Yet again I tested a pattern.

Actually two this time.  Anya thought the top looked cool, so I volunteered to test and got picked for it.

I really don’t mind testing too much, as long as they give me at least a week to get it done.  When pattern designers say they have a three day test, I laugh maniacally, and am like, “Really??   That also indicates to me that they are bad at time management, and the pattern will likely be badly drawn if they aren’t on the ball enough to give you more than a few days.

So, these two patterns are from Simple Life Pattern Company.  This first velvet version was my first test of the pattern and ended up being too wide in the back.  She changed the pattern, so you can see that below.  The hard part in drafting is that all kids are not uniform in size.  That is why I don’t do patterns.  I know what fits my kids, and that is what I draft.

Now the pants.

More specifically…the pockets.

Anya and I went shopping at the fabric warehouse, and they always have lots of fun trims to peruse.  I found these rhinestones on a mesh backing, and thought they would work great for the cargo pockets.  Then, I looked at the pattern and saw the pleat.  I had to take out the center rhinestones and then cut it.  If I would have cut the grid without taking out the center row, it would have cut into the squares that had rhinestones attached.  They would have fallen out.  I hand stitched the mesh on either side of the pleat, tucking the edges underneath as I sewed it up.

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In hindsight, I should have graded between sizes on these pants (they are a metallic coated stretch denim).  She fit in a size 8 waist and a size 12 length, so I made the 12.  Big mistake.  I had to take a good 6 inches off the back rise.  They turned out really cute, so I wanted to be able to save them.  Lots of seam ripping happened.

On to the next versions with some grading between sizes.  It is rather a necessity when your kids are not within the size range of the patterns.

Top – width for a size 8 and length for a size 12

Pants – width and rise for a size 6 and length for a size 12  – they were too tight.  A size 8 would have been better.  I did put the pattern up against a pair of jeans she fits, and it seemed like a 6 would work.  Well, it didn’t, so I have had to add a gusset on the inseam.

Okay, so next!

I tested the last version in a size 8 width, size 12 rise and length.  Not a perfect fit (I did use smaller seam allowances than the pattern recommends, too), but it leaves room for dryer shrinkage and she was comfortable in them.  They are a lightweight stretch denim and manufactured leather.

Both of these patterns are pretty easy and straight-forward.  Would I recommend them?  Yes.  The drafting on the pants is pretty good and she made changes we suggested as the testers went through sewing them up.  The shirt fits pretty well now, too, but I am not a fan of the sleeve pattern on the fold.

If you have a more normal weight kid, I am sure that they would fit better, too.

FYI, I don’t have the kids on a diet, and I don’t think they are too thin or anything.  They are healthy, active kids.  We choose not to feed them mac and cheese and ice cream at every meal (though, they do get it occasionally), as they would like.  Healthier foods are just not as palatable to their acquired tastebuds.  Tastebuds they acquired through the cafeteria at school, where they serve mozzarella cheese sticks and marinara sauce as a vegetarian option. >:(