Thursday 19 May 2011

.New BOY pattern - HIGH FLYERS.

I know that the sewing pattern world is lacking decent patterns for boys...so let's do something to change that - check out my latest pattern, High Flyers:
High Flyers are a handsome pair of pants that can both dress up and go casual with ease.  With these cool and comfy trousers in your little guy's wardrobe, he'll always be looking shipshape.
Featuring an elastic-backed, adjustable waistband, slim fitting legs, loads of pockets and an easy-to-sew fake fly opening, High Flyers will suit just about any occasion.
High Flyers can be given a more casual feel with the use of contrast topstitching detail and when sewn with denim they make a great pair of jeans.
I breathe a big sigh of relief as I send this pattern out today.  It has been one of the most time-consuming patterns that I have designed so far.  I know that so many of you have been crying out for more boy patterns, but to be honest, there isn't a lot of variety when it comes to boy clothing.  After a bit of research (read: rummaging through wardrobes and examining my boy's pants!) I came to the realisation that if you want to sew for boys, you need to spend time on details.  It's these details that will help create a quality pair of pants that look as though they've come from your favourite clothing store.  Girl's clothing has the advantage of using beautiful printed fabrics to give them detail, but when it comes to boys we mostly stick with plains, checks, or other toned-down fabrics so unless sewn details are added then your elastic-waisted pants will look a little slouchy and more like a pair of pyjama pants.
Having said all of that, I can assure you that it is NOT hard to make a tailored pair of boys pants.  I've worked really hard to simplify some tricky sewing techniques and make sure that High Flyers has all of the detail of a store-bough pair of pants with minimum fuss.

And what about that fly, I hear you ask?  I have to admit, I was scared of sewing a proper zippered fly to begin with.  I got over it though and worked it out and it isn't that hard, but still a little tricky for a less-confident sewer...so instead of a zippered fly, High Flyers features a fake fly opening (yes, it opens, not just pretty topstitching) that is sewn shut half-way down.  So the pants are still easy to get on and off, but look as though they have the real-deal fly, without the tricky zippered opening.  Besides, what little boy wants to remember to do up his fly all the time anyway?!
I think you'll enjoy making these - and it is a great satisfaction to sew something for your boy that looks as though it came out of a shop.  

And I'm sure that your boy will dance some crazy moves in approval like my cool model Jake did!  Big thanks to my awesome photographer, Sally from Eden Lane Photography.  Her photos never disappoint - there are loads more on my website.  If you are looking for a photographer in the Sydney area, I highly recommend her!
You can find out fabric requirements for High Flyers on the website. If you have a store and want to stock this or any other Make It Perfect patterns, contact Creative Abundance to place an order. 
If you would like to purchase a copy of High Flyers for yourself, they should be popping up in retail stores very soon. Ask your favourite store to get one in for you!
I'm giving away a copy of High Flyers (in your choice of size range) to one lucky reader - leave a comment on this post to be in the running!
(Please make sure you leave an email address with your comment.  Giveaway will close Wednesday 25th May and winner will be drawn via a random number generator.)

76 comments:

Kathryn Hill said...

What a God-send! There is so little out there for the boys (esp) the bigger boys. These are so smart. I can see them in some winter wool - tweed perhaps! Can't wait to get my hands on a pattern. Well done Toni!

Sonya said...

Love it, can't wait to make a pair for my little man :)

Sarah said...

Hi Toni,

No little boys here to sew for but of course I will stock them in the shop.

Ccongratulations on a a fantastic pattern for those with boys.

Now for the smallish 14 year old girl - would love some patterns for her, with time tucked inside the pattern so I could make them.

Rory's a Mess said...

finally, i have been waiting for an all occasion pair of boy pants that weren't to skinny or baggy. A perfectly balanced and detailed paid of slacks

Anonymous said...

Im going to make these for sure Toni...snazzy and stylish I can see them in casual and dressier fabrics so versatile as well. Now to plan my next trip to the big smoke for fabric!
Karen

Emily said...

Congrats on another great pattern!! These look fantastic!

Belinda said...

Very nice! Perfect for the almost 6 year old boy in this house.

tnicholls said...

Great Thanks Toni.. Will be getting a copy of this one . As a Mum of 4 boys this will be used a bit I imagine. Especially for my 8 year old who is hard to buy pants for at the moment as he is too big in the waist for size 8-10 but not long enough in the leg for size 12 (lots of hemming happening here) this way I can tailor make them to his size

Anna said...

wow toni!! these look amazing and what great details! i'm super impressed. :)

Rebecca said...

wow thry look awesome!!! you could always use camo print too!

Melisa Jane said...

Yes please! I have 2 little boys and this looks like an awesome pattern!

Dianne said...

You're definitely right about there not being many boys patterns out there.. Looks like a great pattern - can't wait to get my own copy!

Freja said...

This could perhaps be my first sewing project since the days of personal progress? lol

Crafty Mama said...

Fantastic! :)

Tanya said...

well done Toni, these look great. I agree, the photos are pretty snappy too.

Susan said...

oh yay another boys pattern. Fantastic there are not enough funky patterns for boys out there. lots of girly things but you can't add ruffles or frills to boys things LOL

pinkchook said...

great pattern Toni, Love the flat front look of the pants gives them a more tailored look. And the topstitching takes them way beyond the pj look. Love them :)

p h o t o g r a p h y said...

gorgeous!! no home made look about those snazzy pants!!

Cullis Family said...

Awesome pattern Tone!

Becky said...

I will buy this pattern for sure! I recently added your book to my growing number of MIP patterns and I love it. Thanks so much :)

beckyetal@hotmail.com

LionessLady said...

I'm yet to brave the world of boy clothe making as yet - but would love to try!

Melissa said...

Wow Toni, these look very snazzy! Great job. x

Dolores said...

I have two boys so this pattern would get a lot of use! Also, I might get over my anxiety of making garments.

IndigoElephant :: Sash said...

With 2 boys here to sew for I'm always on the lookout for a great pattern, and these pants look fab! FIngers crossed that this comes my way!!!

MothersBrains said...

Love the look and love the boy-friendly features too. You are amazing Toni!

Susan said...

Yay for another boy pattern! At last and this will be a classic! Thanks Susan :)

paula ryan said...

please put me in the draw, what a great looking pair of pants

Liesl said...

As the mother of two boys all I can say is "wooohooo"! Love the cut; love the faux fly. Brilliant.

I don't need to go into the draw as I have already ordered both sizes from one of your stockists.

The undomesticated scientist said...

cool trousers! I have a boy to sew for so this pattern will be a great addition. I usually let him loose in the fabric store so he can choose. Last time he picked a black fabric with a massive skull and cross bones print for his new shorts! i think i've got him into my fabric habit as he likes picking out fabrics! (he's 6)

Nikki said...

Yah to super cool patterns for boys. Time consuming for you, great for us and our boys. Thanks Toni.

rachelmp said...

I don't need to go in the draw, because I have already made them, but I just want to put it out there that my 8 year old son said they are even more comfortable than his jeans. Great pattern Toni!

Mich said...

These are fantastic. I love sewing, but have pretty much stuck to pj's for my boys, as there are just no patterns that look 'bought'.
I can't wait to make them. Both my 3 yr old and 7 yr old will love these.
Well done. Thanks for thinking of our boys!

Little Munchkins said...

Me, Toni, me!

That pants does look cool and I have just the perfect fabric for it.

Rachelle said...

That is a really nice pants pattern; it's hard to find something that nice for boys.

gretchen said...

Such a fabulous pair of pants. I'm always looking for pants that my son does not have to wear a belt with. Can't wait to make them!

Jennifer said...

It is great to see a pattern for boys. I can see a few pairs for my little man this year.

Nicola said...

What a great looking pair of pants - congratulations on the new pattern. I'm looking forward to making a pair for my oldest boy.

Monkeysinmypocket said...

OMG! I've been looking for a pattern like this for YONKS and havent been able to find one. I want to buy one right now. This very second.

Anne Thompson said...

What a great pattern Toni, love it!

Stephanie said...

yeah! A boy pattern! These pants are fabulous!

Ruth said...

Love love LOVE these pants! You're so right about the sewn details... I have 2 boys so would make great use of this pattern. Ruth x

Milk & Cookie Party said...

I would love to win this pattern. My son has some skinny legs and this looks perfect. Not too little boyish, nicely tailored, comfy. Perfect!

Tanya said...

These look perfect for my tall and skinny boys. The fake fly gave me a chuckle since my oldest son is forever walking around with his fly open!

grandmarockton said...

These are wonderful and I have 2 grands that would love for Granny to make them something they could wear! thanks for the chance!

Katie said...

I would love to win your awesome pattern. My boy is SO hard to find pants for.

Lady Multi-Tasker said...

Perfect! I have 3 girls and 1 boy. And guess who doesn't get clothes sewn for him? LOL I would love to make him some High Flyers!
jenn dot mrsdjm at gmail dot com

Cathy said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Cathy said...

Not sure if it is ok to join from the US, but I will leave a comment just in case. I made my first pair of boys pants last month and would love to make these as the detailing is so nice. Thanks. cathydevinney@gmail(dot)com

Jill said...

Wow! This would be awesome for my skinny son who's so hard to fit. Would love to give this a try!
jillrenee at charter dot net

Tim & Kate said...

Woo Hoo! Thank you for another great boys pattern! My three boys would love to be wearing these!Thanks!

Anonymous said...

Fantastic! Great to see something like this for boys. That slim leg look that the boys want once they hit a certain age, and it looks so smart on them. I love these, and I know my boys will too. I've got two boys, but most of my sewing is done for my little girl - they always say "when will you make something for us Mum??" Well I think I've found what that will be :-D (kirstey.yarra@gmail.com)

Anonymous said...

Love this pattern, it is so much nicer than all the plain boys pants out there! Will look great with the Downtown boy jacket that my son always gets comments on!

Karen
kmj01(at)iprimus(dot)com(dot)au

Tess said...

What a great pattern! Thanks for the chance :-)

Kiza said...

Oh my gosh, these look awesome! I've been SO disappointed in the number of things I've found to sew for my son...especially since my daughter and niece are getting lots of new fun summer things of late. I LOVE the detail work you've put into these and can't wait to try them out! Thank you for the chance to win a copy of the pattern!

Amy @ the happy nest said...

Just found your blog after purchasing your book and love it! I have two boys who would both look fab in your gorgeous pants - look forward to finding the pattern soon!

Jane said...

As mama to three boys I say YAY! And please enter me for the giveaway! These are great looking pants. wakool@internode.on.net

Jocelyn said...

I have 3 boys so I am going to have to get this pattern! I love the details.

one busy mama said...

Love them!! I have 4 boys so I know how hard it is to find good patterns for them.Can't wait to make them some.

ren said...

a really stunning looking pair of pants! would love to see my little man in a linen pair.

Mandy said...

Yay for boy patterns, thanks Toni :-)

Jackie @ Fred-and-Cissy said...

Looks like what's lacking from my Kinderboy's wardrobe, although of course as soon as I make him a pair the big brother will want one too!

Bonnie said...

They look very comfortable and good looking - modern.

Six impossible things before breakfast said...

These are exactly what I was looking for!

ljeanne said...

Oh, my gosh! I can't believe I found a pattern with straight front waistband and elastic in the back. I had a great pattern about 37 years ago that I used to make pants and shorts for my daughters. Alas, I must have given it away and have been searching for a new one, but not to be found until today! I hope I win, but now I know where to purchase the pattern. Can't wait to make pants for my grandsons.

Kylie said...

Fantastic pattern. Will be the next sewing project for my little man!!

Caitlin said...

These look wonderful! I can't wait to try them out!!

Caitlin


craftycrackpot@hotmail.com

Unknown said...

What stylish boys' pants. I would love to make some for my 2 year old grandson.




Maryanne

Leigh said...

I love them, I just finished making an Uptown Girl Jacket for my daughter and every time I get out the machine, my son asks if I am making him something yet. High Flyers is perfect! Looking forward to getting my hands on a pattern.

Neets said...

Love the look of this new pattern! As Mum of 2 boys one 5 and one not yet 1 I spend my time scouring the web/real world for boy friendly crafty inspiration - just made your lego sack for Bear's 5th birthday and your Kaftan for me. Hope I am lucky!

Kylie said...

Love it!! Looks great and perfect for my next project!!
kytas@aapt(dot)net(dot)au

Megan O said...

This is what I have been waiting for - love these! I can see myself making many pairs for my two little scallywags. Megan

Rebekka Seale said...

Those are absolutely so cool!!!

Sharyn said...

OH YEAH!!!!
Some decent pants - and i can actually follow your instructions!!! Can't wait!!
xoxx s

sdare29(at)optusnet(dot)com(dot)au

Stacey said...

Awesome pattern! Would love this for my nephews! Thanks!
Thedomesticartisan(@)gmail.com

Anonymous said...

just love your work and brought some of your patterns couple of months ago not yet complete waiting for school holidays yay have never left comment before ! kylie gri

Unknown said...

I would love this, you're right there aren't very many patterns that are easy for boys. lucky people with girls. you can make a cute little girl skirt in 2 minutes.

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