There was another call for pattern testing that looked like something I might like to wear, so I held my hand up.  There were a few issues with the bodice, but she got it figured out with help from the testers.  That pleat detail was more involved that you would think it would be!

Here is my first sewn test:

It had some extra fabric I had to tuck under in the bodice, but she got that fixed on the next version.  I wasn’t a fan of how the gathered skirt on the tunic fit on my body.   It looks great on some of the other testers, but I carry my weight around my middle…so it added a bit of weight right where I didn’t need it.  The shot above is the only one that looked halfway decent (a.k.a. not pregnant).

This next one is with the fixed bodice, which fits pretty well.  I lengthened the sleeves here and added thumbholes.

I drafted a partial circle skirt for the tunic, and this is how it turned out.  Much better on my body.  I showed her how it looked with a different skirt, but left it up to her to decide on whether she wanted to draft another skirt option.  She did add a circle skirt and half circle skirt to the pattern.

Previous makes here: purse, leggings and neck warmer

You can find this pattern in the Sew Fab Bundle Release.  There are some new unreleased, and unique, patterns in that bundle, so it looks like a good buy (10 patterns for $30).

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A note on pattern testing/reviews.  It is important to be honest about patterns, especially in the testing phase.   I think there was a pretty good group of testers on this pattern.  The sewing community tends to be all hearts and roses, kumbaya, and don’t you dare say anything bad about an indie sewing pattern ’cause that is a small business we should support.

That’s right…it’s a business.  I tend to be brutally honest (thanks to my dad, I have to say), so if I don’t think something is drafted correctly or it isn’t flattering…I will say it.  I think sewing bloggers need to be more honest about fit/flattering like they are with the Big 4 pattern companies.  I mean, these patterns by Indies are more expensive on the whole than a $1.99 pattern sale at Joann’s so why wouldn’t you be more honest with other sewists looking at what you make??

I also think more people need to learn to draft some of the more simple things like skirts.  I have seen so many skirt patterns for little girls where I think, why didn’t they just draft that themselves?  Seriously, ladies, I think I have more confidence in your math skills than you do.  It is a measuring tape, a little adding, sometimes multiplying, and you have a little custom skirt for your kid without forking over the dough for a “pattern”.  If you want to venture into circle skirts, buy this.  I have used mine so much I broke it, so I need to buy another.  It has the measurements and everything.

So, there you go…off my soapbox.

Have a great weekend, everyone.  I have cut out two jackets and a pretty skirt, but I do need to make something for next weekend.  Hopefully, it works and I can share a tutorial/pattern.