A few months after I started sewing, I discovered the world of PDF patterns and pattern testing. Pattern testing is basically testing a pattern and giving feedback to the designer about whether there’s something wrong with the fit, or the instructions, or the pattern pieces, and so on, before it is launched for sale to the public. The perks is that you get a say on things and could be featured as a model in the website or pattern itself, plus you get the pattern for free plus another pattern as a thank you. Also, you get street cred in the sewing world.
I tried applying to be a tester a few times before but never got picked until last month to test the South-shore romper for kids by Ellie and Mac. I have the similar pattern for adults – planning to make one for my sister-in-law for Christmas – but did not have the guts to sew one for myself. I thought if I got the kid version, Lia and I could match.
For the first fit test, I thought I would upcycle a top I made when I first started sewing. I wore it once – did not like the neckline and tried to bind it after.
Alas, my sewing skills was not up to par that time. After unpicking several times, I gave up and left this off as an unfinished project.
For the testing, I dug it out from my heap of unfinished projects and with some pattern tetris, I was able to get all the pattern pieces out of it except for the neckband and sash. For that I used purple bamboo lycra remnants from a dress I made months ago. For the pockets I used pink scuba knit remnants which was a mistake because it’s heavier than the cotton jersey I’m using.
Anyway, the fit was quite good though she mentioned that with the contrasting neckband, she felt it looked like a bit like a cheongsam.
I left it unhemmed because it was supposedly just a muslin, but she’s worn it to places a couple of times since.
When it came for the finals, I let her choose the fabric from one of my favorite online fabric shops. She chose a blue fox and bunny design, and asked me to buy the pink version for her cousin too.
We took a few pictures before church to submit to the designer.
Sleepy Flamingo 