Wednesday 15 June 2016

Pattern Testing the Swim and Surf Shorts by Gracious Threads + Giveaway!


I have a very special place in my heart for Jessica from Gracious Threads. First, because she gave me my very first pattern testing gig for the Starfish Shorts. Second, because she lives super close to me and I love to know that people are designing patterns in my own backyard!

 ... but seriously, how cute is this little bug! She had a lot of fun playing while I snapped photos back then, but we've definitely both gotten better at photos over the last 15 months.


I decided to hit up the thrift store for fabric for this pattern test because there is no board short (microfibre) fabric to be found anywhere in Edmonton and I didn't have the time or patience to order any online. I ended up finding two different pairs of shorts to use for this test. The blue pair are a men's large and cost $3.99 and the stripes are a youth size 14 and cost $4.99.


These Swim and Surf Shorts are a size 2 for my mini 3 year old. There are two length options with this new pattern but I chose to use the shorter length. This first pair was made with the board short fabric for the main and waistband and quilting cotton made into binding.  There is instructions right in the pattern tutorial to make your own binding. I also included the optional swim bottoms with this pair. I absolutely love the colour pairing of the dark blue (my 3 year old's favourite colour at the moment) with the bright pink to make them girly!

I couldn't be happier with how this second pair of Swim and Surf Shorts turned out. I ended up having to use the stripes turned vertical for the waistband in order to have enough length for the fabric (one of the joys of upcycling) but to be honest I think it worked out great as an accent. I also painstakingly removed the binding from the original pair using my seam ripper and re-used it for this new pair. I decided not to put the swim bottoms in this one because I have a purple women's swimsuit that I will be making into a 2 piece suit for her in the next few weeks.

 ...And now for the best part, my very first giveaway. Jessica from Gracious Threads has donated a copy of this amazing pdf sewing pattern for me to give away for free! Just post a comment at the bottom of this blog post telling me who you will make these shorts for if you win the pattern and I will choose a winner using random.org on Thursday, June 23rd around 8pm MST.


Thanks for stopping by!

Read more about these shorts on the Gracious Threads Blog

Follow me on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michelledschuh/

56 comments:

  1. So cute! I would love to sew up a pair for my 3 year old daughter.

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  2. Love these! Definitely would make these for my daughter.

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  3. These look great! I'd make some for all 4 of my boys and probably even my 2 girls as well.

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  4. both pairs are so great; thank you for all your help!

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  5. You did a great job! Your shorts turned out great. I'd love to make these for all 3 of my girls. Thank you!

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  6. You did a great job! Your shorts turned out great. I'd love to make these for all 3 of my girls. Thank you!

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  7. I would love to make these for my 2 sons and my 9 yr old daughter!

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  8. I have four nieces all ages 3-4 and it would be fun to make them matching shorts.

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  9. Will definitely make 1 for my son 2 years of age and 1for my daughter just turning 1 and 1for my niece and 1for my nephew and such and such....love it. Thanks for sharing ♡♥♡♥♡♥

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  10. I LOVE the stripey pair eapecially, the waistband stripes going the other way are perfect! I'd love to make them for my 2 boys and with a little tweaking for hips, myself too!!

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  11. Love that you upcycle and perfect pattern to use. I would make them for my 3 granddaughters because this is their favorite style.

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  12. My daughter hates swimwear unless they are this style. Can't wait to get started!!

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    1. You are the winner using random.org! Email me michelledschuh@gmail.com to claim your prize.

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  13. My daughter hates swimwear unless they are this style. Can't wait to get started!!

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  14. My daughter needs more shorts for this summer.

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  15. My DD would enjoy having such shorts!

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  16. They look great, I have the same issue in my town. The swim board fabric is not available.

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  17. How cute are these!!?? I'd make a pair for both my daughters :)

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  18. I would love to make these for my little tomboy. She likes "boy" swimsuits better than girl ones

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  19. Wow! They are great for summer

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  20. Yes please! Love your blog post!

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  21. My little boy as he always misses out, as it is easier to sew for girls x

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  22. Love these! I would make them for my 2 daughters and my niece!

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  24. These are so cute! Love the stripe pair. I would love to make some of these shorts for my daughter

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  25. Adorable! I'd love to make some for my 3 year old daughter

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  26. Adorable! I'd love to make some for my 3 year old daughter

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  27. My daughter's birthday is this Thursday, so I would make her a pair to wear to her Shopkins birthday party next weekend!

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  28. I would make them for my daughter!

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  29. Cute!!! Love me a good upcycle!

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  30. I would make these for my 4 year old daughter!! Locvery these!!

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  31. My little bumpkin!!she's 4 and has great fashion sense. I know she would adore this pattern! Thank you!

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  32. I've got 3 boys and they're all in need of some new shorts, but my 3 year old would really like them.

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  33. I've got 3 boys and they're all in need of some new shorts, but my 3 year old would really like them.

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  34. Thank you for the chance to win! I would make a pair for my 5 year old daughter, 5 year old grandson & my 4 daycare kids ages from 2-4.

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  35. Thank you for the chance to win! I would make a pair for my 5 year old daughter, 5 year old grandson & my 4 daycare kids ages from 2-4.

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  36. Love them! Both my daughter and son need some!

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  37. I really love your second pair. I have a 4 year old and 5 year old boy who would both look great in some swim shorts!

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  38. I really love the purple stripes version! It definitely a pattern on my to do list!

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  39. I would make them for my grandkids and then some to put into our Christmas boxes we do for Christmas for charity

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  40. Love them! I love upcycling clothes for fabric too! I need a pattern like this because store bought shorts are so inappropriately short on my skinny daughter lol! ��

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  41. These shorts are so adorable! I'd make them for my daughter.

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  42. My 5 year old girl, who isn't always so girlie

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  43. My 5 year old girl, who isn't always so girlie

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  44. These would be perfect.for my daughter who doesn't like to wear regular shorts. She would love these

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  45. Must gat this pattern. I can see all 3 of my kiddos wearing these this summer.

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  46. So cute!!! I'd love to make these for my girls!

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  47. I'd love to make these shorts for both my girls. They need new summer shorts so badly right now!

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  48. Looks like a mnust have for all of my little swimmers!

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  49. I would see up a pair ( or 10 ) for my 2 1/2 year old niece

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  50. my little monster, hes 1.5 and LOVES shorts, and all his cousins Im sure :P

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