AHHHHH!  I’m super super duper ridiculously pumped to share that I am releasing my 4th and 5th patterns under the Patterns for Pirates name!! (Cue confetti and disco lights!)

The pattern is the Valley Swing Dress and it comes in Adult Hourglass (XXS – P5X) and Youth (3M – 14) sizes.  It’s delightful and swingy and awesome and you should totally get yourself a copy.  Like now.

I spent a painstakingly long amount of time trying to come up with the perfect name for this pattern.  Seriously….I had both patterns drafted up and ready for testing but couldn’t land on a name so I was stalled on it.  I always want to pay homage to the great state of WV, but naming things is hard.  And then a lightbulb went off!  The Valley Swing Dress is officially named after the Ohio Valley — the part of WV that I live in.  Boom.  Done.  Testing could begin.

I have been wanting this style of dress to be part of the Patterns for Pirates collection for so long now.  I’m a huge dress wearer, especially in the summer.  And I love dresses that have a fuller skirt to them.  Not only because I love a good swish, but the tighter ones aren’t exactly comfortable in the summer months.  I need cute AND cool at the same time!  And by george, I think I did it.

Pattern Features:

• Fitted bust, semi-fitted waist, oversized hip
• Flattering scoop neckline
• Three hem lengths: Top, Tunic + Above-Knee Dress
• Four sleeve finishes: Banded Tank, Short, 3/4 and Long Sleeves.
• Colorblocked + Plain Skirted Options

The colorblocking element was so fun for me to dream up!  I thought it would be neat to almost give princess seams without going all the way up the bodice.  So the skirted blocking portion starts right at the waist and then runs down the hem.  It’s SO FUN for color and print mixing!!  (And would be great for those of you who love panels but don’t always have a plan for them.)

I made about a million versions of the Valley Swing Dress, for myself AND for my sister and niece.  So brace yourself.  Here are a ton of photos!

OPTIONS SHOWN: Short Sleeve, Dress Length, Colorblocked Skirt.
FABRIC: Rayon/Spandex Ribbed knit (June F4P) + Modal

OPTIONS SHOWN: Short Sleeve, Dress Length, Colorblocked Skirt.
FABRIC: Yummy Ribbed Knit + Yarn Dyed Ribbed Knit (May F4P)

OPTIONS SHOWN: Tanktop, Tunic Length, Plain Skirt.
FABRIC: Yarn Dyed Ribbed Knit (May F4P)

OPTIONS SHOWN: Tanktop, Top Length, Plain Skirt.
FABRIC: Yummy Ribbed Knit from ???

OPTIONS SHOWN: 3/4 Sleeve, Top Length, Plain Skirt.
FABRIC: Smocked Jersey

OPTIONS SHOWN: Short Sleeve, Dress Length, Colorblocked Skirt.
FABRIC: Unknown ribbed knit from bargain bin / Layered eyelet knit + white dbp from ??

OPTIONS SHOWN: Long Sleeved, Top Length, Plain Skirt.
FABRIC: Unknown ribbed knit from bargain bin

OPTIONS SHOWN: Tanktop, Tunic Length, Colorblocked Skirt.
FABRIC: DBP | Linen Jersey Striped Knit

OPTIONS SHOWN: Tanktop, Dress Length, Colorblocked Skirt.
FABRIC: ITY from forever ago | Waffle Knit

Woohoo!  We made it through all of those photos and descriptions!  Are you sold on this new pattern yet?  I’m obsessed with the results and can’t wait for you to see what the testers put together for themselves.  You always know a pattern is a winner when your testers sew multiples for themselves — and we had quite a few sewists making several versions of the Valley Swing Dress.  So I think it’s going to be a huge hit and I’m so excited to see what everyone thinks!

Before I let you go, I need to share these super fun photos I was able to get with my niece and sister.  It’s not often that we are together and I’ve actually had my act together enough to sew for a test.  So it was super fun to make them some coordinating items and take photos in them.  So here’s a ton of silly and sweet photos of my two favorite girls and me.

A huge, enormous, giant, monstrous thank you to all of my testers and to the P4P Team for helping make this pattern happen.  I keep pinching myself over the fact that I get to learn and grow every day like I do, all while playing with fabric and learning lots of computer tricks.  It’s been a dream.

Now go buy my pattern. (wink wink)

Pattern: Valley Swing Dress | Valley Swing Dress - Youth by Patterns for Pirates
Fabric: described above