Oh, that Heidi! She’s a marvel!

She makes the most delicious patterns.

Hot on the heels of the fabulous Ruffle Top pattern, today she’s launching the much anticipated Bubble Pocket Shorts pattern.

I swoon!

I was delighted to be asked to participate in pattern testing them.  Lucky me!

Hot pink embroidered cotton.

They are too adorable for words. I just know this will be my go-to pattern for the summer.

These shorts are a joy to make – simple and straightforward to sew.  The pattern is beautifully drafted and the PDF is so well tiled. The pattern pieces tape together perfectly and in a jiffy.

You can go from inbox to completed in a gentle afternoon’s sewing.  With tea breaks.

Heidi’s instructions are a joy!  Clear, detailed and beautifully illustrated with step-by-step photographs.  She holds your hand every step of the way.  I would recommend this pattern to any confident beginner.  The Sailor version might need a bit more experience, but the Classic version, shown here, are really not at all difficult…if you can sew straight lines and insert elastic, I promise you that you can make these shorts.

One word of warning, though…when you do make them you’ll have no end of trouble getting your little fashionista to take them off.  We nearly had tears, she loves them so much.

And you’ll have to make her a matching ruffle top tunic too!  More of that when I can convince madam to partake in a photoshoot (stroppy little minx!).

But I can deal with that…and I recommend you dash off now and get your copy.  New shorts for the weekend, anybody?

The Husband’s shirt was finished last weekend and has already been worn twice.  It would have been worn more if I’d been swifter with the laundry and ironing.

The days he couldn’t wear it I got the big sad eyes.

I also been given details of plenty of variations on the theme that he feels would look just perfect in his wardrobe.  Different colours, contrasts, trims. He’s got it all sussed.

So it appears that as well as making my husband a shirt that he absolutely loves, I’ve also made a rod for my own back…I’ll be making this shirt again, for sure.

The pattern, you may recall, is McCalls 6613.

I have to admit to having quite mixed feelings about this pattern.

It’s actually drafted really well, except that there is no placket on the sleeve. Seriously…would it have been that much extra work for them to include a sleeve placket.  It’s a SHIRT, for heaven’s sake.

The instructions also don’t call for flat felled seams.  At which point I’m compelled to repeat myself…its. a. SHIRT. people!  Every RTW shirt in The Husband’s wardrobe has flat felled seams.

I chose to add them…which then resulted in the need for a “design feature” on the sleeve opening…because there’s no placket!  Hence the red grosgrain…which has turned out to be a favourite feature.

But whilst I was frustrated with these omissions, and the generally weak instructions, the shirt itself fitted perfectly pretty much out of the envelope. The only adjustment I needed to make was to add 6cms across the back to accommodate his rugby shoulders.

You can’t really complain about that, can you?

So, I will be making this again, but next time I’ll draft a sleeve placket just to make it perfect.  But either way, I’ve got a happy husband…and that’s always a good thing, in my book.

Last week I was giddy with excitement to be chosen as one of the pattern testers for the new Ruffle Tunic Top for Elegance & Elephants.   It’s Heidi’s first PDF pattern (hopefully the first of many) and it’s just delightful.

Each of the 3 versions, tunic top, A Line dress and swing dress are adorable. Can’t you see the swing dress in cotton voile or eyelet for summer birthday parties?

For the testing I made the A Line dress from some cute nautical print cotton that I’d been gifted by Himmelbjerget.

I’m not the worlds speediest seamstress, but even I had this dress sewn and on a small girl within an afternoon. I was amazed!

The pattern is so beautifully drafted and it’s a joy to sew.  It’s hard to believe this is Heidi’s first pattern…she’s done an amazing job on it.  I’ve sewn PDFs for the kids from several independent companies and this is without a doubt the best drafting of them all.

The ruffles add a cute edge to the styling…and wouldn’t they look great in contrasting fabric?

You could also add contrast neck binding and ties.  And piping at the princess seams.  So many options!

There are no zips or buttonholes or tricky fastenings. The instructions are clear with great photos to help you along. This dress could easily be sewn by a confident beginner with great results.

And although I tested the age 6 pattern, which I’d thought would absolutely drown Button as she’s so petite, the ties at the back cinch it in nicely so she can wear it now, with room to grow.

Which is a relief, because she absolutely loves this dress…and it passed the twirl test.  Which, as we all know is the most important test of all!

I’m delighted to say that this pattern will be on sale next week.  If I were you I’d be hanging around Elegance & Elephants until it becomes available, then nab your pattern as soon as possible. Or maybe just follow her blog and FB so you don’t miss out.

Either way,  I think you’ll love this pattern as much as we do.

***Edited to link up to***