How to Add Pockets to Your Beloved Brownie-Goose Summer Sailors (or any other pants or shorts pattern)

Checking on her pine cone in her pocket 

WHO LOVES BROWNIE-GOOSE’S SUMMER SAILORS?

                We do!

WHO WANTS FUNCTIONING POCKETS?

                We do!!

Hi everyone, I’m Kari.  I love the Brownie-Goose Summer Sailor shorts.  In fact, it was my very first paid PDF pattern I sewed!  I quickly made a pair according to instructions.   Although I love the original pattern, my girls love to fill their pockets with treasures.  So I added pockets to my 2^nd pair!  Adding pockets is actually very easy.  It’s just a matter of deconstructing the front pattern piece.  I learned about constructing pockets last year when I made my daughter a pair of Paperbag Pants by Shwin&Shwin.

After I finished my pair of Summer Sailors with real pockets, I posted a picture late (read: way past bedtime) at night on the PDF pattern group.  Within 15 minutes, I had several inquiries as to how I did it.  I quickly made a rudimentary tutorial, using just one picture and posted it.  This basic tutorial gets referenced almost every time BG summer sailors are mentioned.   The original tutorial was a bit lacking.  So without further ado,

Drum roll please………

Here is a STEP BY STEP guide showing you how to add functioning pockets to those beloved shorts (and any other pants really!):

STEP 1:   Print your pattern, tape pages together per instructions.   Trace or cut out the size you need.   (In my example, I’ll be making a 2T.)

STEP 2:  Set the BACK piece aside.  We’ll be working with both the FRONT and the FAUX POCKET pieces.  Take the FAUX POCKET piece and set it on top of the FRONT pattern piece, lining it up in the outer corner.  Trace the around the FAUX POCKET.  Cut away the traced area of the FAUX POCKET.  This is now your “new” FRONT piece.

  

"new" FRONT

                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

STEP 3:  Now we need to construct the pocket pieces.  On a new piece of paper, trace the FAUX POCKET.   Next, determine how wide and deep you would prefer your pockets.  In this example, I will be adding 2” from both the top and the bottom of the curve of the pocket.  It’s up to you to decide how big your pockets need to be.  Just be mindful that they need to fit within the “new” FRONT piece.  We don’t want any pockets peeking out! Mark your distance on your paper.  Draw intersecting lines to complete the rest of the “rectangle”.  Cut the new shape out.  (You may also round the bottom inner corner of the pocket if you wish.)

                   

                             

STEP 4:  Trace your shape from step 3 on a new piece of paper, making sure to mark the top to make sure the outer corner matches your original pattern. (The outer side will slope slightly as the original pattern).This will now be referred to as POCKET.  Cut out.  On the original “rectangular” piece, cut away the FAUX POCKET tracing.  This piece will now be your POCKET LINING.

          

This is your POCKET.

This is your POCKET LINING.

                                                                                                                                             

STEP 5: To review, you have 3 pieces – POCKET, POCKET LINING, and “new” FRONT.   Pin pattern pieces to chosen fabrics and cut out.  Remember, to cut a MIRROR image for the other side of the shorts.  Grab your bias tape as well.

Here is one side of the front, cut out.  Note the pins in the POCKET and POCKET LINING.  This is to remember the top of the POCKET and the right/correct side of the LINING.  Also, if your shorts are mainly white as mine are, choose a POCKET LINING that won’t show through.

STEP 6: Now the fun begins!  Take your “new” FRONT piece and your POCKET LINING piece and match the curve up wrong sides together (WST).  Take your bias tape and sandwich it around the curve.  The bias tape will hide the raw edges so there’s no need to finish those edges first.   Pin bias tape in place and sew.  Helpful hint: Sew your 4 sailor buttons on the front now.  I didn't and it made it really difficult to sew them on later.

        

STEP 7:  Grab your POCKET piece and match up the outer edges with your “new” FRONT.  Flip over.  The inner edges of the POCKET and POCKET LINING should match up perfectly.  If not, trim to match.   The POCKET and POCKET LINING should be right sides together (RST).  Pin the inner edges and sew with ¼” seam allowance.   Finish edges in the manner you desire (serge or zigzag to prevent fraying).

STEP 8: Baste the POCKET and POCKET LINING to the “new” FRONT on the top and outer edge to prevent shifting.

                                                

Baste 

Close up of top basting

Close up of bottom basting

STEP 9: Repeat steps to construct the other front side of the shorts.  Now, you have real pockets!  Don’t you just love them?!   Please note:  I learned the hard way by not having the buttons on yet.  Don’t make my mistake!      

STEP 10:  Continue the pattern as normal.  Be careful when sewing around the crotch.  Make sure your pocket doesn't get caught under the needle! (I speak from experience…) 

STEP 11:  When you finish, make sure you take a picture!  They truly are works of art.  Can you stand the cuteness?!

In the great words of Amy Norris…. “YAHOOOOOOS!”

Clutching the pine cone in her pocket

     

 I've paired Miss A’s Summer Sailors with the Jill Frock.

She loves the outfit as much as I do!  She told me “Thank you, thank you, thank you for my new outfit, Mommy! I’m so proud of you!”

Bubblegum Dress PDF Pattern by Candy Castle Patterns - Review

Hi everyone, I’m Kari. I love being a stay-at-home mom to my two cutie-pie daughters.  When I’m not chasing my littles around, you can usually find me at my sewing machine.  I used to sew Barbie clothes and scrunchies  back when I was around 10 (yikes, that was forever ago!).  Last September, I bought myself a sewing machine and dove in.  I discovered the world of PDF patterns in April and my sewing has entered a whole new dimension! You can keep up with my sewing adventures here on Facebook at That's Sew-Kari.

I was very excited when I was approached by Pattern Revolution to review the Bubblegum Dress (how fun is this name?!) by Candy Castle Patterns.  I had really wanted to sign up when it was in its pattern testing phase, but I was headed out of town.  This was my second chance!
 

As soon as the pattern hit my inbox, I had it downloaded immediately and popped up on the screen to read!  I had no idea what to expect except that the end product was adorable.  Even though Candy Castle Patterns is a brand new designer, do not let that fool you!  As I read through her instructions, I’m fairly certain my mouth was gaping open.  These instructions are the most detailed and best laid out I have ever seen.  The entire tutorial is set up like a chart.  The actual written instructions (as well as step numbers) are in the left column and the pictures are in the right column.  You cannot miss a thing with these instructions!  Oh, and besides the neatness of the tutorial, the general aesthetics are fun as well.  They really fit in with her candy theme! I also | that the tutorial showed the correct way to use bias tape. It’s just one of those little details that adds a nice touch.

Okay, I’m really sorry I’m gushing, but I’m being totally honest! Love this pattern!

Sometimes, you just have to take a dance break!

This pattern does require some paper.  There are 24 pages for the pattern and the sizes are color-coded.  There is a gorgeous chart at the beginning of the tutorial that shows you how to lay all the pattern pages out.  I just pulled it up on my computer and laid it out on the floor.  Super easy, just took a bit of tape.

There are so many options with this pattern – you can trim some, all or none of the Bubblegum dress in bias tape, add a neck ruffle, use knits or woven, use all one fabric or really mix it up!  I think I spent most of my time choosing fabric placement.  I actually had to consult my design friend, Stacey Mann and my sister-in-law, Emily Steiger because I just couldn't decide!

I ended up choosing Riley Blake chevron in Aqua & Navy
and trimmed with red for a pop of color!

And because there are many options, the tutorial helps you navigate easily which instructions you need to follow.  I was reminded of the “choose your own adventure” books I read as a kid – A+ for not having to hunt and peck what my next step would be.

I'm loving the ruffled neckline option!

Construction of the Bubblegum dress was fairly straightforward.  Everything lined up perfectly!  I am a careful seamstress with high attention to detail so it took me two nights to finish (I sew only after my girls are asleep), but all in all, it was an easy sew.  I would classify it as a beginner pattern.  I know I’ll be making more of these dresses – I think this might be a great pattern for some of my coveted Sarah Jane Children on Parade fabric along with its coordinates.

To quote my mom, "If you're going to do something, do it right the first time."
I'm pretty proud that I matched my chevron perfectly across the seam!

In case you haven’t picked up on my excitement, I absolutely adore this dress and this new designer!  Folks, the Bubblegum dress from Candy Castle Patterns is definitely a must-have.  The fit is true-to-size, and since it's a wrap dress, it grows with your girl!  Also, the pattern ranges from an itty-bitty 6 month size all the way up to your "all-grown-up" tween size 12.  You can find the pattern here and follow her on Facebook to keep up to date.  Next up for Candy Castle is the Jelly Bean skirt! 

The sweetness of the this pattern apparently rubs off --
Big Sis being so sweet to Little Sis

Thanks to Pattern Revolution for inviting me to review such a great pattern and thank you Candy Castle Patterns for writing it! 

Hooray for a great pattern and discovering
a fantastic new designer!

P.S. Here are some extra photos |

Back view

I'm pretty sure she was dialing Candy Castle Patterns
to say thanks for a super cute pattern!