O Captain! My Captain! A new swimsuit from The Wolf and the Tree

I've been testing for Saskia Smith with The Wolf and the Tree (aff. link) for awhile now. So far, all of the patterns I've tested have been much loved staple patterns that I've been able to use again and again. This new swimsuit pattern, O Captain! My Captain! (aff. link), is no exception. There are literally too many top/bottom combinations for me to count. (Although I'm sure someone who can math well could probably figure it out.)

I pre-tested this pattern using one of my most favourite swim fabrics, a wonderful grey and white striped swim knit with mint polka dots from Marshall Fabrics in Edmonton. I've also used it for a swimsuit of my own, posted here. I love the print on this swim knit and I also love that it's not the typical bright pink princessy colours you see for toddler girls suits in the stores. This is an early version, so fit has changed a little, but the overall looks is very much the same. The top is the full length tankini with short sleeves. The bottoms are the regular rise with yoga band.

For the Official Test, I changed it up and made the colourblock bikini length with short sleeves. I found an awesome ladies swimsuit at a local thrift store which I was able to cut up and upcycle into this suit. I didn't have quite enough of the pattern/purple so I did add in some pink sleeves from a swim knit I had on hand.

I also did up another tankini length top with long sleeves in this solid hot pink swim knit. I love having the option of a long sleeve top for the sun protection (and extra warmth in cooler water). Plus the hot pink top matches great with the patterned bottoms as well as both of the swim and surf shorts I made a few weeks ago and blogged about here.

This pattern has a massive size range of 12 months all the way up to 14. My little one is only in size 2T now so I forsee MANY uses of this pattern over the next 10 or so years. Oh, and there's talk of a Ladies pattern, so I guess she'll be covered for life! Don't forget to grab your copy of O Captain! My Captain! (aff. link) while the pattern is on sale for $8.

As always, check out more of my projects on Instagram

Cheers! Michelle

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/

Pattern Test: Gazelle Footed Tights

I have had the honour of testing 5 patterns from The Wolf and the Tree and have enjoyed every minute of it. Saskia Smith has been a dream to test for as she truly listens to her testers and works as hard as possible to release a a top notch pattern. The Gazelle (Affiliate Link) is no exception. Start to finish this pattern test lasted for a whole month and was given major revisions throughout the test.

My first version of the tights were made of a solid grey mystery fabric with 4 way stretch that I found locally at Marshall Fabric on clearance for $3.50 per meter.

  

Next, I used some 95/5 Custom Cotton Lycra with wonderful 4 way stretch from Black Rabbit Fabrics. I love how these ones turned out and I love that I can be even lazier with my winter wardrobe before work. (Dress, Tights, Boots, Done.)

My next pair was made with 2 way stretch sweater knit. Yes, you heard that correct - I made sweater knit tights using the 2 way pattern that is included with the Gazelle. I cannot wait to make more of these next winter. I used cotton lycra for the yoga band to keep them comfy and fitting like a glove all day long.

 Lastly (for now) I made a pair of biker shorts with yoga waistband. They are Super comfortable and worked well for my run today. I made this pair out of some more mystery knit with 4 way stretch and plan to make another pair with some athletic knit for my summer runs. This is the perfect length run shorts to avoid any thigh chafe - an added bonus!

So RUN and get your copy of GAZELLE (Affiliate Link) while it's on sale! Use code "Gazelle"to get 30% off any pattern in the shop until Tuesday April 18th.

 Don't forget to join us in the TWT Sewing Pattern Den Facbook Group to show off your creations!

Check out my Instagram Account @michelledschuh to see what else I've been up to lately.

Cheers! Michelle

Tutu Twirl Tunic featuring Black Rabbit Fabrics

I was chosen to test the T Shirt Tunic from Winterwear Designs. I have been testing Free Motion Applique (FMA) for Suzanne Winter the designer behind Winterwear Designs for awhile now, but this is my first pattern test for her. I made 2 different versions of the Tunic, the first with 3/4 sleeves and the second with tank cuffs.

I used all knits from Black Rabbit Fabrics, an online Canadian company from British Columbia. The owl is a gorgeous custom knit that you might remember from here. I love that it's a print that looks just as good on a 2 year old as a 32 year old!

The "Read." is a cutting file for the Silhouette or Cricut cutting machine. There are 5 different files included with the pattern. I got a Cricut Explore for Christmas a few years back and I love it! I didn't have any iron on vinyl left in my stash so I chose to do a freezer paper stencil. I love freezer paper stenciling with fabric paint. I followed this tutorial from Dana Made It the first time I did one.

As you can tell we had a lot of fun taking these photos. Jumping on the bed gets a lot of giggles and when you're 2, and every new dress deserves a good twirl!

For the Tank Tunic, I used this gorgeous strikeoff fabric also from Black Rabbit Fabrics. I couldn't resist adding in a book with this one too. How gorgeous are these prints! Preorder should open today and run through March 25th.

 

And how awesome are those tights! As always they are the Abby's Footed Tights from The Wolf and the Tree. They are probably one of my top patterns. I love having them in some fairly neutral colours so that I can pair them with almost anything.

In fact, they are so awesome they help you fly!

...and another spin with another new dress!

I had some extra strike off fabric so I decided to make yet another dress. What a lucky girl! This time I used the Urban Garden Dress from Sew Straight and Gather. This might be one of the cutest dresses I've ever made! I love the little flounce and I'm glad I decided to use it since it is optional in the pattern.

Photo shoots 3 days in row might have been a bit annoying for this girl but she powered through like a champ. And to celebrate, I made her a matching doll outfit (Swirly Pop Doll Tights are in testing right now from The Wolf and the Tree!) 

    

     

I better run before this post gets even longer! Remember to checkout my instagram feed for other sewing creations.

Cheers, Michelle

Pattern Test: Over Under Racer with KBSD

I'm pretty excited for this next one because it is the first time I have sewn any workout gear for myself. I don't know about you, but I always run faster if I look fast.... and I definitely look fast in the new KB Stitch Designs Over Under Racer. I ended up using a mix of swim knit and power type mesh for this tank. I didn't have quite enough length so I used a band instead of hemming. I also did binding around the neck and armcycles and love how it turned out.

I am not a winter running fan. As soon as the weather gets below -10 Celcius, I am no longer having fun. I blame it on poor genes and even poorer circulation. Luckily, we have been having an extremely mild winter for Alberta. I was able to run outside twice last week after work in sunny, +10 weather. I managed to catch a bad cold virus this week but come next week I will be back at it again. 

I'm all signed up for Melissa's 10km road race in September, a grueling 10km run with quite a bit of Elevation gain in the Rocky Mountains. My last Road Race was The Other Half in Moab, Utah in 2012. It was by no means my personal best since I managed to find myself 15 weeks pregnant on Race Day.

I'm really hoping for a personal best this year. My run jacket has a quote on it that says "Run with your heart, not with your legs". I think that might be my motto for this running season. In fact, I should probably make myself another Over Under Tank that says just that.

Cheers! Michelle