So here are the pics I finally managed to wrangle this fall, just before the weather turned cold and snowy.
I used ponte de roma, which works really well with this pattern.
This is a really quick pattern to sew and the results are cute and trendy. This was my sixth time sewing this pattern, so for detailed information, please read my original review.
The dress is really comfortable and cozy for winter.
Ponte de roma in dark teal – (medium-weight knit, 50% Polyester/45% Rayon/5% Lycra).
Sizes: 2T. Cost: Pattern: 0$. Fabric: About $16. Sewing Level: Confident beginner. Modifications: None Results: Great. This was fast, and I love the trendy look.
Disclaimer: The pattern was generously provided by Heidi & Finn, in return for testing the pattern. As always, my opinions are my own.
So I was very excited to be a pattern tester for the newest version of the pattern, which now includes a sweater, a short-sleeved version, and an expanded size range from 12m to 12Y.
The kids really like the tops and they are very comfortable.
And is it ever easy to sew! I finished about one project per nap. I love one-nap projects!
In the end, I made this pattern six times: three tops and three dresses, in three different sizes.
This is the size 2T.This is the size 5T, in pink.This is size 7Y.
This project calls for knit fabric, and obviously a sweater knit would be ideal, but sadly the choices were limited at my local fabric shops and I had no time to order online.
The smallest kids chose the fabric for the tops (ack! so cute to watch them choose fabrics) – a slinky rayon jersey. In that fabric, the tops have a retro 70s vibe.
The pattern changed slightly during testing, and now has a banded waist, but these tops were made before the change.
Such a cutie!This is a rayon jersey and it has quite a bit of drape.In this fabric, the top has a bit of a 70s vibe.The size 5 was a bit large. Next time, I’ll go down a size.The size 7Y is a much better fit.
For the dresses, I chose a ponte de roma that has a bit of a soft, sweater-knit texture. This fabric gave better results than the jersey. It’s a stable knit that is still very stretchy and has great recovery.
This is my favourite fabric for this pattern. It’s a ponte de roma, and has just the right amount of structure, without being stiff.
I only made two changes. First, I shortened the sleeves by 1-2″, depending on the fabric and dress size. Second, I attached the cowl neck first, before starting the sleeves. I find it easier to work this way, but it’s just my preference. See a discussion on sewing flat versus in the round, here.
The dress is a huge hit.Especially the bow.This fabric is really the perfect weight for the dress.
I didn’t use a serger – I don’t have one. I just used my regular machine, which has a faux overlock stitch and I hemmed everything using a double needle. This worked very well.
Ack! So grown up.I love the look of the dress.This dress is perfect for fall weather.
The results were great. These tops and dresses are cute, cute, cute and the kids love wearing them. Yay!
Summary
Pattern Review:Cowl Neck Dress and Sweater by Heidi & Finn, available in sizes 12m-12Y. Fabric: Rayon jersey for the tops and ponte de roma for the dresses.
Dakota stretch rayon jersey knit Hearts in navy, pink and teal (medium-weight knit, 95% Rayon/5% Lycra, 4-way stretch, 25% vertical stretch and 50% stretch across the grain).
Ponte de roma in grey, (medium- to heavy-weight knit, 80% Polyester/15% Rayon/5% Lycra, 30% stretch across the grain), magenta, and dark teal – not shown – (medium-weight knit, 50% Polyester/45% Rayon/5% Lycra).
Sizes: 2T, 5T and 7Y. Cost: Pattern: 0$. Fabric: About $12 per top and about $16 per dress. Sewing Level: Confident beginner. Modifications: I shortened the sleeves, by 1-2″, depending on the fabric and dress size. Results: Great. This was fast, and I love the trendy look.
Disclaimer: The pattern was generously provided by Heidi & Finn, in return for testing the pattern. As always, my opinions are my own.
Well, it’s not quite spring here, but mother nature is working on it. So this pattern came along just in time. It’s the Spring Showers Jacket by Elegance & Elephants (yay! Canadian content!) and I was lucky enough to be a pattern tester.
The jacket is a big hit and fits well with room for layers underneath. And yes, this is what April looks like in Montreal.
It’s a lined, zip-front, hooded jacket. You can make a version with a cinched waist, but I like this version better.
I’m pretty happy with the results.I used bright turquoise quilting cotton for the lining.Requisite action shot.
I was going to make a waterproof/water-resistant version, but the one day I could get to the fabric store…. snow storm! So I shopped my stash instead. I used a (hard to photograph) navy, 100 per cent cotton twill for the outer fabric and quilting cotton for the inner fabric. I thought about using lining fabric on the sleeves, to make them easier to slide on and off. Montreal may be Hoth in the winter, but it’s Tatooine in the summer. Cotton breathes better, so this will be a better summer jacket this way.
I did all the top stitching in turquoise to make it a bit more fun. And I used the biggest zipper I could find – easier for little hands.The sleeves ended up a bit long, but I kind of like the folded over look.A better look at the cuff.
I made the size 4/5 for Kid No 2. Usually he wears a size 5, and the fit of the jacket was just right. Room to move and grow and layer over whatever he’s wearing.
And photo session over!
The pattern is really cute and practical, and I’ve already had a couple requests for more from Kid No 1 and Kid No 3.
Little sister decided to try on the jacket when no one was looking.
Way back in July I volunteered to do a little pattern testing. I’d never been a pattern tester before so I thought I’d give you a little run down on what it’s like. The pattern I had the chance to test is the super cute Sally Dress from Very Shannon (great first name!) of luvinthemommyhood fame.
Now before you look at my version, you should hop over to her site and take a look at the finished versions there, then hop back here.
Nice big pockets.
The dress is fully lined with nice big pockets (love those pockets!). It has no closures so it’s great for beginners and comes in sizes 2T to 8, which is a nice range. It also comes sleeveless or with two sleeve variations (short sleeves and elbow-length sleeves).
A closer look at the bodice of the Sally Dress.
This is a really cute dress and it’s very easy to sew. I think Shannon did two rounds of testing, but I was only available for the first round. So when I did my round the sleeves weren’t quite ready and the bodice was also changed in the second round. I do like the sleeveless version though.
Sally Dress Sewing Pattern sewn by The Finished Garment.
Now one thing about pattern testing is that you are sewing to a deadline, which I try not to do too often. In this case my busy schedule meant that I only had one day to get fabric. And there was only one place that was open on the day I could go. Ack! So this isn’t my first choice of fabric for this pattern (I do like the prints though), but I still like the way it turned out.
Sally Dress Sewing Pattern sewn by The Finished Garment.
The prints are Houndstooth and Swell Strip, both in multicoloured, from the Textured Basics collection by Patty Young for Michael Miller Fabrics. The houndstooth was a gift from Double Decker Fabrics.
Inside out view. I lined the bodice with super soft cotton batiste.
This is the inside out view where you can see how nicely it’s finished on the inside. I lined the bodice in super soft cotton batiste.
Fun colours.
Now I have to say this testing didn’t go as easy as I would have liked. I had to resew the bodice twice, and shorten the skirt (which meant taking apart the pockets), and because I was matching the stripes, redo the pockets. Now of course, all the little problems that had me resewing were fixed and retested before the final pattern was released, so have no fear! You will not be subjected to all of that. And if I hadn’t chosen a striped print, I could have made life so much easier on my self.
But it all still went a little wrong. This dress relies on a very fitted bodice for the fit and my little one is very slim in the chest, which mean she’s floating in the dress. I made the size 7, which I always make, and it’s just too big. I probably would have been happier making the size 4, but lengthening it.
And the other thing that went wrong was that I hadn’t seen how long the dress was supposed to be. None of the photos showed the full model. Of course now there are quite a few cute Sally Dresses out there, and some are quite short, some shorter than I’d like, but all are much shorter than mine.
So I had a choice. I could rip out everything and recut, or I could just hang onto it until next spring when it will probably fit perfectly. And since my little girl loves it as is, I went with the second choice.
A little big, for now.
I will, hover, have to try again, and maybe this time add sleeves too.
The Finished Garment 