Extraordinary Girl by Filles a Maman

I always love having a basic tee pattern on hand to sew for my daughter, and tees with ruffles are good, too. Sometimes, though, you want a pattern that is a little more exciting than a plain tee and a little less girly than a ruffled tee. A tee that you can really showcase great knits or even a panel from a custom knit order. The Extraordinary Girl from FIlles a Maman really fits the bill for that pattern staple that is very versatile and stylish, yet simple enough to whip up in a pinch. Let's turn it over to Carrie and Gloria for their review!

Hi everyone! I’m here today to share with you what might be one of my favorite tops in a long time. The Extraordinary Girl from Filles à Maman. A girl can never have too many tees right? This is such a staple that I could easily make a whole drawer full and still not get bored with it. 

This pattern has a great size range, from 12/18M all the way to 14. You can do a solid color front, or color blocked, such as the one I made here. There is also an optional chest pocket that I chose to leave off of this one. The fit on the Extraordinary Girl could not have been better; I found the size chart to be very accurate. The boat neck was the perfect width to look super cute but not hang off my daughter’s shoulders (which I’ve found to be an issue in several store bought tops of a similar style).

Another feature I love is the high/low hem. It gives it a stylish look that my daughter even said looked store bought. That’s a big thing for us right now as she’s at that age that kids at school are starting to notice some of her clothing is handmade (and for a first grader, oh how embarrassing! Haha!) 

One of the best parts about this pattern is how quickly it goes together. With a 6 month old also, I have limited time to get things cut and sewn if I want to sleep at all. Being able to get this finished in under an hour is a HUGE plus. 

Thanks for letting me share! I hope you all enjoy this as much as I am. Happy sewing!!

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Hello, Sewistas! I'm Gloria, the blogger behind gloriajune, with a look at Filles a Maman's "Extraordinary Girl" PDF Sewing Pattern.

I found Extraordinary Girl to be very charming and a creative inspiration. I was able to do some scrapbusting and try out the popular "fabric panel" craze with this pattern.

The boat-neck design, combined with lapped neck binding, brings a welcome change to the everyday T-shirt, together with a forgiving neckline allowing for a more comfortable on and off experience.

A week before I began this review, I received my order of princess fabric panels from Eurogirls! While they washed & dried, I looked through my favorite collection of Doodles knits from JoAnn (so very soft and cuddly!) and my knit remnant bucket (fabulous finds in the remnant bins of any fabric store at deeply discounted prices).

I had Extraordinary fun with color . . .

  • Price: $9.79 US, payable via PayPal, available in English or French language versions.

  • Sizing: 12/18 months – 14 years (19.5" – 31" chest measurement).

  • Boat-neck, hi-low hem, long or ¾ sleeve.

  • Mommy & Me is available! (purchase a separate pattern in women's sizes or the Extraordinary Girl Combo which includes both women & girls sizing).

  • Designed for knit fabrics.

  • Printing option includes the ability to print "layers" (choose a specific size(s) to print); 12 pages to print, 7 pattern pieces to cut, including a functional front pocket.

  • Cutting layout graphics are provided for a single color or color blocked top.

  • Imperial and Metric fabric requirements are provided as separate charts. A Size Chart and Finished Length Chart is included to guide you in determining appropriate size.

  • Lengthen/shorten graphic instructions provided.

  • Confident Beginner Friendly!

Once you print and cut the pattern pieces, you'll be able to put this shirt together in just under an hour. With each one you make, the process will go even faster. The instructions are written thoughtfully; and, together with impressive hand-drawn graphics, you'll appreciate the smooth construction technique.

I love the length—and, that the hi-lo hem is not a dramatic drop. I made no adjustments to either top and found that the sizes I selected based on measurements made a perfect fit.

I definitely recommend this pattern for your little ones! I'm going to make the women's version and am confident that I will love that one too.

New Year, new style . . . be Extraordinary!

Happy Sewing,

gloriajune