Ladies and Gentlemen, this is Mambo Number Five! The Skirt Collection from 5 out of 4 Patterns

A little bit of Monica in my life.

A little bit of Erica by my side. 

A little bit of Rita is all I need.

A little bit of Tina is what I see...

5 out of 4 patterns has blown it out of the sewing park again with this Mambo #5 Line of skirts.  

What's great about them?  You can get the set in a bundle, or just one (or two, or three), and combine the skirts with the different bands and features.  

What options are there?
- Thin Band
- Thick Band
- Scooped Band
- Lace Up Band
- Tie Up Band
- Straps
- Mini, Knee, or Midi length Skirts
- Pockets
- and more!  

 

Monica is a pleated skirt with 3 length options, and several options: pockets, regular band, tie up band, or Encased Elastic band.

I loved sewing her up - and the pleats were SUPER simple to sew up and laid perfectly the first time around. 

I sewed up the mini version with regular band and waist ties.  The fabric was some sort of stretch suiting fabric from Fabricland, so the skirt cost me about $5 to make. Woot!  

I paired Monica up with the Virginia Tank (including a cut file also on the 5 out of 4 site) for a more casual look.

 

 

Erica is possibly my fave out of the four skirts. She was an easy sew, and I LOVE the options included: Suspenders, lace up or regular waistbands, pockets, and all 3 skirt lengths. 

I opted for the Knee length with Lace Up Waistband - made with a maroon pleather from Water Tower Textiles via a mystery bundle I took a chance on.  This fabric called out Erica's name!

Lesson learned with Pleather - put a piece of paper on top of the fabric while sewing, and tear it off once done sewing.  Otherwise, the needle does NOT like to sew through just the pleather.  

The lace up band instructions were super simple to follow, and I just used lace I had on hand for the tie.  

I paired up Erica with my Laura Tankini - what a perfect colour match and va-voom look!

 

Rita is the fitted skirt, with options: one or two piece back (aka with a seam or without), solid or colour blocked front and/or back, back vent, Basic or encased elastic waistbands.

I opted for the knee length back seam plain waistband version.  And va-voom!  It was both an easy sew and flattering for my figure. 

The seam in the back is recommended for those of us with big cabooses, and it definitely helped me with this second version of the skirt I sewed up. 

I used a waffle suiting fabric from...either Fabricland or Water Tower Textiles - I can't recall. It has just enough stretch, but doesn't put tension on my poor hips - so I can move and not feel suffocated in a traditional fitted skirt. 

This will be fun to wear at the office! 

I paired up Rita with one of my Calypso Tops for a more casual feel.

 

Tina is the final skirt in this collection - and includes: basic, scoop, or cross front waistband; suspenders, hem ruffle, or patch pocket options.

I opted for the cross front waistband, suspenders, knee length skirt. 

I wore this out for my 10th wedding anniversary with Husband a few weeks ago, and he was impressed!  

It was a quick sew to which I loved all the available options, fit, and lasting factor. I paired Tina with my Shiela Top, and it's a match made in heaven.

So get your groove on and collect all 4 skirts (and the FREE Luna skirt pattern) and mix & match Monica, Erica, Rita, and Tina with all the features to your sewing heart's desire.

Share your pictures on the 5 out of 4 Facebook group once done with your favourite Mambo Pose! Why? Why Not!

***Affiliate Links Above used - I love these patterns, and without the help of those who love their patterns, marketing would be extremely difficult for the pattern makers we love and learn to love. Affiliate links help with the hours, fabric, and tears that go behind testing each pattern in order to provide a real-person view on the patterns for you (and me!) 

Ready for Spring - The Taylor Trench Coat - Rebecca Page Patterns Review

Unique & different is the new generation of beautiful.  You don't have to be like everyone else. 

I have a secret. 

I have a coat fetish!

I partook in the recent Taylor Trench Sew-A-Long, and finally made the Taylor Trench coat by Rebecca Page Patterns. 

Working a little bit at a time every day made the experience less daunting - and within a week, she was sewn up!  

Taylor has many options:
- Welt or patch pockets (or none?)
- Optional Shoulder tabs and belt
- Optional HOOD
- Mid-Calf or Mid thigh length options
- Front & Back Yokes
- Lined interior
- Optional hanging Loop

I opted for the mid thigh length coat with: hood, welt pockets, and belt.


Look how good it turned out!!

The front has 10 buttons - I purchased from 204 Fabric n Stuff on Etsy - 2 packs of buttons were suffice, and I love the quality and colour. 


The welt pockets did take some time to sew, but follow the instructions step-by-step, and they should come out perfect (or near perfect!).


The belt is a bit shorter than I expected, but long enough to tie in two knots to stay put.


The hood has a centre piece and two sides, and I love the way it looks.  I have worn it out in the wind, and it stays put without flipping off.  So despite it looking a bit big, it's the perfect fit.

The back has a lovely yoke - with another button!  It also has a vent - which you definitely need to read the instructions, and then sew in order to wrap your head around it. 


Vents are the bane of my existence! 


I really like how the collar stands up when the hood is up - it's such a professional touch.

The fabric I used was a random coating fabric from Fabricland, and a beautiful clearance cotton woven parrot fabric I found on Fabricville - perfect for my parrot life in my past career!


I paired my Taylor with my modified Slim Fit Cargos and Vintage Blouse.

Sew go ahead and take a leap of faith with your sewing skills, and level up! 


Sew up one step a day, and you'll be finished in no time! 


It's not a beginner pattern, but I feel anyone can sew the Taylor Trench with time and concentration.


***I sew for the passion, fun, and confidence it gives me. Affiliate links have been used, but I only promote what I believe in and adore ***

Arrrr, Me Mateys! Patterns for Pirates - my Intro to Moderm Day Sewing Patterns

So (or Sew - ha ha!). January 2017, I was tired of my nylons tearing after half a use, and tights are difficult to find that:

a) Don't cost an arm and a leg for what they are

b) Don't cause extreme Muffin Top

I decided leggings would be a long lasting option.

But apparently in the middle of the Winter in Canada, Leggings aren't available in 12 of the zillion stores I looked in during a few lunch hours.

That on top of not being able to find more than 2 plain tunics to wear underneath work and t-shirts that have shrunk up over the last years, shopping for any kind of clothing was proving to be futile.

Pants shopping alone is the most depressing thing I do - and I only do it when I've worn through all but one or two pairs of wearable pants. I have very little choice, and only the Rickis' ridiculous priced pants and the Gap's Curvy jeans fit me without making my legs look like squished sausages, or like the waist band needs its own postal code it's so darn big!

So. 

I started looking at those online leggings shops - Sweet Legs, Mayberrys, Lotus Leggings, and more. the pricing was pretty much the same for all these companies, and what I was taken with were the patterns!

SO MANY PATTERNS!

Then I thought..."Hey Crystal, you should make leggings - you have a good sewing machine."

And that was the beginning of the end.

I discovered Facebook groups for patterns & fabrics, and that was that.

The first Facebook Group I joined was Patterns for Pirates where I discovered Peglegs!.

I love pirates, and Peglegs is a cool name, so I decided that would be my first pair of leggings. 

I had some stretchy thin fabric of sorts I bought a boatload of when Fabricland in town closed down, so tested out my first leggings with that, so I didn't screw up with the beautiful Black Rabbit fabric I ordered from British Columbia.

Black Rabbit Fabrics - I used the two bottom left Black & Teal striped fabrics for leggings!

First step was printing out the pattern - patterns these days all seem to be PDF's, and you print them out at home (or any printing place), stick them together with tape like a puzzle, and cut out the pattern! 　

There is a layout on one of the instruction pages, so you don't have to be good at puzzles - just matching numbers. If you can't match numbers, go back to school and try again.　

The Peglegs pattern has a sizing guide, and I fit between two sizes, thus I created a gentle line from one size to the next to make it look natural, hoping I measured right and that they would fit without giving me camel toe or have any unsightly bulges. 　

The pattern also indicates the most suitable fabrics - and the Facebook Group has a lot of support and help from the pattern maker and those of us who love P4P patterns and have flubbed so future people don't have to!　

It took me less than two hours to cut the fabric and finish my first pair of leggings. They were slightly snug at the waist, I had to redo the waistband twice before I got it right. I ended up switching the waistband fabric to my newly arrived Black Rabbit 95% Cotton/5% Lycra fabric, and it gave the stretch and support the band required. 　

Due to the thin fabric, these are perfect for underneath dresses and skirts - I wouldn't wear them out as leggings pants, even with a tunic length top.　

 

Ta da!

 

 

So, learning from me:　

a) Follow the directions. Don't deviate unless you have experience with the pattern and are good at knowing how things will fit together. 　

b) Have the right fabric for the right fit and piece you are sewing. 　

c) Leggings are freaking simple to make! And SO comfortable. I now live in them outside of work. I have been assimilated.　

Thank goodness I work from home Fridays now, as I can now wear leggings instead of Jeans, which are not leggings. 　

I had NO idea how many variations of fabrics there were beyond 100% cotton. 　

I never really cared before. 　


Despite some roller coasting with my first real-live wardrobe piece, it began my disdain for unfit store-bought clothing, and love for fabrics and unique patterns that I could MAKE fit my body in a good way. 　

My enjoyment for the pattern, the ease to which it was written, and being jealous of the nice Cocoon Cardigan - SO me, and so pretty. 　

That's another day and another blog!