Pattern Testers Needed

Good morning and Happy Monday blogland!

I’m partially back at it, at least on the blogging side. I have use of a work laptop at home right now, as my regular machine, which broke down, seems to be just two weeks outside of the warranty! *Sigh* I don’t want to pay to have it fixed, because I could almost just buy a new laptop for as much as it would cost to fix the one I have. So for now, I’m borrowing a laptop from my dad’s office, so we’ll see how consistent I can be until I get the techno situation resolved.

Otherwise, I’ve been sewing tons and tons! I have three new dresses finished for myself (yeah!!!) and a new pair of dresses finished for the girls. I hope to get those blogged here shortly, I think you’ll like them!

But what I’ve been really busy working on is a new pattern! I’ve been reading and learning about pattern drafting, and more specifically about pattern grading and I’ve just about finished my first multi-sized pattern. I’ve decided I’m going to open a little pattern shop (and I do mean little!) and just add to it as I go. I’m not coming out with a full wardrobe all at once, but I would like to eventually get a mini-wardrobe of sorts set up in a shop. I will still have lots of tutorials and I even have a few freebies in the works right now too.

That being said, I’m looking for a few pattern testers, to give my new pattern a test drive for me. It is a pattern for toddlers carpi pants, and I’m looking for testers in sizes 2T, 3T, 4T and 5T. I would love to have testers finished by Wednesday, June 27th and return a brief survey on the pattern so that I can get some feedback.

If you are interested and can be finished by the 27th, please email me at unpetitdesignblog {at} gmail {dot} com

OH – and now I have to mention – for anyone who has ever emailed me at unpetitdesignblog {at} gmail {dot} com – I have never received your emails until just tonight. I AM SO SORRY!!! It’s crazy to think that I missed so many nice emails and questions and such. Please know, I was not ignoring you. I had some settings setup funny and I honestly thought I had never received an email there before. Oh, I’m so embarrassed! But, I have fixed it (and now read through emails back to January!!!!) and I will receive anything new sent there. Big HUGE sorry to anyone who ever sent an email.

OK, any pattern tester out there?

My Perfect New Cowl–The Renfrew Top

If you are a follower of Tasia over at Sewaholic, then you heard about her latest pattern release this week, The Renfrew Top.

A little more than a month ago, I was able to test out this pattern for Tasia. It’s so much fun to be a pattern tester. It was really fun to test a pattern for myself rather than my kids this time too!

This is a great basic tee-shirt design with neckline options and three sleeve length options. It also features banded hems, so no worries about hemming knits with this pattern.

I opted for view C, the Cowl neckline with long sleeves. It is winter here after all. I used a ponte roma knit print from Hancock, I had my eye on it for a while, but when I went to pick it up for this top, it had gone on clearance for $5/yd! Yeah!!

I cut a strait size 8 and followed the instructions almost completely. They are very well written with great illustrations too. The only change I made was to construct it on my serger; the instructions are for sewing on a regular machine. Then, after sewing it up, I did end up narrowing my sleeves just a bit from the elbow down – I have kind of tiny wrists… it runs in the family.

Here’s a close up of the cowl, which I’m totally in love with. It is, in my opinion, the perfect cowl. I have big plans for this cowl. Hopefully coming soon. We’ll see, I have so much I want to sew, so little time…

And just for kicks, here’s a “great” shot of me adjusting my camera…

And one of my little man, who thought taking pictures with a remote was very, very cool.

So, if you’re looking for a really nice basic tee or a super cool new cowl, I highly recommend the Renfrew top – head over here to get your own!!