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Add-on patterns aren’t available from all pattern makers but they can be pretty helpful if you spot one. Add-on patterns are patterns that you can add-on to base patterns. Imagine that? They can usually be used with multiple base patterns too. So let’s check out some examples of add-on patterns.
Maternity Add-Ons
Now as most of you know, I’m currently what feels like 27 months pregnant.
And there are some maternity only PDF patterns available out there, but quite frankly I’m too cheap to spend money on a pattern that will only work for me when I’m pregnant. This is where maternity add-ons make me all sorts of happy.
Want to try a maternity pattern add-on? Try our Maternity Jeans Hack Pack!
A maternity add-on is usually a belly piece that you will overlay on top of your bodice piece from another pattern. For example. This pattern is The Claiborne Ruffle Top.
As you can imagine, a significant baby bump would lift that ruffle up so high, you’d be walking around with your belly hanging out. So if you’re a maternity sewer, you might use our maternity hack pack for this pattern. By using the add-on piece, the old pattern now fits like this:
The bump is fully covered now, yay! Now while this hack pack/add-on is specifically made for the Claiborne base pattern, it can certainly be used to hack other base patterns into maternity clothing.
DIBY Club Founder, Jess, did a maternity shirt sew along workshop on Youtube. Start the series here!
Please note: Jess is using the The Layer Me Up Pattern and the The Layer Me Up Maternity Add-On Pattern by Patterns for Pirates. Check out their site here!
Hoods, Pockets and Other Accessories
The list of other available add-ons really is up to the imaginations of our dear pattern makers. A few popular ones include additions such as hoods and pockets. Let’s use a Patterns for Pirates pattern as an example this time.
The Slim Fit Raglan pattern produces a garment that looks like this:
Which is an adorable raglan top all by itself ammiright? But if you buy the Raglan Add-On Pack, you can transform that basic shirt into a plethora of options:
As you can see, the add-on pack gives you a traditional hood option, a crossover hood, a cowl neck, three funnel collar options, a kangaroo pocket option, inseam pockets and thumbhole cuffs. Whoa!! Now your shirt pattern has at least a dozen more option combinations to choose from. Not to mention that this add-on pack works with more than one base pattern.
So when you are shopping for your first few PDF knit sewing patterns, keep an eye out for add-ons.
Now you're ready to understand the markings on a sewing pattern. Check out the tutorial here!
-- Archived by Holly Hetzner