Today’s question is…
What patterns would you recommend to make XYZ?
I never mind glancing through patterns to see what might work for a costume for folks. It’s part of my fav part of researching a costume. I don’t always have time to do it, but when I do, I love it. (And it’s part of the reason I put my pattern collection on pinterest – link at the bottom of this post – so I could easily glance through everything and make suggestions without physically digging through them all!)
I obviously can’t answer every particular costume pattern question, so I thought I’d take this spot to recommend some of my fav patterns I’ve used over and over again. These are great basics to have on hand if you’re going to keep making costumes.
Simplicity 9891
(Still in print!)
This is Simplicity’s knock-off Lord of the Rings pattern. Their 4940 is also very similar, but 9891 is my favourite. I’ve used it several, several times. It’s a great basic dress pattern and with alterations could be made to work for a lot of princess/fairytale/etc characters.
Simplicity 8855
(Sadly I think this one is out of print, but probably fairly recently)
This has a great basic pattern for a full skirt, and a blouse with big full sleeves. I use the sleeve pattern more than the shirt pattern. Plus it has a fun little bodice piece that could be used for lots of things.
Simplicity 5006
(still in print!)
Seriously guys, I have at least 5 copies of this pattern. I have used this bodice pattern soooo many times. I know it like the back of my hand. I’ve altered it to be underbust, to come up over the shoulder, adding skirts, etc. It’s so freaking versatile. Plus a petticoat pattern is a nice thing to have as well.
Simplicity 9887
(Still in print!)
Really you can go with any kind of cape pattern, but this one is my particular favourite. Be aware that the shoulder area is a separate pattern piece, an issue I’ve fixed on my 2 copies of this pattern by cutting it in half and taping each piece to the front and back pieces. I’ve used this for pretty much every cape or robe I’ve ever made.
Vogue 7949
(still in print!)
I actually pretty much hate this pattern but I’ve used it for almost all of the gloves I’ve made. I hate making gloves, it’s so fiddly, I prefer to just buy them and dye to match, but sometimes it’s not possible. Here’s the pattern I use, it’s a necessary evil.
Butterick 4301
(Uh no, look at this super 90s thing, it’s totally out of print)
Despite it’s super 90s-ness, I’ve used this for a surprising number of costumes. You’ve got the option of a nice full skirt or a fitted skirt, and a pretty simple construction method for a reliable off-the-shoulder neckline.
Butterick 6834
(Probably out of print)
Various simple skirts of many lengths. I used this a lot starting out before I learned to make skirts w/o a pattern. Still very useful when I’m feeling too lazy to do that.
KwikSew 2004
(out of print *Cries*)
Every single leotard costume you see on my page was made with this pattern. I adore this pattern. It’s simple and I love the old Kwiksew patterns printed on PAPER instead of tissue. Plus the little circle skirt pattern is great also.
Sadly as I said, I discovered recently it’s out of print. I chopped up my copy making something with silly seamlines, since my copy was in bad shape, I figured I’d just cut it up and then go buy a new copy. KwikSew has a new leotard pattern (3502) that I’m sure is pretty much the same, I bought it but it’s tissue paper. So I found my old 2004 on etsy, uncut, so I have it in my possession again.
KwikSew 3239
(out of print)
I’ve used this for real swimsuits, and every single pair of “briefs” you see with my superhero costumes, Also anytime I need to make shorts that match a short skirt.
KwikSew 3052 and 2722
(still in print)
And between these two is pretty much every unitard/bodysuit I’ve made. 3052 has a really ugly front center seam that runs straight into the crotch – I’ve edited it out the last few times I’ve used this. 2722 DOESN’T have the front seam, but has a keyhole back – so you have to edit one or the other, and since I’m more familiar with 3052, it’s usually the one I grab.
McCalls 3636 and 2799
(probably both out of print)
Before I started using Simplicity 5006, these were my go-to bodice pattern. I edited them both for a lot of different costumes.
So that’s all I got for now. If you’d like to check out my pattern collection, I have most of them pinned here on pinterest. Still missing quite a few but I have a good bulk of them – a lot of them I can’t find images of online anywhere, so one day I’ll take my own photos and get it completed.