Project Run and Play, Week One

It is another season at Project Run and Play and I decided to play along. It always amazes me how much talent it attracts. This year my good friend Mie is one of the contestants and I can't wait what she and others create. The first challenge is a Oliver +S Popover Sundress pattern remix. I decided I would sew for the baby, since I haven't done it yet and also because I had a teeny tiny piece of Nani Iro flannel.  I love the huge neon pink polka dots! The fabric came from Miss Matatabi shop on Etsy.

The pattern was too big for my 12 months old, so I had to resize it using one of her t-shirts. This is what I did. I also added straps, but didn't make a separate pattern piece for it.

I was quite happy with the results and my brilliant idea, until a day later I was looking through one of my Ottobre magazines and came across almost exactly the same jumper. What?! The skirt was gathered and fuller but the top was the same. Ugh. I guess my original idea was not so original after all. Darn it, Ottobre. :) I went ahead and traced their jumper in Ania's size because I do like it. Sigh.

Then came the photo shoot. Turns out one year olds are quite an opinionated lot. They want to do what they want to do, sit where they want to sit. And only smile when you are not taking pictures. They might or might not let you put a barrette in their hair or for that matter any clothes at all. And you oblige otherwise a shriek that such tiny creatures are able to produce might leave a permanent ear damage. Nobody wants that.

I am happy with the fit, though I should have made it a tad longer. It would be perfect for the fall weather with leggings and a long sleeve shirt.

 

Off she goes, aiming for the bathroom. Nothing fascinates the child more than a toilet. One year olds are weird. And super adorable. 



 

 







Project Run and Play - Signature Style

It's the Signature Style week at Project Run and Play.  Since I have been mostly sewing for Ania, I thought about making something that would reflect her signature style. Not an easy task. Ania's ultimate look would be footed pajamas spray painted with glitter. She would probably accessorize that with diamond earrings, if she can get a pair. What can I say, the girl is all about comfort and bling-bling. So I decided to merge my style and hers. My style is a mixture of classics and new fashion trends. I love well tailored, fitted clothes. I especially love dresses. They are easy and always  make you look put together.

 

 

We decided on a comfortable sweater dress refashioned for a dad's sweater.

 

 

I forgot to snap a picture of the sweater, was too excited to start remaking. It was a pretty simple refashion. When the dress was done, it was comfortable for sure, but sort of boring. It needed something special.

 

 

The embroidery came from Embroidered Effects. I love how it turned out. Just enough sparkle to make Ania happy.

 

A added small stitches around the neck to tie it all together.

 

 

 

Ania loves her new dress, but not the modeling outside in the cold. Poor child, suffering  in the name of fashion. :)

Here are the link parties I visit. Check them out!



Love is in the Air - Project Run and Play

This week is all about love at Project Run and Play . Love is in the Air is the theme. I thought about making a frilly dress with lace and ruffles for Ania, since whenever I think of the most romantic (or depressing, depending where you are on the spectrum of love) day of the year, I think feminine and puffy and over the top. Except, I knew that Ania will not wear it. She has been obsessed with the Lion King.  Most days she is on all fours being Simba making grrr sounds and prowling after her little brother. The clothes that she wears need to pass the "Simba test" - can she be a lion and crawl around. Well, puffy, frilly, lacy dresses fail the "Simba test" miserably. So we decided to pay a subtle homage to the day, make something comfortable and practical with slight references to everything romantic.

See what I mean. The soft knit is all pink and lacy, yet comfortable. The pattern is from 4/2011 Ottobre magazine. I like it well enough. The method they use to finish the neckline is supposed to make it look all professional by using a regular sewing machine, and not the fancy attachment on the serger. Except, it is hard to get it perfect or at least close to perfect. And I am a perfectionist when it comes to necklines.



I had to redo it twice before I was happy with the results. Though, I think I need to make a smaller button loop.

The pants are very soft sweatpants with the little detail on the side.

Subtlety, my friend. Well, maybe not, but Ania loves it. You can't tell by the picture, but the thread is sparkly.

Ania loves her new outfit but not the modeling part.

Enough with the pictures! 

Project Run and Play - Stripes and Polka Dots

My one and only new year's resolution was not to buy any new fabric until I use up most of my stash. I promptly broke it on January 2nd. Darn it, ebay! In my defence the fabric was so bright and cheery and the day was so gloomy and cold. Plus, it had polka dots and gnomes. How am I supposed to resist that? Since the fabric was a constant reminder of the fact that I can't keep my resolutions for more than a day, I decided it needed to be used immediately and it would be perfect for a polka dots and stripes challenge for Project Run and Play.

We present you a gnomes and polka dots dress. The pattern came from 3/2011 Ottobre magazine. I decided to use a pretty simple pattern since the print is quite busy.

Ania chose the buttons. I think they fit perfectly. I added a cardigan to use during winter.







The pattern came from a Japanese pattern book, The Polka Drops. I was a little leery about using the book. It is, well, in Japanese. And it's not like you can just copy a sentence and paste it into Google translate. But I didn't need to worry.







The pictures were very helpful. I also liked how they didn't include basic steps, just the ones that might be confusing. That way you don't get overwhelmed by the abundance of text and pictures.

To go with the polka dot theme I added small buttons covered with the contrasting red fabric and round elbow patches. The pockets have a roundish opening. :) Overall I am happy with how the outfit turned out.  Ania likes both pieces, even though she was tired of modeling and kept moving around.

 



Project Run and Play Week One

I have been following Project Run and Play for a year now. It is sort of like Project Runway, except it's kids fashion created by aspiring designers, aka mothers, aunts, and anybody else who loves sewing for kids. Each week a challenge is given and the voting begins. The person with the least votes leaves the competition. I have to say, the designs rival anything created on Project Runway. I am totally amazed by the talent out there. This year I decided to participate in their Sew Along. The first challenge is a pattern remix The Party Dress form Lindsay at the Cottage Home.

The task is to use the pattern and make a design of your own. Here is my take on the pattern.

 

While browsing through a local fabric store a while ago I came upon a table that had a sigh "Sample Fabrics". There was a large piece of fabric with the prettiest print. It almost look like a watercolor painting. 

I touched it and it was the softest thing ever. It draped beautifully, and also had a subtle shimmer to it. Love. There was just enough fabric to eke out a dress for Ania. And I really like how it turned out.

Even though it was a nightmare to work with. The qualities that attracted me to the fabric drove me absolutely crazy. It slipped, and stretched  every possible direction. It warped and I was ready to take my scissors and cut the whole thing into million pieces. Instead, I persevered.

 

I used a zipper in the back. I also decided to make a bubble skirt. I really like how it drapes so softly.

 

 

I like how the skirt is not too puffy. It is fancy enough to wear to a party, but also simple enough to play.

 

 

I asked Ania if she liked her new dress. "Of course, you worked so hard on it", she replied. She loved to model.

 

That's how you do it. :)