The arrival of cooler weather in the Southern Hemisphere makes it the perfect time to sew up ZQ Premium Merino essentials for the little ones!
We decided to sew up some cute little basics from Paper Doll patterns in ZQ Premium Merino colours Vintage Blush, Evergreen and Vanilla, all modelled by delightful little Poppy from our HQ team. These tones are such a beautiful combination of colours to layer under other garments, to wear as a set for sleepwear or perhaps even to mix and match!
Paper Doll Patterns is a New Zealand based pattern brand with a small range of patterns for children from ages 0-3 months - 4 years olds. Check out our previous pattern review of their sweet little Amy dress in Gingham Linen.
Merino's wonderful hypoallergenic properties are ideal for sensitive skin, making it perfect for the little ones!
Pattern Review
Stevie and Parker by Paper Doll Patterns
Paper Doll Pattern's Parker Top View A is a basic crew neck, long-sleeved top with a t-shirt variation and optional mini patch pocket. We made up size 2 Parker Top for Poppy, which was one size bigger than the suggested size for her measurements and we would recommend checking the measurement chart carefully before you select a size.
The free Stevie Leggings are slim-fitting leggings with an elastic waist and with only one pattern piece to cut as a pair and they were super fast to whip up! We made up a toile (mockup) for Poppy in size 2 and found the seat was a little short, so for our final pairs, we added 2.5cm to the top edge of the waistband to allow additional room.
Because we wanted to sew these as matching sets, we were able to cut both the Stevie Leggings and Parker Top patterns from the same length of fabric. This proved to be very economical, and each full set used approximately 75cm of our 150cm wide ZQ Premium Merino. How cute are the colours?! We chose Vintage Blush, Vanilla, and Evergreen for Poppy.
These sets were very enjoyable to sew up and we assembled these tiny pieces quite quickly, guided by the instructions and detailed pictures each step of the way. Considering the ease of construction it would most certainly suit a beginner / easy ability level sewer as Paper Doll patterns suggest. We used a four-thread overlocker for the main seams and we neatened the hems and cuffs with a small zig-zag.
Paper Doll Patterns are a beginner-friendly downloadable PDF pattern that you can print at home on A4 or US letter paper and we were pretty excited to see that the Stevie Leggings are currently on their website for free!
Purchase the Parker Top here and download the free Stevie Leggings here.
We cut both the Stevie Leggings and Parker Top patterns in one lay and this proved to be very economical, using approximately 75cm of our 150cm wide merino!
Fabric Recommendations
Paper Doll patterns recommend using mid-weight knit fabrics such as cotton or merino jersey. For those in warmer climates at the moment and choosing to sew cotton knits, have a peek at our cotton jersey and Liberty printed jersey, these would make up beautifully too.
Poppy's cute little garments are made from our ZQ Premium Merino. We love merino for its softness, versatility, hypoallergenic properties and ease of care, making it ideal for children and babies! Read more about our ZQ Premium Merino range here and our sustainable approach here.
We have such an extensive ZQ Premium Merino colour range to choose from in-store or online, whether you fancy soft delicate tones or hues with a pop! Have a look at some other suggestions above, from top to bottom is Vanilla, Vintage Blush, Red Clay, Acorn and Forest.
The little sets were a dream to sew, quick and easy, and look super cute on Poppy! These basics could be a great evening or weekend project to get stuck into and would also make a perfect gift for any new little ones in your life, or upcoming birthdays.
We love to see your creations, don’t forget to share with us by tagging @wearethefabricstore or use #TheFabricStore and #PaperDollPatterns.