Blogging Beginnings and testing the Greenstyle Shorts

I never thought I would be one to start a blog, but with encouragement from some of my sewing friends, here I am.  I started sewing as a teenager when I couldn’t find anything I liked in the shop.  I have always been a crafty person doing everything from long stitch to restoring furniture.  For a while there, life got in the way but now I am sewing more than at any other time in my life.  It is my favourite way to spend what little time I have to myself (I am a working single parent) and let’s face it – it’s much cheaper than therapy!

I am currently working on my new year resolution, to sew a different pattern every week for a year.  So far, despite a number of… shall we say challenges?  I have managed to surpass this goal, with multiple new patterns some weeks.  It is week 24 and I have sewn around 33!  Testing patterns, particularly for my favourite designer Rabbit Rabbit Creations, has made a large contribution to that number.

So after a bit of drama around “theshortsthatshallnotbenamed” I volunteered for a mystery test for GreenStyle Creations.  I was pretty pleased when I found out that the test was for the Taylor Shorts,  mid-rise (my favourite – it hides a mummy tummy!) shorts with three different leg lengths.  I elected to do the longest version and went stash diving to find this fabulous printed linen I picked up on clearance at spotlight.

I made a size 6, using my hip measurement as a guide.  My waist is larger than recommended for this size, but as it has a mid-rise, there was no problem with fit.  The pattern was clear and the only issue I encountered was installing the zip.  The revised instruction on zip installation in the final pattern addressed this issue.  

Overall, I found the pattern easy to follow and the shorts were very flattering.  Here are my shorts selfies…  I am going to have to track down a Photographer for further posts! It is very challenging taking pictures of your own... ummm... shorts.

 The GreenStyle Taylor Shorts Pattern is due to be released in the next week as part of the Pattern Revolution womens Bundle Up Sale on 20th June 2014.

Thanks for reading!  xxx