Interview With a Tester- Newbie Edition

May 9, 2018/0 Comments/in Ramblings, Reviews, Uncategorized /by Sheila Sisco

We all know that a pattern must go through multiple incarnations and many rounds of testing to get it just right. How does it get there? With the help of testers, of course! So we thought we’d interview a new and an experienced tester. And now you can learn what it’s like in the life and mind of a BSD tester!

Interview With a Tester- Newbie Edition

For the newer tester, I interviewed Sarah Beasley. She’s a newer tester with Bella Sunshine and we thought she would give a great fresh perspective on what it’s like!

Here’s our conversation:

How long have you been testing for Bella Sunshine?

Tess Tulip shorts were the first, so I think last summer.

What made you decide to apply to be a tester?

I had done a couple with other designers, but never shorts! This was the first pattern test for bottoms for me. I have a little girl who has bad eczema and polyester gives her hives. This was a way for me to see if I could make her some cute bottoms and control the material she was exposed to.

That’s so sweet! What is your favorite thing about Bella Sunshine patterns?

I love how the tutorials are not overly complicated and give a beautiful finish. Simple ways to enclose seams for a finished look on the inside as well. Plus I love the community. I am a very visual person and if I don’t understand a step then there are usually 5 people ready to jump in and help.

What is your favorite part of the testing process?

Learning new techniques! With every BSD sew I have learned something new to me and I am able to take it and apply it to other projects which is awesome. I also love the picture taking though all I have is my cell phone.

Which pattern has been your favorite to test? And why?

Tough choice. I think Rebel Girl Party dress. I love the back cutout and the pleats! It is the one design I have made multiples of and my kiddo loves the twirl factor she gets out of it and I love another option besides gathering. I made a rainbow one and it is her favorite dress to date!

That’s awesome! I love rainbows. So what types of patterns do you hope to test in the future?

I sent a couple of recommendations in the last poll for ideas! #1 has to be some boys or unisex patterns. I have two girls I test for often and my little man gets left out! He is the one that loves to help me the most! #2 I saw an awesome pin of what I call a mash between the Sansa and an overall! So some more bottoms would be great as well! #3 I will eventually get over my fear of knits and so some knit tops would be great!

You have some really GREAT ideas! Ok, last question! What advice do you have for other tester hopefuls?

To keep on trying and ask questions! Even if you don’t understand a step chances are someone else doesn’t either or a different way to write it for a total beginner! Be willing to try something a little outside your comfort zone and the results over time will be amazing! I love pattern testing as I make myself learn something new or try something new! So sometimes even if my end result isn’t perfect, I am still proud of myself.

We want to thank Sarah very much for her time. She gave us some really great answers and we hope you enjoyed climbing into her mind about testing! Next week we’ll dive into an interview with An Staute for a more experienced tester’s perspective! We hope you’ll join us!

BSD’s Most Read Sewing Articles of 2017

January 4, 2018/1 Comment/in News, Reviews, Sewing Tutorials, Tips & Tricks /by Sheila Sisco

As we look back on the last year, we like to peek at the most read sewing articles that we’ve produced. Maybe you’ve read them. Maybe you haven’t. But we thought we’d share them with you. Maybe you missed a gem you needed. Either way, you can look back on these fond memories with us. And maybe learn something new in the process! So here are the top 7 articles from 2017.

7. Fun Uses for Seemingly Useless Scraps

See some of our favorite quick and easy scrap-busting ideas! You never know what you might find or learn in the process!

6. The Don’ts of Pattern Testing

This tongue-in-cheek article took a dive into the world of pattern testing. It’s a great amusing read for how not to be a good pattern tester. I must admit, it was very fun to write too!

5. 8 Specialty Feet That Will Change Your Life

So much useful information here! Most important to remember: DO NOT be afraid of specialty feet! Thay are your friends and here to help you! Read this article to find out which are the most used feet and why they are so awesome!

4. Top 10 Knit Fabrics For Garment Sewing

Confused about knits? This handy little guide will tell you about popular knit types and some of the best projects to use them for! We got a lot of requests for this one in our group, so we brought it to you!

3. Lose Your Sewing Weight: Grade Your Seams

This post was SUCH a handy tool for reducing the bulk you can get in seams. Especially when you’re dealing with a lot of layers. Check out this article for help with reducing your bulk.

2. 12 More Bad Sewing Habits You Need to Quit Doing

There are a lot of things you shouldn’t do as a seamstress. Things that are just poor time management to things that are downright dangerous. This is a list of a few of those things and why they are a no-no.

And our MOST read article of the year…. *insert drum-roll here*

1. Know Your Needles

One of our more informative articles, I think. This one goes over a few of the most used needle types out there and which types of fabric and projects they are good for.

If you can think of any of our posts that you especially enjoyed that didn’t make the list, please share them in the comments below! And as always, feel free to join our Facebook group for fun, giveaways, sharing, and help! We’d LOVE to have you!

Holiday Sewing~ Sahara for the Holidays

December 21, 2017/0 Comments/in Images, Reviews, Tips & Tricks /by Sheila Sisco

No matter the religion, the holidays are filled with joy and are a reason to celebrate. Many of us sew up a whole lot of cute for our littles to wear for various celebrations, but what happens when we run short on time? Holiday sewing can be stressful. We all know that. And holidays are looming (or already here in some cases). So what do you do when you need a dress fast? Why not try Sahara? And I’ll tell you why…

Holiday Sewing~ Sahara for the Holidays

Sahara is cute, fun, easy, and a pretty quick sew! Plus, it’s versatile with its different sleeve and skirt lengths. And you can make it so different by fabric choice alone. for example:

Cute and Sweet

You can go full out cutesy and themed with the right fabric (the skirt panel for this happened to be sold by Smoogie Fabric and Designs). I love the story the skirt tells here. And how perfectly the bodice colors and stripes fit the theme!

The next example I have for you is this adorable holiday striped coffee themed Sahara. If you love something, you gotta roll with it sometimes, right? It still makes for the most adorable dress.

And if you want to add a little “sparkle” to her step, why not glam it up with a sparkle knit? You can never go wrong with sparkles!

All three of these dresses were made by the amazing Shelly Rahn of Thread Head Step Child. Thank you for sharing, Shelly!

A Vintage Feel

Our next share is from Barbie Slivinski, another super talented seamstress in our Facebook group! The bright colorful tree fabric gives this dress such an amazing vintage-y country Christmas feel that I just adore! Slightly casual, but still perfect for a holiday party! Thank you, Barbie!

All Glammed Up

And last, but definitely not least, the fancy Sahara! Made from stretch velvet, this one’s a stunner. Shiny and so soft and pretty. Perfect for any holiday princess and any kind of party. Plus stretch velvet is readily available in most fabric stores, so it’s that much easier for a last minute dress sew! This one was made by Shelby Brennan Barney and you can find her blog post on this dress with more gorgeous pictures here. Thank you so much for sharing this with us, Shelby!

So, now you have ALL the inspiration to use Sahara for your last minute holiday sew! Or maybe just for the next holiday! It would also be amazing for Valentine and Easter dresses. *wink wink* And remember, Sahara isn’t just for girls! There’s a ladies version as well that sews up just as easy if you need a holiday dress for yourself!

Make sure you stop by our Facebook group to share your Bella Sunshine holiday sews with us! We really love seeing what you’re making… it keeps us all excited! Happy Holidays from Bella Sunshine!

Sewing Book Review: The Complete Serger Handbook

January 7, 2016/2 Comments/in Reviews /by Melissa Prendergast

While I’ve been sewing for decades, I’m pretty new to the serger world. I got my first serger, a Babylock Evolution, just over two years ago. I knew next to nothing about them except that they were sometimes a nightmare to thread. And that they could cut your fabric and sew the edges at the same time. That pretty much sums up my serger knowledge. The first thing I did was order The Complete Serger Handbook by Chris James. I was so impressed with the quality of the material in this book that I wanted to do a sewing book review. And now I’m sharing that info with all of you.

Sewing Book Review: The Complete Serger Handbook by Chris James

One of my favorite things about this book is the pictures! There are a ton of full-color photographs that litter the book. Many of the photos also include additional text overlays that label each item in the photo. This makes it very clear to know what you are looking at.

This book offers chapters for those beginners that are new to serging. These include what type of thread to use, the different types of stitches and their uses, and threading and tension issues. It also includes more advanced techniques such as serging with twill tape or elastic. As well as using a flatlock to hem a garment. There is also an entire chapter on serging with knits with lots of tips that will make this sometimes challenging fabric a breeze. There are also several troubleshooting sections through the book. These have the advice to help you if you have a common problem.

Overall, I liked this book a lot. I refer to it anytime I have an issue while serging or if I’m looking to try a new-to-me finishing technique that I’ve never done before. It’s a great reference book to add to your library if are interested in exploring all the things your serger can do. The best thing about this book is it is not brand specific. No matter what brand of serger you have, you will find the information useful.

Did you enjoy this book review? Is there another book I should check out and leave a review on? Let me know in the comments. I’m addicted to sewing books, so I’m always looking to add something new to my library.

Interview With a Tester- Newbie Edition