Soda Pop Polo

I was so excited when Rebecca from Candy Castle Patterns contacted me and asked if I'd be interested in testing several different sizes of the Soda Pop Polo!  (Sometimes having lots of kids in different sizes pays off!  lol!)  

It comes in sizes 6m - 14 years (!!!) and has a TON of different options.  Of course...the two children that I tested for both picked the same style so you only get to see one of them in this post.  But just so you know, this pattern has options for a hood, a classic color, a classic henley collar, and a ruffle collar.  It also has patterns for a heart or star shaped pocket, a regular pocket and templates for hearts, stars, and lightning bolts for some reverse applique on your pockets! 

Oh, and something else that's fun, it has the option of putting in an inside inset on the back.  The inset can be made with knit or woven fabric and it's a fun finishing touch.  A nice little secret for your child.  Kessa has some more woven Frozen fabric on hers and Zeke has flannel Monster fabric from Joanns on his (the kid is obsessed with textures and loves all things soft!  ;)

On to the pattern!  As you can see, it has a placket that can be done in knit or woven on most of the styles.  I choose to use knit for both of mine because the colors I had worked better.

This wasn't my first time doing knit plackets but it was by far the easiest!  Totally nothing to be afraid of.  Rebecca's directions and secrets are amazing!  (Hint - have a glue stick on hand!  What?!?!?  Mind blown!) 

Now, let's talk about this hoodie version.  I've made a LOT (and I do mean a LOT LOT LOT) of hoodies in my day.  I have a lot of hoodie patterns and I've tried tons but I LOVE the way this one is put together!  It is a bit more work than your standard hoodie variations but it's polished and finished inside and out.  This is accomplished by attached the hood via a collar stand (what?!?!  Mind blow again!) 

You can see on Zeke's shirt I used the regular pocket shape and added a reverse applique star (with a monster peeking through of course!) and mixed it up a bit by putting it on the sleeve.

The hood can be done in knit or woven or a combination of both (which is what I did).  The inside of the hood is flannel on Zeke's and the outside is knit.  Aside from the flannel his shirt is 100% upcycled and I just LOVE the way it turned out.

The pattern comes with instructions for buttons too but my machine hates button holes so I finally broke down and ordered the snap pliers set I wanted and used snaps on both Kessa and Zeke's.

Kessa's shirt is the exact same style (hoodie view, long sleeves, knit placket, snaps) but I chose to use a heart shaped pocket with some more of the Frozen fabric for hers.

There are also instructions for short sleeves...and I think maybe faux layered sleeves as well.  This pattern is so well put together than even a beginner would have no problems tackling it!  Just follow the directions step by step and you'll end up with an amazing finished product! 




Now, I'm dying to make the boys some with a regular henley collar.  They just might be my favorite style!