It’s been a while since I’ve sewed anything new as newborn life is hard! But when I saw Max & Meena were having a 75% off sale, I jumped at the chance to buy some new patterns. One that immediately jumped out to me was their All The Rage Romper. At first glance it looks super cosy and snuggly – perfect for the cold weather we’re having in the UK right now.
There are a number of options for this pattern, but for this review I made a long sleeve, long leg romper with a kangaroo pocket and lined hood in 3T (age 2-3).
What I Loved
- The PDF pattern is seamless and really easy to stick together. It also comes with layers so you only need to print the size you need.
- Step by step instructions come with the pattern making it really easy to understand.
- The pattern is suitable for beginners – I personally only needed to follow the instructions for the hood as the rest is really straightforward. The raglan style top is super simple as these sleeves are much easier to do than traditional sleeves. And, the fact that there are no snaps, buttons or zips also contributes to making this an easy sew.
- It comes with numerous options including short and long sleeves, knee length or ankle length bottoms, 4 different pocket styles (chest, kangaroo, inseam and circle), 2 different hood styles (lined and unlined), and a round neck. This makes it really customisable and you can get a few different looking outfits from just one pattern. You can also choose whether to do a quick sew or make something that requires a bit more effort.
- Despite being a full outfit, only one metre of fabric is required for 3T and that’s including the hood. Sizes newborn to 9-12 months can be made with half a metre if you do the round neck version.
- The entire outfit can be made on a sewing machine, although an overlocker will give a more professional finish.
- My daughter has been wearing this romper all day and she loves how flexible it is. She also looks ridiculously comfy and it’s making me wish there was an adult version.
What Wasn’t So Great
- Cuff pieces aren’t included with the pattern so you need to make these manually. While I do understand why some pattern companies choose to do this, it does mean an extra step is required in sorting the pattern and this is a pain for me when I have such little sewing time.
- There are no instructions or guidelines on where to add the kangaroo or chest pockets – the pattern just says to place them in your desired position. I opted to do the kangaroo pocket and sewed it way too low. While I know to now make it higher if I make this outfit again, it would have been helpful to have a general placement guide on the pattern itself.
- While this outfit does look amazing when on, it’s not the easiest thing to dress a two year old in – they have to step into it through the neck opening, and then you pull it up. I don’t think it would be suitable for children that are potty training.
Tips for Next Time
- If doing the kangaroo pocket, make sure to add it higher on the torso.
Final Verdict
The Max & Meena All The Rage Romper pattern creates a really nice outfit that is absolutely perfect for the winter months. I love how customisable it is, and I honestly love the cosy, relaxed style. The main downside to it is that it’s not the easiest thing to get on and off but I’m hoping that might get easier with practice. It’s definitely something I’d be open to making another of – maybe in a brushed cotton jersey fabric for the ultimate in snuggly comfort.
The All The Rage Romper can be made in sizes newborn to Age 6 and requires cotton jersey fabric for the main body and hood, and ribbing for the cuffs. The PDF version of the Max & Meena All The Rage Romper can be purchased from their website for $9.95.
