I've been MIA for a while. Mostly that's due to the new baby and trying to navigate the change in family dynamics and logistics. I've still been making things, although not in the volume that I was previously. And I haven't had quiet, hands-free time for blogging. I'm hoping to start writing more posts while I'm putting littles to bed. Fingers crossed!
I'm pretty excited about several new pad patterns. This pattern and designer were introduced to me in a pad swap. My partner requested a 10" rounded flare from The Happy Hippos. I had heard of these patterns, but didn't own any. So I was perfectly happy to add it to my pattern collection. It has quickly become one of my favorites, and opened some exciting opportunities for me that I'll hopefully talk about in future posts.
In the picture above, you can see the 10" rounded flare on the left, and the 11" straight flare on the right. Becky is the designer of The Happy Hippos patterns. (Except for the ice cream pad, which her young daughter designed! I think that's awesome!) She has a wide range of shapes and sizes, and has recently come out with several patterns for serging, and has some more designs and sizes in the works. I originally just purchased the one pattern, because I felt that I had enough rounded patterns in my collection. But this one was so enjoyable to sew, that I've returned to her shop several times to buy more patterns in various sizes and shapes. In fact, I've purchased so many that I've created an entire folder specifically devoted to The Happy Hippos.
I liked this pattern so much, that I decided to preserve it more permanently by transferring it onto a clear plastic cutting mat - a new technique I've learned. The digitized pattern includes a sewing line and a line for a 3/8" seam allowance. Since I like tracing and stitching on the sew line, instead of using the seam allowance as a guide, I cut my pattern out on that stitching line. The cover page is in color, with the name of the pattern and The Happy Hippos logo. The rest of the pattern is filled with very clear instructions. However, this particular pattern does not include step-by-step photos. (Some of her newer patterns have photos, but currently the rounded flare and straight flare patterns do not.)
The instructions are easy to follow, and the pattern is really beginner friendly. But if you do feel like you're more of a visual learner, you might need to watch a video tutorial, or try out a pattern with photo instructions and then try this one once you get the hang of pad-making and the language used.
The core on the pattern comes with 2 options. You can choose a straight core or a flared core. I really like this feature, because it helps you choose your own level of coverage, depending on what level of absorption you'll need. For example, if you are only making a liner, the straight flare works well. And if you're looking for a more moderate absorption pad, the flared is great. You could even use both core shapes in one pad for more protection.
The finished pad is spot on the measurements, at exactly 10" long. Becky includes a placement guide for the snaps, which include 2 settings for width. The finished pad snaps closed at a gusset width of either 2" or 2.5". She does a great job of designing the pads so that there is no bunching in the back once the pad is snapped. For this teal and white pad, I only added the snap for the 2.5" gusset, which you can see is pretty narrow. But I like the option of 2 widths, because sometimes pads will need a narrower or wider gusset, depending on the underwear you're snapping it into.
Becky is great to work with, and if she updates her patterns, she is quick to send you the update once you alert her to your purchase. She has a group on Facebook, where she always has a coupon code for you to get her patterns at a discounted price.
I've now used this pattern several times for gifts and swaps. It has become one of my most frequently used patterns, both for liners and for moderate coverage. There are so many great patterns in this shop, and I hope to be able to review all of the patterns I've tried. There are so many though, that it will be a bit. Her newest patterns for serging are worth checking out too, if you're in the market for that type of pattern.
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