Showing posts with label testers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label testers. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 5, 2017
New Dolores Maternity Dress Pattern WIP Plus A Shout Out For Testers
New Dolores Maternity Dress Pattern WIP Plus A Shout Out For Testers
A new pattern is born
If you read my previous post, you will have seen that adapted versions of the regular Dolores batwing pattern featured heavily in my four-to-seven month maternity wardrobe. However, towards the end of that period I found that those dresses stopped being suitable: the mid-section was starting to stretch out of shape and the side seams ended up curved to accommodate my growing belly, and the hem was no longer even. So around the time I finished drafting my Cordelia maternity camisole pattern, I began work on a specific maternity dress version of the Dolores pattern which took all those issues into account, as well as a couple of other bits I wanted to change. After extensive fitting to multiple third-trimester bodies with both long-sleeved and short-sleeved options, Im hoping Ive nailed it.
Tropical knit
So lemme tell you about this Hawaiian/tropical fabric. Back in May, the 12-year-old, but admittedly new-to-me, online craft shop Sew Essential got in touch offering me some fabric to test and blog about. You know me, never one to turn down free fabric, so I asked for a couple of metres of this vibrant John Kaldor slinky knit and they kindly obliged. Sadly, the pink colour way seems to be currently out of stock, but they have it here in blue, as well as some other lovely prints.
My initial intension for this fabric was to make maternity leggings after receiving confirmation that it has a four-way stretch. But when it arrived I discovered it was was too lightweight and slinky for that purpose. Then, when the development of this new Dolores maternity dress pattern called for some slinky, drape-y knit, a massive AHA! occurred, and a beautiful marriage of pattern and fabric was born.
Pattern details and testers please!
Like its predecessor, the Dolores maternity dress pattern has two sleeve options, long and short, making it a versatile pattern for different climates and occasions. It looks epic in a fun, crazy print, and also elegant and work-appropriate in a more subtle fabric choice.
This is a super quick project, because whos got the energy when your very pregnant?! After youve assembled the PDF pattern and cut out the pieces, construction should take approx. 2 hours, if you already have a bit of sewing experience. It requires just 2m of light-to-medium weight knit fabric, ideally with a drape-y/slinky quality. The sizing and corresponding body measurements are below (please note: these measurements relate to a pregnant, third trimester body):
Size | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 |
Bust | 85cm/33½” | 90cm/35½” | 95cm/37½” | 100cm/39½” | 105cm/41½” |
Hip | 95cm/37½” | 100cm/39½” | 105cm/41½” | 110cm/43½” | 115cm/45½” |
So, as the title of this post suggests, Im on the hunt for willing pattern testers. If you, or somebody you know, are currently in your/their third trimester of pregnancy (27 weeks +), you would like to try this pattern and are able to give me your feedback by 18th September, then please send me an email to sozoblog (at) g mail (dot) com. Testers will receive a zip file including a PDF pattern file (that will require printing out and taping together), a PDF instructions file (that you can read from a screen if you prefer to save on printer ink) and a list of questions to help formulate your feedback. If this appeals to you, please get in touch, Im aiming to send out the files on 1st September. Thanks so much in advance!
Available link for download
Tuesday, February 21, 2017
New Maternity Sewing Pattern Reveal Plus A Shout Out for Testers
New Maternity Sewing Pattern Reveal Plus A Shout Out for Testers
(**UPDATE: THANKS TO ALL THE AWESOME WOMEN WHO HAVE OFFERED TO TEST THIS PATTERN. I NOW HAVE ENOUGH TESTERS. THANKS AGAIN**)
Im fully aware that the sewing pattern that Im currently working on will not has mass appeal! But hopefully this one will help out a lot of women in years to come to make something useful to wear during a section of their lives that is very tricky to dress for.
This camisole pattern is designed to be made in jersey knit fabric, and has a gathered section at the front to accommodate a third-ish trimester bump. My model, Cordelia, was eight months pregnant when we took these photos. The upper edges are finished with fold-over-elastic, which also forms the straps, like my free vest/camisole/singlet pattern. The bottom edge is finished with a waistband so the camisole sits neatly and snugly underneath the bump and wont ride up. And arguably the best bit? An internal optional bust support panel, a bit like you get in some sports/yogawear tops, to give a little extra support if you want to wear this without a bra.
Obviously, the third trimester of a pregnancy covers just three months per baby of a womans life, so even the keenest of seamsters may not wish to spend very much time making clothes for this period. However, this project is a relatively quick one, requiring less than 1m of fabric, and may really help out when nothing else fits! Wear this camisole as sleepwear, to go to pregnancy yoga classes, as an under layer in colder months, on its own in hotter months, or underneath a loose shirt or kimono style top to expand your clothing options at a time when you feel that you have none!
So the stage that Im at now is that it is ready to test! This was SUCH a helpful step whilst I was developing my Dolores batwing and Anya shoulder bag patterns. And although I know there wont be as many volunteers in a position to test this pattern, Im really hoping that there may be some pregnant ladies or friends/relatives-of-a-pregnant-lady out there who are up for testing this pattern and giving me your feedback?!
If you feel you may like to test this pattern, please drop me an email at sozoblog (at) gmail (dot) com. I will email you the pattern and instructions as PDF files. The pattern will require printing out at home or in a copy shop. The instructions PDF can be printed out, or better still, read directly from your computer/laptop/tablet. I will also send you some questions about the pattern, instructions and finished garment to help you review them, and you would be required to make the garment and send back your feedback within three weeks. I really hope to hear from some of you. If you know someone else who likes to sew and is pregnant or knows someone who is, please send them the link to this post. Much appreciated!
Available link for download
Monday, February 20, 2017
New Sewing Pattern Sneaky Peek! Plus A Call Out for Testers
New Sewing Pattern Sneaky Peek! Plus A Call Out for Testers
**MY GOODNESS! IVE HAD SO MANY RESPONSES TO THE CALL FOR TESTERS. THANK YOU ALL!!! IM GOING TO CLOSE THE REQUEST FOR TESTERS NOW. THANKS AGAIN FOR YOUR SUPPORT**
Friends! I would like to introduce you to the next sewing pattern that I plan to release: the Anya shoulder bag pattern. Id love to hear your initial thoughts, whatever they may be...
A brief explanation: the Anya bag is a deceptively voluminous, lined shoulder bag with an optional button tab closure. Like the Dolores batwing pattern, it will be available as a downloadable PDF file pattern. The pattern PDF will consist of just three pattern pieces: bag body, yoke and button tab. Dimensions will be given for the straps which are formed from a simple rectangle that can be drawn directly onto the fabric, rather than wasting your printer ink and paper by including it in the PDF. The bag should require only approx. 80cm of outer fabric, preferably a sturdy medium to thick woven fabric with no stretch content (Ive found that curtaining and upholstery fabric work brilliantly, as do denim, twill and canvas) and 40cm of light to medium weight woven fabric for the lining. Fingers crossed, itll be a suitable project for those fairly new to sewing and more experienced sewers alike.
My hope is that thisll be the kind of pattern that you will want to make again and again, in many different fabrics, for yourself and possibly for your friends and family (I cant help but notice that theres a rather significant public holiday coming soon that traditionally involves gift-giving...). Over a number of years, I have made approx. ten squillion of these bags in various prints and solids, and the outcome each time always looks unique; the pattern seems to be a good canvas for many different types of fabric.
A brief history: I drafted the first version of this pattern a number of years ago, and it has proved very popular over the last almost-decade. I used to make bags from this pattern, usually in vintage fabrics from 50s, 60s and 70s, and in African wax fabric, and sell them on various market stalls and at craft fairs. Unlike a lot of my other stock from that time, these bags always sold consistently well, and occasionally I got asked if I would share or sell the pattern. Well, its finally time for me to do that!
So, the tester bit: Im looking for about 6 or 7 testers with a variety of sewing-experience to try out the pattern and instructions and give me their honest feedback. If you think you might be interested in being a tester, please read on...
What will be required:
- I will email you two PDF files, one with the pattern pieces that will need printing off, and the other with full instructions that will include large colour images that you may prefer to read on your computer screen to save on ink and paper.
- You will need to print off the pattern, make a bag as per the instructions, and email me your feedback ideally with a photo of your creation, all within two weeks. Normally, Id suggest a longer time period, but Im really hoping to release this pattern in November so people can use it for making Christmas presents.
- I will email you some questions to respond to as part of your feedback, plus Id love to hear your thoughts on any other aspect of the pattern/instructions that may not have been referred to in the questions
- Unfortunately, I am not able to pay for your time nor supply you with fabric for the testing. I will, however, send you the finalised versions of both pattern and instructions once any corrections have been made. And you will have my undying gratitude, of course!
What will not be required:
- You do not need to be a blogger or have any social media presence at all. I am not looking for reviews of the pattern until it is finalised, in fact please dont review this beta version of pattern and instruction, for obvious reasons!
If you are willing and able to test this pattern, then please email me at sozoblog (at) g mail dot com by the end of Sunday 25th October. Please write a sentence or two about your level of experience using sewing patterns, and of sewing generally. Im only asking for this to make sure that I get testers with a range of experience levels. Many, many, many thanks in advance for anyone able to help me out with this.
Available link for download
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