Sometimes, the designers' web sites still exist, or they have a new one: but their children have grown older, and they no longer want to support children's patterns, or now have only adult patterns. So the previously free pattern no longer exists. Or they've decided only to sell patterns, and no longer to offer any free ones. Occasionally, previous links no longer work, but I've managed to find a new one that does. But often, the web site has just gone, or has gone very dodgy, so you get messages that it's unsafe - or worse, if your security software doesn't catch it.
Shorts made with Caila Made pattern, from now unsafe web site
So the purpose of this post is to go through some of the defunct links, and others that have wobbled in the past, to see what I can offer to you. Like me, you may like what you've seen on Pinterest or elsewhere. In some cases, I can help. I may have found an alternative link, I may have something similar I can recommend instead, or I may have one of my own patterns that would work. Maybe I have something already saved that could help you. Others are sadly gone for ever. If you find other links (on my web site or on Pinterest) for baby patterns that don't work, do let me know!
If you are one of these pattern designers and you now have a new web site, where these patterns are available, please do get in touch. I'll be happy to set the record straight.
I'll start, alphabetically, with:
Andrea's Notebook
1) One of my favourite baby leggings pattern was provided by Andrea, and there are still references to this pattern on Pinterest, but some of the links now no longer work. At the time of writing, this one for Free Baby Leggings did, though, and the link in it to the pattern, for 3 sizes 3 months to 12 months, was still working. (I have a PDF copy.) Larger sizes are not free, but are available on the Go To web site for about $10. For a free pattern which includes larger girl's sizes up to 12, you could alternatively look at this one from Sew Can She.
2) I've often made hooded beach towels for my grand-children, and Andrea's tutorial for a hooded beach towel was one of the ideas I've used. It's one I particularly like, as it's unique and clever - the towel converts to and from a backpack, so the children can take their own towels to the beach. However, in the past, I found the link broken. Here is one that is currently working. Andreas hooded beach towel
Caila Made.
This web site (and any links to it) are now decidely dangerous - do not click on any links to Cailamade.com, whether from Pinterest or via a search.
There were three specific free PDF patterns I used to list.
1) Paper bag dress. A pretty style,with measurements for age 3, but no pattern. You'll still find pictures of it on Pinterest. Do not attempt to open any of those links. An alternative is the Icecream Social dress from Craftiness is not Optional. This differs from the Caila Made version in that it has elasticated shoulders. I've made it successfully a couple of times, for example:
2) Summer shorts. This became a staple shorts pattern for me for little girls for a while. I still have a PDF of the pattern, which I'm happy to share if you contact me, but unfortunately no copy of her tutorial. I did write up the first pair of these I made in this post (the shorts are at the bottom of the page, so while this is not a full tutorial, it gives some idea as to how they are put together. Do not click on any links in that post to Caila Made if I've inadvertently missed removing any. However, I have alternative shorts patterns suggested on this earlier post - or see P 3 of this post for more shorts ideas.
3) Whimsy Shirred sundress. Another nice tutorial. The Caila Made version had panels and pockets, but these features could easily be added to the alternatives I've suggested below. (These all worked at the time of writing!)
a) Make it Love it
b) Pretty Prudent
c) Melly Sews
d) Craft Passion
e) Spoonflower
Canadian Living.
I've previously recommended their dining harness idea, but the web link now seems to be dead. At least, it is to people in my country - it may still exist in Canada. I have copies as PDFs of the pattern However, I do have a ready alternative, in that I have since designed my own dining harness. You can find the tutorial here, and the pattern here, together with how I came to develop this idea based on the Canadian Living idea.
Climbing the Willow.
You'll find references to Climbing the Willow all over Pinterest, and on many other people's web sites, especially to the Izzy top (below). However, many links to the Climbing the Willow website now are NOT SAFE.
1) Climbing the Willow Izzy Top is a pattern I love and have used numerous times. Here are two of the first of many.
Although the web site is no longer safe, until recently, it was still possible to get the Izzy pattern free from Craftsy. Since Craftsy was taken over by Bluprint, the two different size versions of the pattern are no longer free. You can get them currently (February 2019) for about $1 or 77p. I suspect this price may increase. This is the smaller size one, 18 months to age 5, and the larger one, ages 6-12. I have found that the PDFs thus downloaded can say they may be from an unsafe source. Bluprint should not be unsafe! Nevertheless, I would not recommend your opening any such files unless you are sure your security software is up to date. I have opened them without any problem. I have obviously already downloaded the PDFs, as I've been using them (and promoting them) for several years.
Having heartily recommended it, I was disappointed to find the previous links no longer worked. After some research, I can report that (as at February 2019) this dropbox does contain the pattern (but no tutorial). This Bloglovin' link (again, Feb 2019) has the method for adding facings, so it does give you at least a partial tutorial. I tend to play fast and loose with patterns anyway. In particular, I've always made the armholes a bit looser / deeper on the A-line dress, for comfort. I have a PDF copy.
Should these links also cease to work in future, (or should you need a different size) here are a couple of ideas for how to make your own A-line pattern.
a) Burda style
b) Frills and Flares
3) Climbing the Willow Basic Bodice. This was in the same sizes as the A-line dress. It's so useful to have a basic bodice pattern as a starting point. I do have a PDF copy. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find any current links that work. So here we are on to alternatives.
a) Cottage Mama party dress
b) Shwin and Shwin Holiday dress with sleeves
Both of these are what I'd call a high-waisted style, so if you just want the bodice pattern, you might want to make the patterns a bit longer. There are also several T-shirt patterns that might work, though if you are making something with non-knit fabric, you might have to go up a size or two.
Down to Hearth lengthening a onesie. This is not so much a pattern as a tutorial, which I liked, for getting a longer life from a onesie. The link no longer works, but I do have a picture from the original web site. It's a clever idea to chop up two onesies and get one good one out of them. This idea was one I carried forward to my post on tips for extending the life of children's clothes.
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