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Made for Mermaids has just released their latest pattern, the Catherine. It comes in Mama and girls sizing, and even has a doll option!
I was so excited for this pattern ever since I saw the sneak peak, and watched the page like a hawk to sign up for the tester call. And I missed the call by an hour, and was around the 50th person to comment, so I just knew I didn’t make the cut.
I did a little happy dance when Catherine (yes this pattern is her named after her!) tagged me in a post and said I was in! For those of you who haven’t tested it’s still a competitive game, once you make it into the tester pool- you still have to sign up for the tests and you don’t always get chosen. There are so many talented seamstresses in the group and we all love a new pattern. Beggars can’t be choosers – and I’ll take whatever tests they’ll have me for!
This pattern is jam packed with options, which I have come to love about M4M patterns. It has three different yoke patterns, square neck, curved yoke or unlined curved yoke. Plus it comes in top, tunic, dress, and curved dress lengths, and all the sleeve options plus two fun flounces you can add to the sleeves.
I was assigned dress length, short sleeves and given my choice of yoke options. I’ve had this stretch lace from Joann fabrics for a while now and it was just begging to become an unlined yoke with my mustard rayon spandex from Pretty Posh Prints. I ordered this mustard in a pre-order and the start of summer, but somehow only ordered fall colors – not a single bright summer color. I don’t know what I was thinking. They have all been patiently sitting on my shelf for when cooler temps come back – and boy did cooler temps come back this week it went from 80 degrees one day down to 40 the next and stayed that way. Yep we just skipped fall and went right for winter.
When I first showed my husband my dress, un-hemmed at that point he said it looked like a nightgown. I had to admit it kinda did, but once I did my hair, paired it with leggings and boots and threw on my Mama Darcey it was true love. Since this is made with Rayon Spandex, it hangs a bit lower than the pattern is designed for so the dress length will be a tad shorter if you use other fabrics. But the drape factor you get with rayon spandex is just perfect and it’s so comfortable!
My Mama Darcey is made with a thin ribbed knit I snagged in a bundle from So Sew English. They often get fabrics they don’t have enough of to sell by the yard and will randomly post bundles with it. Be careful because bundle buying is addicting, there are only so many so you have to act fast! You can apologize to your bank account later…. This bundle I bought for the aqua floral it came with and just re-discovered this fabric while moving my craft room! (Hopefully a post for another day – if I ever get it fully moved and photo ready!) Now while this post isn’t for the Darcey – it just pairs SO well with the Catherine.
I’ve worn this outfit multiple times already and each time I’ve gotten so many compliments. One time I was with my mom and she proudly boasted that I made it, and the lady wanted me to make her a set. I only sew for fun right now so I had to decline that request!
I just loved this pattern so much I couldn’t just make one! When I signed up I really hoped I didn’t get assigned the flounce sleeve, because it just didn’t seemed to be my thing. It was a dramatic high low and I just didn’t think it would be very practical. But during testing they added a smaller flounce and I fell in love and had to make one.
This is made with another bundle from So Sew English, and I’m actually using both fabrics together. I know bundles are sold to complement each other but this is the first time, out of many many bundles that I’ve ever actually done it! I stuck with the scoop yoke here, but lined it this time, and decided to go with the curved tunic length. This rayon spandex is so soft and has already been in heavy rotation in my fall wardrobe. I don’t often sew with rayon spandex because my machine tends to hate it and I usually find it a bit clingy, but with how soft this shirt is I’m rethinking all my bad rayon spandex thoughts.
These last few pictures were taken quickly over my lunch break, daylight savings time has cramped my picture style hard because now it’s dark once I get home from work! I changed out of my more professional outfit, but ended up staying in this because it was so much more comfortable, and my co-workers didn’t even notice.
I already have several more of these planned, if only I could take a sewing vacation and get my wish list knocked out!
Made for Mermaids switched website servers and ran into some major headaches forcing them to release the Catherine on their Etsy site, but now their site is back up and working – with an all new look! They were so excited they decided to hold a flash sale and you can get 30% off all patterns with the code 40KSALE until Saturday 11/25/17 midnight cst. The coupon will not work on the sale items or with other coupon codes. It only works on the website (so not on Etsy!) And they are extending the Catherine sale until Saturday as well too (cannot be combined with coupon code but still a amazing deal!)
You can snag the pattern HERE, or get the limited time bundle with the girls pattern (only available during the release ) HERE! It’s on sale for just $7.50 individually, $13 for Mama and girls, or $16.50 for Mama, girls and Dolly through 11/25/17. Browse through the other patterns while your there this is likely the last big sale for a while!
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