On Your Marks.....Get Set.....Go!!!!

5/5/2016

Are you all feeling energetic?! No, I'm not either but this collection of 3 pocketed t-shirts from Kelly J Designs is called the Race Day Collection! My boys love pockets and I've got a love for colour blocking at the moment so these were sure to be a hit all round. So much so, I've made 2 of each final design during testing alone! My personal favourite is the 'On Your Marks' what's yours?

Pattern Details

These tees can be bought separately or in a set so I'll talk about the patterns in general then I'll separate, identify and talk briefly about each design!

The PDF files include easy to understand steps accompanied by photos and illustrated instructions for how to customise the size by lengthening/shortening the pattern pieces. There is also a print guide so you know which pages you need to print for each style and size.

They have 5 sleeve options, sleeveless, short sleeve, layered short sleeve, long sleeve or layered long sleeve and the total bonus is, all 3 patterns use the same sleeve piece so there's no need to reprint and cut if you've already got 1 printed in the right size and style!

So all 3 patterns come in sizes 12 months to age 18! They all have layers and different coloured and style lines for each size. There are maximum of 23 pages to print for of them with just 10 needed for the sleeveless 12m Go! The pages need trimming to assemble but I found this to mean they go together very well, especially using the lettered semi circles to match the next page to. They are all for knitted fabrics and the necks definitely need some lycra content for good recovery.

On Your Marks....

This tee is the only one in the set which can be made without pockets and also the only one that the pocket pieces can be a different fabric.
It goes together the quickest of the 3
I love that you are able to pattern match the pockets and centre panel nice and easily if you want to!

Get Set....

I think this style is the trickiest of the 3 to put together but still nice and straightforward following the instructions.
Pockets are separate even though the panel is one piece

Go!

The go is the only one to have a kangaroo pocket
Takes the longest to sew (for me)
I like how the pocket backing can match or contrast to easily make it from 2 or 3 fabrics yet still look balanced

My versions

This first set were all age 3 and made with 95/5 cotton lycra. I tried the short sleeve, layered short sleeve and layered long sleeves for them. I made no modifications from the pattern. The marvel and Toy Story jerseys were from JK Jersey and the Dinosaurs are Michael Miller Dino Dudes. The plain colours for these were actually upcycled stretchy 95/5 cotton lycra tees (I was inspired to upcycle by the New Horizons upcycle challenge!)

The 2nd set were made in viscose lycra (percentages unspecified). 'On Your Marks' and 'Go!' were age 3's and 'Get Set' age 5. I managed to get all three out of 1m (1.1yard) of grey and 1/2 metre (0.55 yard) of the bright striped fabric. All of these were layered short sleeve and straight from the pattern. They are a pretty quick sew after the first one or two too as other than finishing the thread ends, which I needed to do the next day, all 3 were made between buying the fabric at 3.30pm and me going to bed at midnight! including washing and drying to preshrink!

How do they fit?

These are designed to be a slim fit, slightly longer length tee. Going by chest sizes made my 5 year old an age 3 and my alost 3 year old and 18-24m. There is only a 1.25cm (0.5 inch) difference in their chest measurements and other than the long sleeve one, they can actually both share each of the tees without either looking like they aren't theirs! I like the slim fit these have and my boys have both chosen to have one on every day since they've been finished, so they must love them too!

photos show the same shirt on both of my boys (I hadn't top-stitched the layered sleeves in the left photo)

I was also able to borrow a friend's son to help me model the whole set together. Using his measurements, I made the age 5 and his fit well too

Project Cost

For 1 of the custom printed versions
Pattern Cost (Full Price) - (£6.22) $9
Custom Fabric Cost - £3 ($4.34)
Plain fabric cost - £2.50 ($3.62)
Notions/Thread - 50p ($0.72)

Total £12.62 ($18.27)
Estimated cost to make each additional in a similar style - £6 ($8.69)

For the set of 3 striped & grey
Pattern bundle cost (Full Price) - (£13.81) $20
Striped Fabric - £5 ($7.24)
Grey Fabric - £10 ($14.48)
Notions/Thread - £1 ($1.44)

Total £29.81 ($43.16) approx £9.95($14.41) each
Estimated cost to make each additional in a similar style £5.50 ($7.96)

All 3 patterns are on sale seperately for (£4.14) $6 each or you can buy the whole bundle for just (£9.67) $14 until midnight 7th May, you won't want to miss them!

There is also a FREE non colour blocked tee version available from the files section HERE if you want to try out the fit first!!

The Verdict!

We have a winner!! This is a definite make again, in fact as the sizing goes up to age 18, I can see it becoming a VERY well used pattern in my stash for many years to come! My boys have put their orders in for several more already so I think it's a hit with them both as well. I also really love the layered short sleeves so can see myself using that technique time and time again too.