It’s been a while since I showed you some of the amazing finished versions of my first two patterns I’ve spotted from around the internet (over a month, in fact!), so I thought I’d show off some of the amazing diversity of workout gear others have achieved.
My own printed PB Jams and mocha T-Back Workout Top
I’ll start off with two versions of my own that you’ve seen peeks of in the pattern photos, but not properly had a look at. This is probably my favourite pair of PB Jam Leggings I’ve made so far – I used some printed lycra from Minerva (sold out now!) teamed up with some neon red wicking lycra from my stash and I swear I get compliments every single time I wear them!
The top is a very early version of the T-Back XYT Workout Top, and one I wasn’t entirely happy with – you can see a lot of pulling around the neckline that I eliminated in later revisions of the pattern, but I wanted to show this one anyway so you could see the contrast coverstitch binding edges and my use of braided trim at the vertical T piece. I’d used the same neon red wicking lycra for the accents so these two coordinate rather nicely when work together – you could easily do the same by using your leggings swirl fabric in your upper back piece on the workout top.
Here you can see the classic (non-invisible) pocket in the centre back, and that it really does keep your phone and gels close enough to not bounce or bulge!
And lastly, I just really like this shot my dad took of me in these leggings while I was running around a frosty park in Virginia last November.
Beaute’ J’Adore’s Reebok-inspired PB Jams
I love this idea – Nikki had the opportunity to design her own pair of Reebok trainers, so of course she took it one step further and made her own leggings to match!
How amazing is it that this is the first activewear she’s sewn, too?! (Seriously, go back and look at her DIY makes – I’d steal her entire wardrobe if I could!)
Kathy’s Candy-Coated PB Jams
I already shared her polka-dotted XYT Tops with you, but Kathy also made this red pair of PB Jam Leggings with spotted fabric as the swirls (is it just me, or does her fabric look like liquorice allsorts?!). It’s funny, I always think about using the printed fabric as the main part and the solid as the contrast!
Kathy includes some great tips for tweaking the fit to accommodate a bigger booty if you’re more rounded in the back, too.
Maeve’s X Back Top and Grey PB Jams
Maeve says it was unintentional, but I love the way she’s colourblocked her PB Jam Leggings so that the front leg and swirl are the same colour! I hadn’t even considered doing it that way, but if you carried that around to the back, you could have the top one colour with another below the swirl! (Though you would need more than 1 metre of fabric if you eliminate the back knee piece)
She’s also used the same grey supplex as the upper back of her X-Back Workout Top, and, since she prefers her tops to fit looser than I do, she went up a size at the waist and hip to get the fit exactly the way she wanted.
Rebecca’s Blue & Red PB Jams
Rebecca of Sew Tiger Sew made up these blue & red PB Jam Leggings as a wearable muslin, and loved them so much she wore them out on a few runs, too!
I follow her on Twitter so I know she’s gone on to make more, too, so watch her site for the updated versions!
Chris’s Chic PB Jams
Chris from Make and Wear did something totally different and showed that the PB Jam pattern works just as well for casualwear as it does for exercise. She chose to make them in a ponte knit (so went up a size to account for the lesser degree of stretch), and with the understated colour choice of black and grey.
See? These would not be out of place with a little silk top at a posh restaurant!
Sue’s Y- and Triple T-Back Tops
In case you think I’m only sharing the glowing reviews or something… Sue didn’t like the built-in bra for her first two versions – but that didn’t stop her from sewing up two more versions without it and working out with a favourite sports bra underneath! I totally get that what works for me isn’t necessarily going to be what works for all shapes and sizes, and that’s why I provided options to make the tops without the bra, so you can choose your own level of support underneath and still have a fancy exterior!
Sue made the Y-back version with some gorgeous striped purple supplex, and on the T-Back green version, she used three thin vertical strips, which I adore! I might just have to file that idea away for later…
Nancy’s Polka Dot & Lime X-Back Top
I love so much about Nancy’s post – that she’s given up buying any RTW for the whole year, that she sewed this up entirely on her sewing machine, that she used some fancy lime elastic as trim, and that she used a polka dot lycra!
I particularly love her comments about now being free from ever having to buy ill-fitting, expensive RTW workout tops again – she’s found that my version works so well for her that she prefers making to buying now.
Maria’s Colourful Y-Back Top
Maria’s already sewn up a ton of XYT Tops and PB Jam Leggings, but she just couldn’t help sewing up another colourful version to coordinate with her Jalie running skirt (another of my favourite patterns!) for the Sydney Color Run.
She was able to use entirely stash materials for the coordinating set, which means that she must have an athletic fabric stash to rival mine, haha!
What did I miss?
I’ve tried to include as many as I could, but did I miss yours? Please leave a link in the comments so I can include it in a future roundup!
And I’m pleased to report that the testing is going really well on the next pattern so we should still be on track for a release in the second half of March. I’ll reveal a few details soon…
Inspired? Want to sew up your own?
