Miss Fern Skirt Part 2 - Tester Round-up (Sofiona Designs)

Sale is 25% off through Monday 4/3/2023

Miss Fern Skirt has 3 lengths to choose from, and they're all fabulous.  

 

Fern Skirt and Tide Hack -- Sofiona Designs

This is one of my favorite photos I think I've ever taken.  

 

The colors, the feel, it's a whole mood.  The photo shoots at the end of a pattern test are my favorite part.  It means for one that I'm DONE and I have made something we both love. But the best part is just the one on one time I get to spend with my daughter.  We always have a lot of fun with the shoots, and I don't have to bribe her lollipops anymore. 

It's been an incredible way to document her journey from young girl to teen.  She has blossomed into a lovely young lady and I couldn't be more proud of her.  To see her have fun, and confidence in front of the camera makes me so grateful for these moments we have together. 

This Pattern is the Miss Fern skirt, by Sofiona Designs.  Too see all the different options available with the Miss Fern Skirt please check out my follow up blog post.

Miss Fern Skirt Part 2 - Tester Round-up (Sofiona Designs)

 

I started doing pattern tests over 8 years ago.  What happens is a designer has a new pattern, they do a call out for testers, and you are given the pattern.  Once you have the pattern you need to do some proofreading (which I'm awful at), cut out your fabric, follow the directions and give them feed back on the written part of the pattern, as well as construction and fit.  I have learned SO much being involved in the behind the scenes aspect of PDF pattern development. 

My second reason for loving to do pattern tests is because it really pushes me to try new techniques and learn new skills.  For example this pattern was the FIRST TIME I have ever installed an invisible zipper.  I purposely looked for patterns without zippers.  But it wasn't hard at all once you knew what to do.  In other pattern tests over the years I have learned how to gather, shirring, facings, alterations, buttons, elastic, basically every skill I have has come from testing a variety of patterns for myself and my daughter. 

 

And now more about the pattern.  

This is a brand new pattern release from Sofiona Designs.

Miss Fern Skirt comes in 3 styles, short, midi, and maxi.  I went with the maxi because I have been so inspired by two amazing creators on YouTube and  Instagram.  

____________________________________________________

Marcy is an incredible seamstress and performer.  She makes incredible maxi tiered skirts and it's made me want to make them myself.  I finally got up the courage.  Marcy always goes for bold color and bold print, so I hope she'd approve of my choice here. 
https://www.instagram.com/marcyharriell/
AND 

I follow Becca on Instagram and I've seen her posts in sewing groups on fb for years. She is also homesteading so I absolutely love her content. She definitely gets the gardening with glamour award. She loves to sew and wear dresses and has greatly inspired me to try wovens. I just needed to get over my fear of zippers. https://www.instagram.com/itssewbecca/____________________________________________________

I loved the skirt fabric but my daughter didn't have anything in wardrobe to go with it.   This dark green cotton lycra was all I had on hand and the colors really worked, my problem was it was an odd shaped remnant so a regular top wouldn't work.  I started looking online for a crop top so we could see the lovely waist ban I worked so hard on.

I was thinking I might need to end up using a crop top or something with smaller pieces, and I ran across the Tide Halter Dress/Top pattern in my collection.  Tide is also from Sofiona designs, it is in their kids sizing and goes from 2-16.  I lucked out when the size 16 bodice would still fit. The original Tide pattern has a bodice and then either a shirt length peplum or skirt.   All I did was add a 2" band around the bottom to finish off the hem.  

Tide was exactly what a I was looking for.  I wanted something fun and strappy for summer
I NEEDED something that I could use small odd shaped pieces for.  

 

 

The lovely green beaded necklace was a gift from her grandfather, and it went perfectly with the outfit.

Since the weather here is still cold, and muddy I decided this outfit needed some tropical surroundings.  So we went to the Greenhouse at Chinguacousy Park, in Brampton. 

Despite the cold temperatures and the fact that there was still ice on the deeper part of the wading pond/ice rink my daughter wanted to splash through the water.  So we took a ton of pictures outside as well.  It's so wonderful as a mom to see your child feel comfortable with themselves and to have fun being creative.  She loves the outfits I make for her, and the time we spend doing the photo shoots with her.  Without the pattern tests, and sewing I probably wouldn't have a fraction of the photos of her that I do.  I will treasure them always, and she will have a fun legacy to pass down as well. 

 

 

I hope you enjoyed this blog post. I hope to start blogging again and documenting my adventures in the sewing room, kitchen, and garden. 

And the 3rd reason I love pattern testing is the sense of community in the sewing world.  It`s always nice to chit chat with fellow seamstresses and troubleshoot things.

 

Too see all the different options available with the Miss Fern Skirt please check out my follow up blog post.  Miss Fern Skirt Part 2 - Tester Round-up (Sofiona Designs)

 

 Let me know in the comments below if you preferred the indoor or outdoor photos.  I can`t decide.  I know she had more fun outdoors. 

 

 

GrassLands T-shirt from Pollywoggles Patterns

INTRODUCING 

3 BRAND NEW PATTERNS!!!!  

  I made my daughter this suit last fall, you can read about it here Sydney's New Suit.

 

 

Pollywoggles Patterns is Releasing 2 new color block shirts. 
Sizing kids 2 - Tween

AND an Applique pattern to add to her collection 

Weather Applique Collection

   

Grasslands is a t-shirt and Mingan is a raglan
They mix and match with her previous t-shirt pattern Redberry
All 3 are available as a bundle here
Grassland, Mingan, Redberry Bundle

Short YouTube Video of The Sydney Suit

 

When Heidi at Pollywoggles Patterns asked for some testers for her fabulous new color-blocked t-shirt Grasslands, I knew this was a great opportunity to make a matching top.  The brown on the shirt is the same knit that was used on the sides of the skirt. 

Grasslands T-Shirt is a unisex pattern for kids and teens.  It has a very large size range.

Sydney is wearing the size C.  In adult patterns she wears a 2-4.

Grasslands T-shirt
Size range includes 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, A, B, C, D (tween/teen sizes)

 

 

Grasslands is designed for knit fabrics.  The color blocking lets you add a splash of color, and be creative in your designs.  It's also a great way to use up some scraps or incorporate some special fabrics. 







Suggested Fabric: Cotton Lycra and similar stretch/recovery knit fabrics (10-11oz, 200-230gcm) with 50% stretch for main body. Same fabric or good quality ribbing for neckband.

 

The Grasslands pattern has step by step photo instructions and is very easy to follow along.  Pay special attention to matching up your color-blocking seams, hand basting like she recommends really helps. 

 

 

 

 

 



This pattern is so versatile you can dress it up or down 

 Sydney's New Suit Blog Post

Check out the patterns now while they're ALL on Sale.  click each picture Below or This link here to go to the website.

Pollywoggles Patterns- SALE

Grasslands T-shirt

Mingan Raglan

Mix and Match Bundle Options

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sydney's New Suit (George & Ginger, Patterns for Pirates Mash-Up)

 

I found this lovely plaid wool on sale at Fabricland, and knew I had to make something for my daughter.    It was difficult for me to put my ideas on paper and then find patterns for the outfit I had in my head.

 

YouTube Video of The Sydney Suit

 

As I knew I wanted to make some sort of suit, I thought the Downtown Coat from George & Ginger would be ideal for the jacket. (This is such a cute pattern, but unfortunately the pattern has been discontinued.)

Now to find the perfect skirt. After searching high and low, I could not find a pencil skirt with a flounce that didn't have a zipper.  I have a book I have called Improv Sewing.

In the book there are instructions on how to draft your own woven skirt, using knit panels. This way I didn't have to add any closures. 

 PERFECT!!! 

I thought. 

So the Sydney Skirt, as I'm calling it, it is a mashup of the Pirate Pencil Skirt, the method in the book Improv Sewing, and an added flounce.  



Pirate Pencil Skirt is a free PDF pattern, from Pattern for Pirates.  I just used the size her measurements fit. 









To make the flounce I cut off the bottom 8" of the below length skirt.  And then slit the fabric all along at 2" to create the flounce.  I followed this great tutorial on how to do it. How I create a flounce Pattern-- Sew Custom  I was pretty nervous since I'd never done anything like this before, but it all came together.  For the added fabric panels on the sides, I had to add 1.5" to each piece. I am so happy with how it turned out, my daughter loves it.

It all came together beautifully!!!! I am so pleased with this entire outfit.  It is definitely one of my more challenging outfits to date.

 

 

Finding a top to match is always tricky but thankfully my friend Heidi at Pollywoggles Patterns was doing a pattern test for some tops.  Enter Grasslands T-shirt.   Check out my next blog post for more info on the new release, but here's a sneak peak!!!

 

Just kidding ahhahaha

 

Grasslands t-shirt from Pollywoggles Patterns Blog post

We had a lot of fun taking some photos.