Anyone have a good source for sewing patterns?

[BoobyJuice]

I'm looking for free or inexpensive sewing patterns. There are so many at fabric stores and lots of them are pretty expensive. With my little ones with me I don't really have time to look for ones I like.

Does anyone have an free patterns site, online source for patterns, favorite purchased pattern, etc for
* fleece sweat pants (size newborn, 2T, 4t)
* fleece sweat shirt (size 2T, 4T)
* fleece hats (nb, 2T, 4T)
* mama cloth - preferably post partum size

Thanks!

[mehndi mama]

Not exactly free-to-inexpensive, but it will end up becoming so as you use it/them:
I use Kwik Sew Master Pattern Books for almost all of my kid sewing. They have Sewing for Baby, Sewing for Toddlers, and Sewing for Children. Each book comes with a huge sheet of Master Pattern pieces that work interchangably, and all are multi-sized. The book has very easy-to-follow instructions on how to use these basic pieces to make all kinds of variations of clothing. When I want to design something new, these patters are usually my starting point. IMO, it's better to spend a bit more for one thing you'll use a lot than to accumulate a bunch of inexpensive paterns that may or may not work, and can't be interchanged. (This is coming from a woman with 12 storage boxes full of patterns - I know of what I speak!)

[LdyBluNH@aol]

i love the kwik sew book sewing for kids or whatever it is

you do have to get somethign to trace off the pieces

other than that, you can browse the big four patterns online (mccalls, butterick, simplicity and whatever ) at their web sites

joanns often does 99cent pattern sales and honestly for a buck i cant get it any cheaper so i have bought patterns just because (like last year i stocked up on potential costumes for future years) i would buy a pattern in two different sizes - but only during the dollar sale

[BoobyJuice]

Thanks. I'd be happy to pay 99 cents - everytime I've looked the patterns have been 12.99 or 16.95 or something equally outrageous.

I like the idea of the master pattern books - I'll have to see if I sew enough to make it worth it. So far I've only tried baby blankets and little fleece hats. I figured sweat pants couldn't be too much harder. (Basically I just got an order of remnant fleece from Malden Mills and now I'm trying to think of things to do with it )

Does anyone know of any patterns or websites that have patterns for mama cloth?

[twouglyducks]

there are a couple of patterns with free mama pads patterns. I know that www.diapersewing.com has one, but I didn't care for it too much.
Try doing a search for cloth pad pattern or something. That's what I did.

[tboroson]

Joann's has, in addition to the 99 cent sales, most of their patterns on "sale" for 50% off all of the time. Less expensive brands of patterns end up being $2-$5 each, and usually have several items like pants and shirts in a single package. The little old Pennsylvania Dutchman in me (Hi, Grandpa!) used to be really anal about drafting my own patterns because, well, why spend money on one when I know how to draft one on my own? Until I realized how cheap they were, compared to spending several hours doing the drafting for something really basic...

[rkimb74]

I am a member of an co-op that is doing kwik sew patterns right now. She is great to work with. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/comfycreations/

[BoobyJuice]

Thanks everyone. I'm hoping I can get into this - I've only been sewing fleece baby blanket and hats about a month - and then will need lots more patterns Those books of patterns sound great. Next time I'm near a fabric store (we're about 100 miles from anything) I'll definitly look for the 99 cent sales. I've been looking around on line but was hoping to cheat and find the patterns that are easy to use and everyone loves. It's so hard based on the little description on the package or the website.

Thanks!

[annethcz]

Don't know if this will help you, but tomorrow (Sat. Aug 14), JoAnn is having a $0.99 sale on Simplicity patterns. I tend to stock up on these, too

[AahRee]

Another one who stocks up when they're cheap! I wish there were online sources of free patterns, but I haven't found any good ones. Sorry!

[BoobyJuice]

Thanks - I wish I'd been able to get to Joanns, but good to know. I'll keep my eye open for more good sales.

This may be oversimplifying, but would it be possible to make a pattern for sweats but tracing a pair they have now? They're fleece and stretchy and loose so it's not like it would have to be an exact pattern. Would it work?