testing, testing? 1, 2, shorts!

One of my favorite aspects of pattern-making is enlisting pattern testers to try it all out, before it goes live.

(above: No Big Dill)
I used to dread that part because I'm antsy, and it adds more time to the overall process.  Then one day I realized how freaking awesome it was.  Sewers from various skill levels were willing to try out my pattern, give me detailed feedback about what worked, what didn't work, and how I could improve it....and then they'd take darling photos of their creations and share them online?
These women are fabulous!

And I couldn't have made the KID Shorts pattern without them.  Their suggestions were spot-on.
And their shorts are adorable. And---btw---the shorts YOU have been making are killing me in the flickr group.  I need to do a You Made it roundup as well....

(top: Craftiness is Not Optional • below: Wild Wandering and Delia Creates)

So here's a taste of what our KID Shorts testers sewed up (click their links for more photos and info).

Tiffany from Craft, Interrupted went for a pirate theme, and made an extra pair for her son (below). Love me some patriotric pirates!

Brandyn, another tester, went with summer white.  Beautiful simplicity.

Kelly Crawford of Wild Wandering made shorts from a sheet!  I want a sheet like that.  And I want shorts like that.  And maybe I want to live in Paris with Kelly and her family.  You must check out her site....all her photos are in the gorgeous locations. 

Ashley from Frances Suzanne sews mostly for her two nieces, and aren't they darling?  A whimsy summer look on the left and eek! terry cloth! on the right.  How cool is that?  I love it.  And with a matching top too.

Palak from Make it Handmade was so super helpful in this process and sewed multiple versions of the shorts, till I got the sizing just right.  I love the simple plaid on her son:

 And this photo of her daughter just makes me smile....the shorty-shorts, the ruffled top, the mint!

Jessica from A Little Gray used the pattern for their Film Petit series, to make a killer Rex Kwon Do and a Llama ensemble---a la Napoleon Dynamite.  Dude.  Check. it. out.

Jessica from Craftiness is Not Optional sewed her little shorts off here and here.  I swear she could win a speed-sewing contest.  She made about 5 or 6 pairs, for multiple birthday parties, and if you follow her on instagram, you know what I'm talking about.  She's always up to something fun!

Hola from Delia Creates!  Don't you love Delia?  Everything she makes is cool, interesting, inspiring, and really well done.  Like the gray shorts below.  Simple, yet totally profesh.  She's a professional.  I'm happy I know her.

Shannon from Little Kids Grow tried out the older kid sizes for me and gave great feedback (in her spare time between 6 kids and early pregnancy pains.  Thanks Shannon!)....and topped it off with yellow piping!  Check out her site for great sewing ideas. 

And lastly, Miss Katy made it no big dill with her signature touches, happy action shots, and all that amazing stuff that makes you want to jump into the computer screen and play at her house for an hour.  Want to meet me there for one afternoon? 

Thank you, thank you ladies for all your help and for sharing your talents with us....and your cute models too.
Have a great weekend everyone!