The (pattern) test that started it all...

It's been nearly one year since I was selected for my first ever pattern test - I'd tentatively applied to a few, but hadn't been chosen yet. I was so excited when I got the email from Amy that I was selected to test the Sierra dress and eagerly got started. That pattern test cost me a FORTUNE! I made three dresses in the course of the test (I just could.not.decide which version to make) and bribed the heck out of my daughter to pose for photos. Not included in the tally was the begging, pleading, and cajoling of my husband, whose photography skills far outpaced mine. But holy moly, it was fun. I loved dressing up Miss P and taking her photos, she loved getting a new mini-wardrobe all in the same week, and it was so cool to look at a new pattern and think about how to put my own spin on it. Suffice it to say, I was hooked. I looked through my files last week, curious about what this past year has looked like on the pattern testing front, and tallied 27 total tests - garments sewn and feedback sent to the designer. Many for my daughter, a few for my son, and even a couple for myself. Mostly clothes, but one (very sweet, soon-to-be-released) dolly, too. Many skills improved, techniques learned, seams ripped, photos taken. 

And this sweet dress, our color-blocked Sierra, will always be a favorite of mine. 

Miss P, July 2013
Sierra Dress pattern from Peekaboo Patterns

Welcome!

P (4.5y) and A (2y)

I've been writing this blog in my head for awhile now (I'm sure I'm not the only one who does that, right?) but life's been moving at a pretty brisk pace lately so it's taken a back seat. The weather's warmed up, school's almost out for summer (this probably wasn't the best time to start a new project, the more I think about it), my little guy is yelling to go outside and play from the minute he wakes up...we're pretty go, go, go around here.  But I've found myself doing lots of pattern tests and other fun projects lately and wanting to share all of the excitement (and keep track of it all someplace other than in my already-crowded memory) - so here we are. :)