Wow, has it really been over three months since I did the last FehrTrade patterns roundup post? Well, in that time it’s clear that neither you nor I have been taking it easy, because I have so many amazing sporty garments to show you!
Frau Fleur’s triple Duathlons
Fleur Hoare liked her Duathlons so much that she made no less than THREE pairs, including one made up in crazy cat-print lycra (that I am also now the proud crazy cat lady owner of)!
She also gave a great tip about creating a fold at the top of the pockets if you want a bit of extra security, which is totally worth checking out.
Sarai & Kristen’s coordinating cat-print race gear
But if you thought these would be the last cat-printed exercise gear you’d see all day, then friends, prepare to have your expectations exceeded. The Colette Patterns ladies went and sewed an XYT Top, Duathlon Shorts, and RTW-knockoff, all in coordinating cat-print wicking lycra.
And then ran a half marathon in them. BOOM!
Amélie’s star-print VNA & Duathlons
Amélie wrote me the loveliest email recently, telling me that she had once been very fit and active in a variety of sports, but had fallen out of the habit. But when she saw my pattern designs, she was inspired not only to sew them up, but also head out on her first run in years! How amazing is that?!
To start, she made a gorgeous red and grey star-print set using the VNA Top and the Duathlon Shorts, and she’s already got an XYT Top in the works, too!
Kathy’s double VNA Tops
Kathy is not only one of the most prolific sewers I know (and with a small child, no less!), but she’s also been one of my pattern testers from the beginning. For the VNA Top patterns, she liked it so much she ended up making two – one in pink and another in brown and green.
I like how she chose two split two fabrics over the three pieces in a different way than I had – keeping both front pieces the same and using the back as the accent! She also gives some good tips about lengthening the pattern
Winnie’s triple VNAs
Winnie is another of my faithful pattern testers, and you’d be forgiven for thinking these ladies are required to make more than one, but no – this is just a sign that they really do like the patterns so much that they can’t stop at just one!
Winnie’s used three different fabrics with different weights & stretches in each of hers, and made really interesting notes on how each behaves. I like that she’s also used a bit of contrast piping in the under-bust seam on the blue version, too.
A teenager-approved VNA Top
Karen is the rarest of all sewists – she’s generous enough to sew for her entire family, and in turn, they don’t even mind going out and exercising in them to pass their feedback on to me. I know how fickle teenagers can be, though, and especially when it comes to fashion, so I was amazed to hear that her fashion-conscious teenaged daughter “went into raptures” over her VNA Top and promptly ordered more from the Shop Of Mom.
Apparently wearing fashionable kit gives you an advantage in races… If that isn’t an excuse to sew more, I don’t know what is!
Rebecca’s XYT-Concert hybrid
Rebecca’s made quite a few of my patterns so far, and for the recent Sewing Indie celebrations she decided to hack together my XYT Workout Top pattern with the Dixie DIY Summer Concert T. The result is a workout top that’s close-fitting around the bust and shoulders, but loose around the hips!
Rebecca has documented all her pattern changes, too, so you can follow along at home.
Katherine’s print & piped VNA Tops
I’d love to take a nosedive into Katherine’s lycra stash, because if her first printed purple version isn’t a “good” fabric, then what else must be lurking in there?? (Seriously though, I love those prints together, even if it was just a pattern test for me).
She also made up a second version for a friend and documented how to make a square shoulder adjustment after comparing the pattern pieces to her TNT teeshirt pattern (always a good idea!).
Allison’s first-ever sportswear
And last but not least, I was so excited to see that Allison C had finally taken the plunge to sew up her first ever sportswear recently. I’ve been following her blog for years now and I find that we have such similar tastes in clothing that we end up sewing patterns right after the other has made them! Not only was it her first foray into the wide world of supplex, but also her first ever PDF pattern – proof that it’s never too late to start either!
Her first set was comprised of a VNA Top and Duathlon capris in blue and black.
…but then Maria came to visit and they went shopping in the Hong Kong markets for exercise fabrics, so her next set of three XYT Workout Tops are made in the most amazing prints!
She also opted to merge the upper back of the X version onto the lower back, and omit the opening, giving yet another back option to this pattern!
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Remember, there were also quite a few FehrTrade patterns seen in the Spring Race Challenge podium post, too, and several in the Pattern Review galleries that don’t have blog posts so weren’t included here, either.
I’m also pleased to report that I’m deep into the production of my next pattern, which has taken longer than expected as it’s definitely my most technically challenging one to date (in its development, anyway – it’s not any harder to sew!). It’s probably still 3-4 weeks away at the earliest, though, and I’ve got some bigger announcements in the meantime, too!
Fancy making your own? Go to my Shop section or head straight to Etsy below…
