Hello fellow makers! I recently tested out the Made for Mermaids Brenda, and I wanted to take a moment today to write about the pattern and my thoughts on it. I also got to do some fun twinning with my middle daughter as well as a fellow maker friend!
The Pattern – Options
The Made for Mermaids Brenda is a knit dolman top pattern that comes in women’s, girls, and baby sizes. I made size pink for myself based on my full bust and made a size 8 for my 8 year old daughter based on her measurements. The size range is quite large. From a newborn baby up to a 60 inch bust in the women’s pattern.
The pattern has the option for short ruffled sleeves, long fitted sleeves, long loose sleeves, and long loose sleeves with a ruffle. It comes in top length or tunic length as well as the option for buttons on the front with a tie at the bottom. I made a top length for my daughter, and my yellow Brenda is a tunic length with one inch removed. My burgundy floral top is the button front with a straight cut back (It also has the option of a scoop back on the button front).
I think my favorite part of the pattern is that ruffle on the sleeve, and I especially love that it can be made with the short or long sleeve options.
My next favorite option is the button up front! The pattern has it constructed as a faux button front – no buttonholes required. I am still breastfeeding my youngest so I went ahead and made mine real and added the buttonholes, but the front is low enough that I really could have just gotten away with the faux button front like the pattern suggested.
Fabric
I used Double Brushed Polyester for my daughters floral top and for my striped yellow top. I think I got it from Bow Button fabric some time ago, but it has been in my stash long enough that I am not sure!
For my long sleeve floral top, I used Hacci knit from Knitpop*.
Twinning
Late this past summer, I saw a few makers on Instagram taking part in a #sewtwinning challenge where they used the same fabric as another maker to make a garment. I quickly messaged a fellow sewist, Alex Resch, asking her if she would do the #sewtwinning challenge with me. I love to follow her and think she has a wardrobe that I would live in! I have yet to meet her in person, but I love how encouraging and sweet she is, and hopefully one day, I will get the chance to meet her in person.
It just so happened that Knitpop was having a sale shortly thereafter, and we both eyed this beautiful floral Hacci and decided it was perfect! We decided to make it a surprise to each other how we would use our fabric, and I can’t wait to see what she made with hers!!!
Floral + ruffles = PERFECTION in my book, but do you think it is over the top? When I first tried mine on, I just so happened to be wearing green pants, and my husband walked in and said I looked like a little old lady. I was instantly sad with regret thinking maybe it was over the top, and I hadn’t noticed!
We had date night a few nights later, and I wore this top. He didn’t call me a little old lady, though! I think adding some deep burgundy lipstick and jeans helped! It always amazes me how styling changes the entire look of a garment.
Resources
- You can find the women’s Brenda pattern HERE. You can find the youth Brenda pattern HERE. You can find the bundle of the women and youth Brenda patterns HERE.
- You can find double brushed poly at Bow Button fabrics HERE. I have also found a lot of double brushed poly at Knitpop*.
- You can find Hacci at Knitpop HERE*. I think this pattern would be perfect in waffle knit and sweater knit as well!
Thanks for stopping by today! I would love to stay connected with you. You can find me on Instagram. If you want to take a look into the things that inspire me, you can follow me on Pinterest. You may also follow my blog with Bloglovin.
*Disclosures
I received this pattern for free as part of the testing process so that I could give the designer feedback about the pattern. Also, this post may contain affiliate links, which means I receive a small compensation when you purchase via my link. This does not cost you anything, and I genuinely appreciate the support. Any and all opinions expressed are still my own.
XO
Last but not least, this photo just melted my heart! We were walking to take photos and she was just so excited to get to take photos with me. I love this season of life. I know she won’t always be so innocent, but I pray she always stays so sweet.
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