A Little Touch of Spring with the Seville Cropped Cardigan

I just tested one of the best most versatile cardigan patterns that will easily become a staple in my daughter's wardrobe. One of my struggles with kids clothes is how short they are able to wear each piece of clothing due to the seasons changing. Ah the joys of life in Canada.

Enter the Seville Cropped Cardigan by Terra's Treasures - a super cute cardigan with 2 options of either long sleeve or mid sleeve length. Oh and the best part about this cardigan is that if you choose not to top-stitch, this entire knit project can be made on your serger! I was selected to test the mid sleeve option and couldn't be happier as I am busy getting clothing sewn up that can double as resort wear when we head to Cuba in May.

The outfit above features the Seville Cropped Cardigan in a mystery white jersey knit with decent 4 way stretch, the Emily Dress by Mummykins and Me with Free Motion Applique Puppy Dog from Winter Wear Designs. The tights are of course Abby's Footed Tights from The Wolf and the Tree.

As you can see with these 2 very different outfits, this pattern is extremely versatile when sewn up in a neutral colour. Some of the testers used some very bright and fun prints and I love how they turned out too - so I will no doubt need to make a mix of both. Join the Terra's Treasures Facebook Group for an extra special discount code on this pattern (to make it free!)

This outfit features the same Seville Cropped Cardigan but this time I switched it up and made a Girls' Weekender Tunic from 5 out of 4 Patterns with a high low hem in a short sleeve version. The fabric is from a flawed mystery box I bought from Sweet 'n Charmed custom fabric. There were some real gems in that mystery box! I love how springy this outfit feels. It makes up for the face that it is -10 degrees celsius outside (14 F) and very snowy... but seriously doesn't that Tunic just make you want to spin in circles?!

 

I'm impressed I managed to fit in 1 current and 4 older pattern tests into 1 blog post!

As a side note: Check out my instagram page! https://www.instagram.com/michelledschuh/

Pattern Testing: Legends Mommy and Me Dress

I am extremely excited to write this post! Sew Straight and Gather is one of my most favourite pattern companies. Aside from the obvious reason - that I like the look of what I can make with them - I also love the actual patterns themselves. Layers and Trimless pages always impress me and so does navigation links within the pattern. Oh and the icing on the cake, supporting a local Canadian (Albertan) business!

This is my second time testing for Sew Straight and Gather but my first time blogging about it. I tested the Metro Pullover for myself before Christmas. I've also made myself a lovely Uptown Downtown dress out of a wintry bamboo french terry and have plans for a sleeveless maxi dress for summer.

 Now for the legend dress. We are headed to Cuba in May and in dire need of some comfortable resort wear. Even though it is February in Alberta, I went sleeveless with these matching mommy and me dresses. I decided to go with the Dress View A, but there are a total of 4 views with this pattern! I used a super soft cotton/lycra custom knit that I have been hoarding from Fabric Snob since I got it last spring.

        

The only different between the two dresses I made is that the toddler dress is lined with pink and hemmed with pink thread. My dress is lined with the same grey and white and hemmed with white thread.

We even had a fun little mommy and me photo session. I don't have many nice photos of just the two of us as I'm usually behind the camera, so I know I will cherish these next ones.

 Thanks so much for stopping by to check out my blog. Can you believe this is already my third post?

You can find the Legends Patterns Here. There is a special 3 day sale to celebrate the release for $5 CDN for each pattern (that's approx $3.75 USD!) While you're at it, why don't you join the Sew Straight and Gather Pattern Co. CLUB Facebook Group.

I STILL haven't figured out how to link up my instagram account to this blog. I really better get on that.

Cheers! Michelle

Hello Hi Low the Winter Edition

What better way to celebrate KB Stitch Designs' first birthday than with the Hello Hi Lo. This pattern is near and dear to my heart. It was the very first pattern I tested for Stephanie Kay and the very first top I made for myself! 

Wow, was I ever awkward in front of the camera! I have sure learned ALOT in the past year.

I love this yellow stripe and honeycomb from Fabric Snob. It was one of the very first custom knits that I purchased. I got it retail in a mystery pack and was so happy to have it!

This photo even helped me win #pdflove over in PDF Pattern Sales and Promotions Facebook group (how cool! check it out if you sew and you've never entered)

When I signed up for the KBSD birthday blog tour I just knew I had to make a new "winter edition" of the Hello Hi Lo. I've been dying to use this gorgeous custom owl print from Black Rabbit Fabrics ever since I got it in the mail. I also used the winter stripe and teal solid from there.

My leggings are made of a luscious stretch bamboo lycra that I found at Marshall Fabrics, one of the best fabric shops I've ever been to. The leggings pattern is the Sloan Leggings from Hey June.

  

So Happy 1st Birthday KB Stitch Designs! Here's to many more!

Stephanie Kay is hosting an amazing giveaway as part of this week's celebrations. Enter Here!

There is also a 35% off sale on all patterns until Valentine's Day. Check out this birthday post for more details and to get the sale code.

.....And here's my instagram feed because I STILL have yet to figure out how to link it to the blog, that is for another day.

Non-Traditional Valentines Outfit - with Go To Patterns

I've read you just need to "jump right in" in order to learn blogger so here it goes.

My very first post.

If I counted right I have completed 28 pattern tests with 14 different pattern designers in the last 11 months. I'm a serial pattern tester and I love it. I also wrote every paper in university the night before it was due, so there might be some history there. I'm a deadlines girl. I need a deadline or it will linger in my to do pile for eternity.

I was chosen a few months ago as one of the Brand Ambassadors for Go To Patterns. It has been really fun sewing up some of the patterns. I love some of the photos I took on Sunday. It's cold and wintery here so they were taken indoors but luckily it was a really sunny day out so the lighting was great.

The two patterns I used were the Skipper Top by Sew Much Ado and the Go to Leggings by Go To Patterns. The tri rainbow fabric is a gorgeous custom knit I ordered from Yvonne at Black Rabbit Fabrics. The only pattern modification I made was to sew on the heart like an applique rather than make it into a pocket like the pattern calls for.

We had so much fun taking these photos. For some reason she kept wanting to stand on her head. I can't complain because it made for some pretty cute shots.

She even put on her butterfly wings and tutu (gifted to her last Christmas by a good friend who made them!). I love this photo because it shows off the pinks in the fabric!

So there it is, my very first blog post. That really wasn't so bad, I think I'll do this again some time!

Cheers, Michelle

PS I haven't totally figure out the settings yet so if you are interested in checking out some of my past pattern test projects you can check out my instagram feed  @michelledschuh