Girls Coco Cay Tankini from Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop - Pattern Testing and Sneak Peek

Recently, Amy from Peek-a-Boo announced a new girl and doll tankini pattern, The Coco Cay.  She was looking for some pattern testers willing to try different sizes. Amy needed testers that could start right away. How did I find out about this and become a pattern tester?  By following Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop on facebook where it was announced. The official release of Coco Cay Tankini is coming soon.  Testers had just over a week from the time we got the pattern to the time we needed to turn in feedback and photos. I'm sharing my experience with pattern testing tankinis for my granddaughter BELLE and her American Girl 'twin' doll AJ. The Coco Cay Tankini pattern will soon be available in girls sizes 3 months through 12 (years) and a size for 18" dolls.  

Honestly, I was excited and a bit anxious at the same time.  Excited to be included as a pattern tester, and anxious about sewing swimwear.  I am so addicted to quilting weight cotton fabrics.  I can sew knits, of course, but my experience is not as deep in knit fabrics.  Truth be told, this was my first time to construct a garment using a four way stretch fabric.  It was also my entry into the world of sewing swimwear.  I had to 'dive' into it.  Nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?

I made a decision to construct the doll tankini first.  Why?  If I messed up, it was a lot less fabric to waste.  That was a good decision.  Sewing the boy shorts bottom for the doll tankini was pretty simple.  Sewing the top was harder for me.  Let me make this perfectly clear:  The problem was NOT the pattern.  The pattern is wonderful.  The instructions are well written with lots of photos.  The problem I had with the tankini top was ME.  In my own words, I boogered it up a bit the first time around. It still fit just fine, but I wanted it to look prettier and not the mistake's I'd made.  The one in the photo is my second doll tankini top.  I learned a lot making them both!

Let me tell you a wonderful thing about Amy from Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop.  BELLE is in between two sizes and I had questions about which size to choose. Amy answered my questions right away and gave great feedback.  I chose to make the size 8 boy shorts tankini bottom and the size 10 tankini top.  If you're not sure what size swimsuit to sew for your girl, or if she is different sizes on top and bottom, choose a tankini pattern from Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop.  You can make one size for a top and another for a bottom if needed.

 

Sewing this matching girl and doll Coco Cay Tankini from Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop was fun.  Since I was making it for my granddaughter and her 'twin' American Girl Doll that we gave her last Christmas, a more accurate description for it would be a labor of love.  I enjoyed the entire experience.

Working with Amy from Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop was a great.  Spending time doing something for my granddaughter was sweet.  Photographing her and and AJ at Pirate's Cove Water Park and the followup trip to Braums for ice cream...well...that was priceless.  I'd like to personally thank the wonderful staff at Pirate's Cove Water Park for allowing us park access to conduct our little photo shoot.  I'd also like to thank Hancock Fabrics in Hurst, TX for their assistance and expertise in helping me choose the right fabrics and notions.

What did BELLE think?  When she first saw it and tried it on, she asked me, "Nanny, this looks like what surfer girls wear.  Is this a surfer swim suit?"  When a little girl puts on a bathing suit and doesn't want to take it off and change back into her street clothes, that is a good sign that she likes it.  Score a home run for Nanny! 

NOTE:  FYI - Just in case you were wondering about it, nothing in this post has been sponsored, nor have any paid endorsements been included here. 

UPDATE: The Coco Cay Tankini by Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop is now available for sale!  Just click on the link.


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