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/

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

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/

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