Testers are such an important part of the indie pattern design process. They help ensure that a pattern fits just right on a wide range of bodies and makes sense to the average sewist across the world. Good testers help me to polish off any last bits of roughness from a pattern, asking all the questions I might have missed answering. I had a fabulous group of testers for the Scroop Patterns Eastbourne Trousers. They went above and beyond with providing feedback – even in the midst of horrible storms, and hospital visits. I am phenomenally grateful for their help.
Here are the tester makes!
Mandy @make_it_sew_number1
Mandy made no alterations at all to her View A Eastbourne’s, except to shorten them at the hem.
Her Eastbourne’s are made in a wonderful wool crepe. I’ve never considered them in pink, and now I want my own pink pair. (this is the drawback to being a pattern designer. People make awesome versions of your patterns, and then you want to copy them, and then you end up with 200 versions in your pattern…)
Xyllia Handmade Vintage @xyllia.handmade
Xyllia Handmade loves yellow as much as I do – and I think she may manage to sew with it even more often! I really love the soft, buttery yellow of her Eastbourne trial, because it manages to be a neutral that you can pair with a lot of things, despite being well, enormous yellow checks!
The fabric is a linen-viscose blend (yum!) and she made View A – high yoke, full length.
Katie @katievseveryone
I really love the olive wool of Katie’s Eastbourne’s – it gives them a real 1940s vibe, and makes them great for winter wear.
She opted for fun pocket inners, which is awesome, but also makes the pocket gaping issue that the tester version had pretty obvious – but don’t worry, I’ve fixed that in the final pattern! And I’ve added a tutorial on how to do contrast/statement (aka, fun) pocket linings in the Eastbourne’s without any chance of the pocket lining showing to my to-do list!
The Sewing Goatherd @thesewinggoatherd
Alyssa also tested the Otari Hoodie, and I couldn’t pass her up as a tester for the Eastbourne Trousers, because she is such a great tester: very detailed, very thoughtful in her makes, always ahead of schedules, and such fun photographs!
Sadly, no baby goats this time, but we do get a very cool tractor, AND she’s wearing a Miramar top with her Eastbourne’s (extra extra brownie points there!).
Naomi of Spare Room Style @nommyjoybubble
Naomi has the most fantastic, avant garde, offbeat, fearless style in her sewing wardrobe, and she did not disappoint with her Eastbourne trousers!
I think it will be a long time before anyone else makes a pair of Eastbournes quite as amazing as these.
Mie @mieh1973
And last, but totally not least, Mieh, who went above and beyond, making both a summer pair:
And a winter pair:
I love them both, but I particularly adore the matching top that turns the summer pair into a beach pyjama type outfit. Too wonderful!
Other Testers
Five other amazing women also tested the Eastbournes, but haven’t managed to get images they wanted to share yet (in a weird coincidence, four of the five were the testers who did View B). They all shared lots of photos of their mock ups and testing, and helped make sure the pattern was as good as possible.
A huge thank you to everyone who tested! I really enjoyed working with you, and am very grateful for your time and feedback.
