-designer-accuses-Chanel-of-copying-one-of-her-patterns.html

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/12/18/1040174294307.html

http://www.turtlezen.com/originalthoughts.html

Some great pattern drafting sites:

I'm listing these here so I can find them when I want them!
They may also be helpful to you.

Measurement charts:
Children's Sizes chart - From Fiber Gypsy. Newborn to 12 years of age.
Standard Body Measurements - Craft Yarn Council
The below three come from Australian Living Creatively site.
Australian Clothing measurements - Babies and children (PDF)
Australian Clothing measurements - Women (PDF)
Australian Clothing Measurements - Men (PDF)

Pattern drafting HOW to sites:
Weekend Designer
Leenas
Fashion Era.com
Vintage sewing books
Inditutes - designing your own children's clothes
Burdastyle - basic block construction
The Curious Frau
How to draft a pair of baby pants - My passions Blog
How to Draft a Diaper

Construction resources:
Threads Magazine
Sewing.org
Sewing at about

Michael's Cool Shirt (SIZE 2) - FREE PDF PATTERN

Mad Quilter's
Michael's Cool Shirt
Size 2



DOWNLOAD THE PATTERN BY CLICKING HERE

Fabric Required:
1/2 meter of 110cm width, light woven cotton for the shirt.
a fat quarter or scraps of contrast for the facings
Snaps or buttons for fastening.
matching threads

Prepare the pattern
There are four pages to print.
Make sure you don't scale the pattern, when you print.
Cut and piece Back part a and b, matching the V's to make X's
Cut and piece Front part a and b, matching the V's to make X's
Trace off the back and front facings to use as a pattern for cutting facings.

The pattern pieces sit nicely on 110cm wide fabric.
Place back on the fold of the fabric.

Fold facing fabric right sides together.
Cut facings. Back facing needs to be placed on a fold.

Two sleeve facings are cut to measurements:
30cm long by 4cm wide

Construction

Place right side of facings to wrong side of fabric, as in photo above.
Pin them into place.


Sew along the outer edges with a 1cm seam allowance.


Trim and clip the seam allowance.
I used pinking shears, but you can just clip.


Fold the facings to the front and press with an iron.


Pin the raw edge of the facings under.
This is a little tricky and I don't recommend using an iron.
Just softly shape and turn the raw edge with your fingers.


Stitch the facings along the edge you just pinned under.
Stitch close to the fold and use a matching thread.


Pin the fronts to the back along the shoulder.
Match the end of the sleeves and the neck edge.
Don't panic if the facings don't match perfectly, you're not making a wedding dress!
Stitch the shoulders with a 1 cm seam allowance.


Finish the seams by sewing them together with a zigzag stitch.


Trim the seam close to the zigzag stitch.


Press the shirt open at the shoulders.
Add the sleeve facings as you attached the front and back facings.
Place the facing right side to the wrong side of the shirt.
Pin into place.


Fold the facings to the front and press.


Pin the sleeve facings and stitch into place.


Fold the shirt at the shoulders matching the side and sleeve seams.
Pin well.


Sew the side and sleeve seams with a 1 cm seam allowance.
Pivot at the underarm.
Reinforce the corner with a second line of stitching over the first row just at the corner.
Clip into the corner's, being careful not to snip the stitches.


Finish the seams by zigzaging them together and trim the seam allowance.


Baste the seams down at the sleeve edges.
Sew a couple of stitches to hold the seam allowance flat.
Do this at the neck edge with the shoulder seam.
This just stops the seam irritating little ones.


Hem the bottom of the shirt.
Use a double fold hem.
Fold up 1cm and fold over again 1cm enclosing the raw edge.

Place snaps or sew buttons and button holes.
I used 3 snaps.
This is a little boys shirt the buttons go on the left and buttonholes on the right.

I always used to forget which side to put the buttons on, until I taught myself that....
Women are always RIGHT!
( women's buttons are on the right!)


COPYRIGHT.
You can make these for sale.
You can share the pattern with your friends.
You can't publish this on your web site without my permission.
You can't sell my pattern or instructions.
You can't claim this is your work.

Please if you make one let me know!
I love comments.

Designing a boys shirt

I wanted to make something for the boy. I find it really hard to buy nice boys clothes. All the shops seem to stock things with skulls and logos all over them. I really don't like my children being used as advertising, especially when I'm paying for the clothing!

I wanted something loose and comfortable, without a collar. And this is what I've come up with:

These are my basic blocks for a two year old.

This is my first draft of the shirt.
I changed my mind on the sleeves.

I wanted the sleeves less fitted, more like a kimono shirt.
I changed the sleeves and added seam allowances

The blue is an old pillowcase and the print a fat quarter from my quilt stash.


I used the print as a facing, which I turned to the right side of the garment.
This gives a really nice finish to the shirt.
I used snaps to fasten the shirt.


I used the print to face the back of the neck and the sleeves too.


I like the shirt.
I think it came up well.
The only thing I will change is the neck opening it's a little wide.


Although it's not falling off his shoulders it's not sitting as I imagined.
That's a pretty simply alteration to make.
Once I've made the next one and got the fit right on Michael, I'll draw up the pattern and put it on the blog.