Project Run and Play

Sewing Friends: Sally from Daisy Chain Creations

2013-05-20T04:00:00.000-06:00

Hello Project Run and Play readers! It's Sally from Daisy Chain Creations, here to share a little detail that makes a tunic go from humdrum to whimsical...just add a little contrasting ruching (and an exposed yolk...but I'm not going to overwhelm you today).

While we are just wrapping up the school year here (2 more days!!!), I'm already thinking ahead to the next year and this little gal's wardrobe. She'll be starting kindergarten and I want her to have some fun pieces that match her personality. She pretty much lives in hand-me-downs, which is really nice, but not necessarily her...do you know what I mean?

That is how this tunic came to be. She really liked the one I had made for her sister earlier this year, so I let her pick out the fabric for her first piece to go in her kindergarten wardrobe (hence the reason it's a little big...it is still 3 months away). We found the cute owl fabric at our local JoAnn's.

First, you want to start with a tunic like top. You could use any top pattern and just extend it, but I just traced a pattern from a shirt that fit her on the large size (make sure you account for seam allowances). You also want it to be a little longer, going below the waist so you can ruche it up.

Then you want to assemble the shirt and finish the bottom hem.

Now it's time to make the little placket and ties for ruching. You could use ribbon if you didn't want to make the ties, just make sure you do something to the ends to keep them from fraying.

The placket pieces are 2 1/2 inches wide. The length is up to you and how far you want it to go up the side of the shirt. For the ties you want them to be a couple of inches longer than your placket. I made mine 1 inch wide.

Next you want to finish the bottom edge of the placket with a small hem. ( I skipped this step because the I had a nice printed selvaged edge, which I figured was just as good)

Now you want to iron the sides and top in 1/2 and inch.

If you are making the ties, fold them in half right sides together, sew and turn. Then finish the edges.

Here's what you end up with and now you are ready to assemble.

You also want to snip the ties in half. You could potentially adjust this idea so that you use one continuous loop, but since I'm making it for kids I figured I wanted the top ends secure so I wouldn't have them getting pulled all the way through.

Now you want to mark the middle of the placket lengthwise (I just marked the top and bottom, but you might want to mark a line down the entire length).

Pin it to the side seam, making sure to line up the middle of the placket with the seam.

Sew along your line in the ditch of the side seam, all the way from the bottom hem to the top of the placket.

Next you want to pin the ties right next to the seam, one on each side. Let the ends stick out a little at the top.

Now it's time to attach the rest of the placket. First sew around the placket, up one side, across the top (I always back stitch and come back across to make sure the ties are nice and secure) and then down the other side. First go around at 1/4 and inch.

Now you want to snip the ends so that they are not sticking out.

Still with me? We're almost done.

Sew around the placket again, this time with an edge stitch. I also added another row at the top to secure the ties good and tight...we're talking about a 5 year after all, so who knows how much tugging she'll do with those ties.

And there you have it...a cute ruched tunic.

Stop on over at Daisy Chain Creations to learn how to do the whimsical exposed yolk that you see on the tunic.

My first version of the tunic had the placket on the inside, which makes it a little less whimsical, but still fun to have some contrast going on.

Thanks for having me here on Project Run and Play!

P.S. The winner of our So Tweet Fabrics gift certificate is.....

flygirl07May 16, 2013 at 6:51 PM

My favorite is the Riley Blake Mystique. Although I love the mustache fabric too. And anything with a dot...

Congrats!!!!

Sewing Friends: Ashley from Cherished Bliss

2013-05-17T04:00:00.000-06:00

Hello Project Run and Play readers! I am so excited to be sharing here today : ) I'm Ashley, and you can find me over at my blog, Cherished Bliss.

I am a momma to two beautiful little ones with another one coming in July. We are super excited and I can't wait to make stuff for this little man (lots of baby tutorials coming soon!) Today I am going to share a little shirt that I made for my daughter. I was inspired by this one from Gap Kids.

I have to warn you up front though, this is more of a how-to than an actual pattern. I am not a super fantastic seamstress. I can follow tutorials and patterns, but when it comes to making up my own, let's just say there is a lot of trial and error, and there is a reason they made seam rippers! : ) The good news is I mainly made this by going off the measurements of another one of Addison's shirt and made slight adjustments where necessary. So if you are pretty good at kid's clothes, this shouldn't be too difficult. Oh, and try to to laugh to hard at my super awesome sewing lingo ; )

The back of the shirt is totally the best part! How cute is that?! To be honest I was surprised it turned out so good! So let's take a look at how I made it! Supplies: - 1 yard of fabric (for approx a size 3T) - Elastic - All your basic sewing necessities. Cut List: I made this shirt specific to my daughter's measurements, so yours will probably vary, but I will try and explain how I got some of them. - Bodice (2 pieces) - Straps - Ties for bow in back of shirt (you want these to be the width of the bottom part of the bodice (the underarm part) & about 1" - 1 1/2" longer than the width of the bodice - this is wear my mad sewing lingo skills come into play! : ) - Front ruffled panel - Back ruffled panel The How-To: The first thing I did was trace out the bodice of the shirt using another one of Addison's shirts that had the same general lines I was looking for. When tracing, just leave extra room for your seam allowance. Cut two of these out.

Next I cut out my straps. I made my straps like double binding. Mine were two inches wide and I pressed it in half, then folded the raw edges in to meet that center line and stitched up both sides.

Next, you will need to take your ties for the bow (mine were about 11" long and 2" wide after sewn and turned right side out). We are going to attach all the straps to the bodice. With your bodice pieces right sides together, pin your straps in place, and your bow pieces. Sew around all sides except the bottom, turn right sides out, press and top stitch. Make sure you leave enough room under your bow pieces so you can attach the front panel. Now, I totally forgot to attach my straps to the bow pieces, so I just ripped the seam where I wanted them, and top stitched them in place - yes I know... all you ladies who actually know what they are doing are probably cringing right about now! Below is how it should look when you are done, maybe without all the extra threads hanging out though ; )

Up next is attaching the front panel. I went of the measurements of the shirt I used for the bodice, but I added a few inches because I wanted it to ruffle a little more. So once I ruffled the fabric, I serged it onto the bodice, right sides together. Make sure and leave seam allowance on the sides to attach the back panel to. Then I pressed the seam towards the top and top stitched.

Now for the back panel, you want it to be the same length as the front panel, but you have to take into consideration the extra allowance for the casing for the elastic. But before you make the casing for your elastic, you are going to cut out a little off the top of the panel so it creates that cut out look under your bow. To do this I folded my back panel piece in half, wrong sides together. Starting at the fold I measured about 1 1/2" down and cut out curving up towards the corners of the raw edges. You don't want to make too big of a dip here because once you add the elastic it will look more drastic. I made a diagram to help explain where to cut.

Now, on the curve, serge your top edge and then fold over to create your casing for the elastic. Press, and stitch in place. Using a safety pin, feed your elastic through. (I cut my elastic a little shorter than the width of the bodice. Then stitch your elastic in place with a basting stitch.

Now, put your front and back panel pieces right sides together and sew or serge the side seams.

Once that is done, finish your bottom edge and hem. You are done! Now you have an adorable little shirt. Addison wasn't into posing much this day... she was more into running around everywhere, so it was kind of hard to get good shots of it, silly toddlers ; )

Sponsor Spotlight: So Tweet Fabrics

2013-05-16T03:30:00.000-06:00

Today we are meeting Shelly from So Tweet Fabrics and her darling girls.

(And there is a giveaway at the end...so stick around!)

Hi! I am Shelly Morgan, a mom of McKenna and Ava, two of the most entertaining kids I know, former gymnast and coach, wife of an amazing husband, and finally owner So Tweet Fabrics your one stop shop specializing in great fabrics for everything kid inspired. Starting the fabric shop has truly been a dream come true and it is a family venture. So Tweet Fabrics has allowed my husband and I to work at home and enjoy the blessing of being with our wonderful two girls everyday.

I have always loved creating and sewing and started when I was 6 years old making my very first doll clothes. I was lucky to have loving grandmothers who taught me the art of sewing and allowed me to pursue my creative outlet.

One of my favorite things has always been to create things for the people around me. Now that I have two young girls, I love sewing adorable clothes and anything thing else I think they will enjoy. I have so much fun creating these things that I wanted to share them with others who are as fabric and sewing obsessed as me!

Shelly is giving one lucky reader a $50 gift certificate to her shop. Just head over to So Tweet Fabrics, browse around, tell us your favorite fabric and then come back here and leave it in the comments. GOOD LUCK!!!

Also, she is generously giving a discount to all PR&P readers, just use the code RUNANDPLAY10 at checkout and you will get 10% off.

Sewing Friends: Ajaire from Call Ajaire

2013-05-15T04:00:00.000-06:00

I'm Ajaire from Call Ajaire and I'm very excited to be guest posting here today. As is probably the case for most of the sew along at home-ers, I've found Project Run & Play to be an enormous source of inspiration.

My two year old daughter was just a little (chunky!) baby when I first started following along and it gave me just the kick in the pants I needed to start sewing for her. What a shock it was to realize how much simpler it is to make kids clothes vs clothes made for adults to wear. I was hooked!

Now that my girl is a little older I've found it is so rewarding to see her run around in something I've made. I have so much fun designing an outfit from start to finish, but I'm also so grateful to all of those pattern designers out there. They are a great jumping off point and PR&P's remix posts are a fun way to take that leap.

Today I'd like to focus on a detail I've used a number of times over the years. It's a detail that could be easily added to the neckline of an existing pattern if you're not feeling brave enough to draft one yourself.

It's lattice smocking. I have found it's a great way to add a fancy look to a solid colored piece of fabric. Unlike other traditional methods of smocking, lattice smocking is quick and easy once you get the details worked out.

It is worked on the WRONG side of the fabric over a grid of dots and hash marks with regular thread. I have finally put my Lattice Smocking Tutorial up on Call Ajaire, so if you're interested in how it comes together then I'd love you to drop on by.

I do have some tips for adding this detail to an existing pattern.

Start with a piece of fabric slightly wider than the bodice pattern you are going to use. Lattice Smocking does shrink the fabric width and length, but not as dramatically as some other types of smocking. I'd say maybe 10-15% shrinkage? So account for that before you start the smocking. Another good idea is to keep the pattern piece close by while you're smocking so you can check the width as you go.

Once the smocking is complete you will take the smocked piece of fabric and place the pattern piece over the fabric making sure that the smocked section is where you'd like it to be along the neckline. It may be a little tricky to get the pleating detail at the top (created by the smocking) to want to play nicely with the pattern, but even a simple gather along edge should be enough to get it to fit in the binding or facing you are using.

A big thank you to the ladies behind Project Run & Play. That includes those who are behind the scenes, part of the actual competition, the judges, as well as the sew along-ers. You've all be such an inspiration to me. Not to mention all of that fabric I've been ~~hoarding~~ stashing all these years is finally getting put to good use too, hehe.

Sewing Friends: Marta from Do Guincho

2013-05-13T04:00:00.000-06:00

Hi! I'm Marta and I'm from Portugal. I live in Guincho, a beautiful place by the beach near Lisbon. That's why my blog name is doguincho (that's from guincho). I'm so excited to be here at Project Run and Play sharing my tutorial!

Thank you so much Liz and Elizabeth for inviting me and congratulations on this amazing contest!

Here is the tutorial for the pleated A-line dresses I made for the last edition of PR&P!
The instructions are only for the pleats but you can use any A-line pattern you have or draft your own pattern using a dress you like (that’s what I did).
These pleats can also be done in other projects such as handbags (here is one) or pillows. And, one day, I will turn them into pockets for a skirt...

Besides the pattern, you will need:
-Fabric (see quantity in the first part of the tutorial)
- Thread matching the fabric color and (optional) thread in a contrasting color,
- Sewing machine and iron,
- Scissors, pins and hand sewing needles,
- Tape measure, ruler and a water-soluble fabric marker,
- Scotch tape (for an unconventional technique...)

Cutting

Start cutting the fabric having in mind that, in the place where the pleats will be executed, you'll need a piece of fabric 3 times wider than the final width of the dress in that same area.
This dress will have 9 pleats and each one will be 1cm wide, ie:
3 x 9 pleats x 1cm wide = 27cm
It means that a piece of fabric with 27cm is required, to obtain a final width of 9cm at the place where the pleats will be done.
You can adapt the original pattern to this version of the dress, simply subtracting the total width of the fabric necessary to form the pleats with the final width of the pleats (because that final width is actually already included in the pattern), ie:
27cm - 9cm = 18cm
In conclusion, you will need to add 18cm to the original pattern in order to make the 9 pleats without changing the width of the dress.

At this stage, it is not necessary to cut the fabric in the neck area according to the original pattern. It is better to leave some extra fabric, cutting it in a straight line, and "trimming it" only after finishing the pleats.

Pleating
For the pleating, you should start by tracing the vertical lines that define all the pleats. Trace them on the right side of the fabric with a water-soluble fabric marker (or use your daughter’s super-washable pens, as I do!)
As this dress pleats are 1cm wide, the tracing should be done like this: starting at one edge, trace 0.5cm, then 2cm and 1cm and then trace alternately spaces with 2cm and 1cm. When you reach the other edge you should have a final space 0.5cm wide.

It is also time to trace the pleats’ height. To do this you will need the dress pattern. Start marking the lowest point of the collar (don’t forget to deduct the seam allowance). Then mark the pleats’ horizontal upper edge, roughly 1cm or 1.5 cm below that neck line mark you did earlier. And finally, mark the pleats’horizontal lower edge. This dress will have 7 folds, 2cm height each, so the total height is 14cm.

Make the pleats folding the fabric (wrong sides together) with the 2cm marks aligned. Pin and sew with running stitch along the traced line of each pleat. Do not forget to finish off the seam at the bottom end. I usually like to handmade this (because I'm kind of picky ...) but it is perfectly fine to finish it with the sewing machine. In this dress, the upper end of the seam does not need to be finished off as it will be cut out later (when assembling the dress this will be where the main fabric and the lining fabric will be sewn together in order to form the neck line).
Repeat this step with all the pleats.

The pleats are made! Now it’s time to "flatten" them. Start by holding the fabric tight to the ironing board with some pins. Then iron each pleat trying to distribute the fabric evenly to both sides of the stitching (if you are using plastic headed pins, be careful not to iron them!). When finished, the pleats should touch each other, without ever overlapping themselves, and have a homogeneous look.

Finishing
For sewing the horizontal lines that define the pleats you should try an unconventional technique ... Instead of attaching the pleats with pins and marking the sewing line with a water-soluble fabric marker, try using scotch tape. The scotch tape is a "two in one" tool as it keeps the pleats in place and it also works as a guiding line.
You should definitely try this! Cut 7 strips of scotch tape and stick them to the fabric at the exact place where the pleats are supposed to be (use the marks you did earlier with the help of the pattern). Now sew carefully in between the strips of scotch tape, starting and ending just before and just after each pleat. Hand finish each one of the seam lines.

Remove the scotch tape and iron the pleats (this will be the last time you will be able to do it!).

The pleats’ "pitching" technique is all handmade. Start inserting the needle, back to front, in the center of the pleat, then insert it in one side edge and then on the other, and pull the thread in order to join those edges. Then just make a few more stitches to attach those edges tight together and finish it with a little knot at the wrong side of the fabric.

Repeat this for the remaining pleats. It is a bit time consuming technique, but it is also great to see the fabric getting three-dimensional ...

Sewing
You can now return to the original pattern by putting it on top of the pleated fabric, so you can trim the neck line to the right shape. Then just follow the instructions to finish the dress.

I hope you enjoyed the tutorial and, if you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to tell me!
Have a great time sewing! (Can’t wait to see you’re results!)

Sewing Friends: Mie from Sewing Like Mad

2013-05-10T04:00:00.000-06:00

OHHHH you have no idea how excited I am to be guest posting here on the mothership of sewing for kids. I am always blown away with the creativity and work people put into their contributions. By the way I am Mie and I blog at Sewing Like Mad.

Let's get to business shall we.....

I really love to make every day clothes with a little twist because lets face it that is quite a big part of life. And sewing with knits for kids is just perfect. It is comfortable for them to wear and it washes easily. Peeerfect!

So here we are with another summer version of the My Inner Grandma Dress - this time even in summer colors. Another version you think? Check out HERE, HERE and HERE. The pattern is self drafted and it might be one of my favorites. One of those you have in your head for a while and then it almost comes out better than you imagined.

The navy/ballet pink stripy fabric is this gorgeous super soft light weight cotton jersey blend from Girl Charlee. And if you after this post is inspired to make your own knit dress you should make the jump to my blog because I will be hosting a give away where you can win 2 yrds of knit from their shop. I know!!! But please stay here for a bit first so you don't miss the tutorial.

I am not going to give you a full tutorial because I just don't see the point when the pattern so far is only hanging out in my sewing room. SO I would rather focus on one part of the dress. In this case the double layered front- and back-in-one shoulder yoke and then a few snapshots of the rest of the sewing process. I hope that is okay with you ladies!

First I wanted to show you the parts that go into the dress. I was not able to get it all in one photo so I divided it in top part and bottom part. The parts involved in the tutorial is in this photo. Notice the 'front top'. I have made it with a fold over/build in front facing. In the end buttons/snaps will run along the CF (center front) purple line. Then there is the yoke which is cut on fold TWO times - so there is actually four layers in this photo. This way we can use to the second yoke to cover up seam allowance on the inside of the dress. And that is what this tutorial is about.

Just a quick look at the bottom skirt parts. As you can see does the front and back pieces have different curves for a better fit.

Okay, back to yoke tutorial. Sew the gathering threads and sew front and back top pieces to the outer yoke - right side against right side of fabric.
Btw as you can see have I chosen not to have the gathering go all the way to the sleeve opening (it stops like one inch before) simply because...well, gathering adds fabric/volume and this is all good and kind of the point but I don't want it near the side of the sleeve seams where it can almost look like a bad fit.

Now you take the inside yoke and sew the front part of yoke to the top of the front facing (right against right). See inside those 'round' yellow circles - should we just pretend my three year old helped me make these?! Drawing course up next, jeeez! The rest of the front yoke seam towards the sleeve opening is free for now. I just folded the seam allowance up into the yoke with the iron. This is a look on the inside of the dress. You can still see the seam allowance where the back top and back yoke has been sewed together....but not for long - uhh the suspense!

Now to the fun part. You add your neck rib to your neck opening (right against right) and then you fold the front top/front facing in that folding line I showed on an earlier photo. Basically you wrap your inside and outside neck opening around the neck rib and sew it all in one go. See photo above.

And when you fold it out again it looks like this. This is a photo of the inside of the dress. Next step is to sew the back inside yoke to the back top and outside yoke seam so that that seam is hidden too. First you fold the seam allowance on the back yoke inside the yoke and then lie it down and cover the seam that is already there (back top to outside yoke). Then you reach your hand from the side (sleeve opening) into the middle of the seam (this is easiest to do with two rounds of sewing because of the narrow space in the back yoke) and grab the seam allowance from the inside yoke and the seam already there (back top to outside yoke) pull out and sew from CB and out to the sleeve opening. This you do from each sleeve opening and also on the rest of both front yoke seams too (the part that is not sewed to the front facing). WHY in the world did I not take more photos of these steps, sorry!!

I found this photo from another project but the same technique. Your seam allowances end up hidden inside a double yoke. Make more sense now?

And here you can see the final result - again seen from the inside of the dress. Now that I see this photo I am kind of annoyed I just overlocked those front facing edges....bias tape next time.

Here you see a photo of the rest of the sewing. Side seams of top, waist and skirt has been sewed as well as the sleeves and hemming of skirt and sleeves with a narrow rib. Next is sewing the dress' three main parts together horizontal and sew on the sleeves. Apparently I did not feel like standing on a chair photographing that day so I had to overlap the parts a bit to make it fit in the photo. After drawing course comes photo course, promise!

One of the things I hate when I sew this dress is getting the lines from the yoke and the top part of the sleeve to match. But I know that if I rush and tell myself it is good enough even though they don't meet up then that is all I am going to see when my kids are wearing this. Ehhh, I think that is being called an (annoying) perfectionist but I can't help it and I have decided just to accept it. Does that photo with the YES! also makes you feel good or is it just me being crazy, huh?!

Dress is almost done and, well, I think the photos says it all: shirring next!

I have shared this shirring tip before but in case someone missed it. When you are done sewing the shirring use your steam iron to blow steam on the seams (from inside or outside it does not matter). Don't touch the dress - keep iron like 1-2 inches above and the elastic will gather a bit more. You can also give it a whirl in your tumble dryer - yes you got it - it is the heat that does the magic trick. Above you can see the difference.

Pheeew is anyone still with me here? I hope so because NOW it is time to jump to my blog Sewing Like Mad and win those two yards of knits of your choice (incl free shipping to US addresses only) from Girl Charlee. I wish I could participate too, ha.
Thank you Project Run & Play for having me and my ramblings!

Sponsor Spotlight: Blank Slate Patterns

2013-05-09T04:00:00.000-06:00

Every Thursday during May and June we want you to get to know our sponsors a little better. Up today is Melissa from Blank Slate Patterns!

Here is Melissa....

I'm Melissa, and I'm the designer behind Blank Slate Patterns. I have two boys, ages 3 and 5, and I design first and foremost for them because boys deserve handmade love too! My husband is a high school football coach, and we live in Texas, so I really relate to Friday Night Lights.

I've been sewing since I was 3, and for 12 years worked in the theatre where I constantly had to create costumes and patterns for them. I even got to teach sewing to my students, so my blog was a natural offshoot of the teacher in me. After I had my first son, I looked high and low for a blazer pattern for him in toddler sizes, and there wasn't one. So I drafted it, posted it on the blog, others expressed interest, and my first pattern was born.

I really love t-shirts and how easy they are to whip out; I like pulling different fabrics together to create "frankentees" as my husband calls them. I also enjoy sewing for myself, particularly dresses and skirts.

For many years in school I wanted to be a writer, and through my blog now I am. I love that I've been able to grow the blog and then the pattern business hand in hand and create a job for myself that is creatively fulfilling and gives me the flexibility to be there for my kids. I do miss my students, but I also feel incredibly blessed and lucky to be where blogging and designing has taken me. Even two years ago I never imagined this would be my job, but I love that it is.

Sewing Friends: Emily from Replicate Then Deviate

2013-05-08T04:00:00.000-06:00

Hello! I'm Emily and I blog at replicate then deviate. I've been a fan of project run and play since day one. It's been so fun and inspiring to see all of the creations and works of art and learn more about sewing. Thanks to liZ and Elizabeth for having me!

I had other projects in mind for this post but Ansley requested a "dress that drags on the floor." We compromised with a skirt- she still gets the length and it's easier for self dressing. She picked this pink interlock knit from my stash (originally from JoAnn). I wanted an A line b/c the maxi skirts I had growing up (were they even called that then?) were basically like a long rectangle and I could only take tiny steps. Apparently I have a large stride. Anyway, the skirt is only two pieces- a front and back. I probably should've accounted for the toddler belly but I'm not expecting this skirt will last forever since she hasn't had a growth spurt in a while.

Here's a sketch of how I made the pattern. Ansley just turned four and she's in the 45th percentile for weight and 50th for height. This pattern could probably be used with a cotton fabric but you might have to piece the fabrics together depending on the width of the fabric/age of wearer or use double the amount of fabric. I was able to use about 3/4 of a yard, with the front on one half of the fabric (from selvage to selvage) and the back on the other half.

Here's how to make your own A line maxi skirt: 1. make your pattern and cut out your fabric 2. right sides together sew the side seams 3. at the top, press under 1/4 inch and then 1/4 more than the height of the elastic you're using. 4. sew the casing, leaving an opening for the elastic 5. thread your elastic (I just stretched the elastic around Ansley's waist until it felt snug but not too tight and added a little bit extra seam allowance) through the casing and sew the casing shut. 6. On the bottom of the skirt, press the hem under 1/2 inch and then another 1/2 inch. I like to use knit stay tape to keep my hems from getting stretched out. My knit stay tape is 1/2 inch wide, so that's why I picked a one inch hem. If you're using a cotton non knit, you can definitely have a chunkier hem. I used 1.25 inch pajama elastic b/c it's softer and less stiff. After threading the elastic through the casing and sewing it shut, I stretched the elastic and sewed a row of stitches down the middle of the elastic to keep it from twisting. The finished product kind of looks like there are two casings with narrow elastics in them.

Enjoy your skirt!

The Designs Are Up At Project Sewn

2013-05-07T10:16:00.002-06:00

Good Morning!

Today all the designs are up for Week One of Project Sewn!

(Yes...we know...it's only Tuesday...but things run a little differently over there.)

So head on over there and check it out!

You won't be disappointed.

Sewing Friends: The Shaffer Sisters

2013-05-06T05:00:00.000-06:00

Hello Project Run & Play Readers. We are the three-woman team, the Shaffer Sisters. You might have been to our site and seen, Al's Insignia Dress.

Insignia Go Go Dress

We were so excited when Elizabeth and Liz invited us to share with our Project Run & Play family. It prompted a 6 am MDT conference call between us three sisters (which is impressive since we live in 3 different time zones).

We are going to let you in on two secrets about three of us. One, we really aren't the tutorial type and two we are all broke. No really, no joke, broke as the lamp that we hid behind the couch when we were kids. We will always tweak some part of every project we do to make it fit, be amazing, or fill a closet need. It is an artistic over a scientific approach. We have a philosophy over here at Shaffer Sisters. Never, Never, Never quit until its a masterpiece. Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel took 4 years to paint. So, don't feel like you've failed on a project, just keep going until it is complete!

One of the biggest frustrations we usually hear from our friends about sewing is that it is too expensive. It is hard wanting to justify spending a ton on fabric that your kid will only wear for a few months or in some instances weeks. You also don't want to spend the time on a project only to have it look homemade or be worn less time than the time you put in to it. As we tried to figure out what our "how to" post would be, we decided- "Go Bold on a Budget" was pretty fitting for what we seem to always be doing.

Fabric paint is a great way to get a custom look. Craft paint with textile medium is the perfect way to get just the right color. Depending on the texture of the fabric you may not want to follow the ratio on the textile medium, you may need to mix it thicker so your design doesn't bleed. For dark fabrics and light colored paints we have found a premixed fabric paint to be the best ( Martha Stewart paints example). For a custom stencil project, freezer paper (found in most grocery stores, next to the tinfoil) is an awesome tool. Commercial stencils are also a great option. Fabric markers work well for detail work, currently we are experimenting with Crayola markers.

Surely Scarlet - Pok-a-dot Jeggings - Common Axis Top

End of season sales on adult clothing are an awesome way to pick up cheap fabric. We have found some neat prints and fun colors by searching these racks, and we usually get at least a half a yard of fabric for a dollar or two.

Peplum Striped Top - Underwater Tee - You Drive Me Crazy Pants

Up-cycled Clothing, Vintage linens and trim often leads to incredible jewels. With thrift store finds we have been able to find dramatic color schemes and unique fabrics for great prices. I especially love looking at the curtains, sheets, table cloths, and yep even shower curtains. You can get quite a bit of yardage for a great price from a thrift store.

Thank Goodness Dress - Madame Principal Dress

Using a punch of color One of the most budget friendly ways to add interest to a design is to sparingly apply a color that is sure to get noticed. With this project, I used bias tape, piping and top stitching to add visual interest and that cute definitions of details.

Blue Skies Jumper - Surely Scarlet Skirt - Valentine's Date Tee

Using contrasting colors and textures:

We love being bold in the way we combine fabrics: I used quilting here on the bib and back ties. My sisters have done an amazing job with fabric and design combos. I am still in the beginnings of getting brave with combing prints, so I hope you will check out some of their stuff.

Susanna Shap Inspired Woven Dress - Rainbow Pillowcase Dress - Concentric Circles Dress - Leaf Monster Suit - Shindig Chevron - Tangerine Poppy Tunic - Waves of Summer Tunic

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In honor of our Bold on a Budget post, I got busy creating a look for Rouge that used as many of these techniques that we love as possible. I picked a few colors from the 2013 spring color collection. When I got home, I looked at my stash. I had nothing that matched our color scheme. But, as my husband asks, "Is nothing safe from a refashion in our house?" Nope, nothing. Who needs a top sheet anyway? Yep, I refashioned a twin sized sheet, with some notions, some fabric paint, a stencil and for the first time in 15 years, a pattern. I tried to incorporate all of the different "bold on a budget" themes, for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy!

Pattern:Simplicity 1742 - with alterations for the back cuff and ties.
Stencil: Purchased at Micheal's
Fabric Paint: Apple Green Martha Stewart
Piping: Purchased at Joann's
~With love,
Jo

As you can tell Rogue is happy with bold on a budget.

Project Run and Play---Our Summer Schedule

2013-05-03T22:52:00.002-06:00

Hello!

We have a great summer schedule lined up for you.

Here's what's coming:

MAY & JUNE: 3 Fabulous children's clothing tutorials each week posted by some of our wonderful women from the weekly sew along group, with giveaways, and other surprise posts sprinkled in between.

JULY: Skirting the Issue---for the entire month. And this year we been thinking and planning and thinking and planning some more...there's been a few changes and we believe this year will be even better than last. (Although, last year we were overwhelmed...I still cry when I talk about it. You women amaze me.) Details will be coming next month and we do so hope that you sew along with us again.

AUGUST: Themes announced for next season (which begins in September) and the PR&P audition linky party will happen for those who want to throw their hat into the ring for one of the two open contestant slots for September's season.

It's going to be a great summer.

Hope to see you around!

A Favorite Spring Trend---NEON

2013-04-30T01:05:00.002-06:00

(source)

A spring trend that I am loving this season is neon.

Maybe it's because I am a child of the 80's but I just can't get enough of it

It's fun and it makes me happy.

Recently we were at Riley Blake Designs headquarters and during our time there I freaked out just a little...they had some samples of their brand new neon lines sitting on a shelf...and they were awesome!!!!

(I'm dying to get my hands on them!)

If you want to see what they look like you can go HERE to check them out.

(The polka dots are my favorite.)

Sadly, their neon line isn't available until May....but, happily May starts tomorrow....and I'm going to find me some of those neon dots!

How about you? What spring trend are you loving right now?

A Sewing Studio Giveaway and an Announcement!!!!

2013-04-24T03:30:00.000-06:00

As some of you may (or may not) know that we are the ladies behind Project Run and Play. But it hasn't always been that way.

We competed in Season 2 and loved every second of it---the themes, the sewing, and the other women in the competition. Back then there were no prizes---it was just sewing for the love of sewing. And love it we did. For us it was sewing heaven. So when we had the chance to purchase Project Run and Play we jumped at it and have been having a wonderful time over there making changes, starting a sew along group, and adding prizes ever since. To have a dedicated place devoted only to sewing children's clothing is awesome.

But almost from the beginning we knew that Project Run and Play would need a sister site.

Behind the scenes Elizabeth and I always have more sewing going on than just children's clothing...although we rarely share it. Sure, we give you sneak peeks of our sewing every now and then but we've kept it pretty much wraps until now. Today we are officially launching Project Sewn. A site dedicated only to sewing women's clothing!!!

And because of that launch we want to do a HUGE giveaway!!!!

See how huge?

One lucky person is going to win almost everything they need for an entire sewing studio. (You supply the table and we have most of the rest of the things you will need to start making beautiful things!) The retail value of the prizes is well-over $650 dollars--seriously great stuff!!!!

The winner will receive:

*A SINGER One Sewing Machine
* 50 Spools of Coats and Clark Thread
*One fat quarter bundle from Riley Blake Designs
* An Olfa rotary cutter and cutting mat
*And a SINGER dress form

The winner of this contest must have a US or Canadian mailing address to enter (you can apply if you are international if you know someone that will pay to mail it to you.)

You MUST enter the contest through Rafflecopter below (if you are leaving a comment about the post to enter---it still has to be done in Rafflecopter.)The giveaway will run until Wednesday, May 8th at 11:59 p.m. (MST).

Good luck everyone!!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thoughts, Thank You's, and Timelines

2013-04-23T04:30:00.000-06:00

This All-Stars Season was wonderful!

We couldn't wait for it to get here and now we can't believe that it is already over.

Other than the season we competed in, it may just be our favorite season ever. :)

Thank you so much to all of you who participated:

* The All Stars who designed, created, and photographed such incredible work

*The sew along ladies who went above and beyond this season---seriously ABOVE AND BEYOND!!!!

*The friends, family, and readers who stopped by to share comments, enter giveaways, and cast votes

*The sponsors who donated all the fantastic prizes for us to give away each week.

Project Run and Play wouldn't be the same if any of you were missing. We appreciate all of you. Thank you for making Project Run and Play such a great place to visit.

As for what's coming next:

Tomorrow we have a GI-NORMOUS announcement that you won't want to miss.

(I swear, you really don't want to miss it.)

May we have a month long festival of tutorials from our sew along friends.

Over the Summer we will be hosting our annual "Skirting the Issue" Event.

August we will begin a new season of Project Run and Play!

It's a full schedule so don't go too far away...and we'll see you tomorrow!

And the winners are.....

2013-04-22T04:00:00.000-06:00

Before we get our winners this week, we just wanted to thank all of our All-Stars for sewing with us this season. We have had so many comments and emails from you (our lovely readers) about how exciting and inspiring this season has been and we totally feel the same way. We all just fell in love with each and every thing that each of the designers has done!!! And what a way to end--the Spring Formal looks were to die for....

So, a HUGE thank you to all of our designers for the time, stress(?) and efforts that they put in to being here each week....it has been such a rewarding thing to see their work! Thanks a million ladies! We think you will all agree that each and everyone has been an inspiration.

And now to our Spring Formal winner.....

Jess from Craftiness is Not Optional! Congrats Jess!!! Absolutely adorable....

And our sew-along winner this week is...

Greendoodle's Easter Dresses, both of which are so very lovely and just superbly detailed.

As our winner this week Heidi will receive a $25 gift certificate to Fat Quarter Shop! Congrats Heidi!!!!

And thanks to you all for being readers....PR&P is such a collaborative effort and we are so thankful for all of you who come around here everyday. YAY for sewing children's clothing!!!!

One more note before we let you all go....we have some SUPER exciting news that is coming up this week (that we gave you a hint about here). It is going to be phenomenal. I can't wait for you all to see what is in store, so be sure to stick around this week ;)

Happy Monday!!!

Time to Vote: Week #4 Designs

2013-04-19T05:53:00.000-06:00

So today is our final reveal for the All Stars Season. Each week has been full of beautiful photography and delightful clothing and this week is no exception.

The theme for this week is "Spring Formal Wear". Look through the designs, read all about them and then vote for your favorite. (If you can narrow it down to just one favorite!)

Good Luck!

See Kate Sew--Vintage Easter

For the spring formal look I chose to make an Easter outfit. I have been meaning to make my boy some Sunday shortalls for a while now to show off his knobby knees. Oh, toddler knees! These are vintage inspired shortalls with buttons in the front. The suspenders cross in the back and have a little elastic to keep them up. They are made with a lightweight gray twill fabric.

The button-up underneath has a nautical style collar and 5 bright blue buttons. The button-up is made with lightweight gingham fabric and has a pleated yoke in the back. The shortalls have a little elastic in the back and working buttons straps in the front. Just the right amount of formal, but still very playful. I made 2 other shirts before deciding to go with orange gingham. I love how the modern bright colors update the vintage style!

Find out how we got a toddler to model for these pictures (it was hard!) at see kate sew!

Happy Together--My Southern Belle

This week is all about fancy, so I knew there needed to be some ruffles. I made the skirt first. It was inspired by my bed comforter actually. The mustard color fabric is a circle with the bottom cut off. I shirred a zig-zag and straight pattern around 2 times to get it to look like that, then a plain zig-zag stitch on the inner part. The top is made from a lace fabric with, you guessed it, more ruffles! And a faux button down front. I added some vintage buttons to the front and a little pleat to the back. I also made the tank top and the belt to match. This isn't exactly an everyday kind of outfit, but I know that the pieces can be paired with other things to dress it down a bit.

You can see more pictures and information about this outfit on my blog.

Living in coastal California, the ocean is a big part of our culture.

It is a place of serenity and peace. It is a study of opposites- rough yet gentle, hard and soft, tumultuous and calming.

For this last challenge, it is was our inspiration.

I Candy Handmade--Shoreline Dress

We chose to make this dress out of a beautiful matte ivory satin and layers and layers of ivory and Williamsburg blue tulle. Ocean colors. We wanted the effect to be subtle yet elegant. The skirt is a circle skirt cut out of the satin, with layer after layer of hand pleated tulle which was then attached to the ombre bodice. The skirt reminds us of ocean mist.

The bodice is deceptively simple. To create the ombre look, varying layers of tulle were stitched down onto the satin to create this textile.

Covered buttons and a delicate bow complete the look.

We really love how this dress turned out!

For more details and pictures, come on over to iCandy.

Jen & Autie

Shwin and Shwin--Two of Us

The week I knew right from the start that it would be the week I design something for my son. Naturally I couldn't leave my daughter out so I made them coordinating outfits. I wanted something that could be worn together without being too matchy matchy so I first decided on the color palette. Much like my week 2 palette I went with mint, coral, navy, white and grey. Since it is for Spring formal wear I kept my son't outfit casual going for shorts and short sleeves, Then I let my daughters dress be a little more fancy formal, I love the look of them together.

For my son I made a grey trouser short, with faux back pockets so they always stay flat and in place. I made a fitted color blocked collared shirt with color blocked pockets that follow the chevron design on the tie. The tie is something I had cut out for week two but I didn't end up making it, and it worked perfect for this week. For my daughter I started with a dreamy loose weave linen in bright coral. I made a ballerina neckline for the bodice and attached layers of gathered tulle to the bodice. Then I made the pleated skirt from the linen that is worn over the tulle so it has some great body to it. The skirt has a nice heavy hem so that it doesn't fly away. The bodice also has hand beading in a waterfall cascade over the shoulder. I used 5 different types of beads to get the effect I wanted and the colors pull everything together since I added some grey and mint beads into the mix.

For more pictures and details head over to my blog!

Girl. Inspired--All Dressed Up

Formal wear is probably my favorite type of children's clothing to design so I was looking forward to this week's challenge. I created a dress for an older child to wear to a formal wedding, but I could also see the same style worn with cowgirl boots at a more casual affair.

This dress is comfortable to wear and easy to put on - great for younger girls, but gorgeous for older girls, too. I started with a strapless dress design made with a crinkle silk charmeuse. The front bodice is softly gathered at the top center and slopes down just slightly with a flattering curve under the arms. I stitched on this awesome gold bias tape to finish the top edge on the bodice and create a casing in the back for elastic. However, the bias tape was too itchy in the back on my daughter, so I removed it from the back only and added a casing made out of the dress material. The waist is also elasticized in the back, so the dress just pulls on and off without any zippers or buttons with which to fuss.

For the skirt portion of the dress, I created a bubble skirt, using some gathered lining underneath to add body and a much longer piece of main fabric that could be picked up all over to make a special piece. Working on a dress form, I pinned up tucks in the skirt, somewhat symmetrically, and surrounding the entire skirt. Once I had the dress picked up how I wanted, I put in zigzag stitches to attach the main skirt to the lining in those spots. I made a sash out of this great gold sequin material backed with a pink Kona cotton to blend with the dress color. The sash ties in a simple knot in the back of the dress. While this dress could be worn strapless for older girls/women, it needed some sort of straps for my daughter. I used six pieces of pink and gold narrow ribbon and attached them on one side of the bodice. The straps then fan out across the back and connect to the back of the bodice. Olivia loves this dress - she's all about the fancy and this one fit the bill. You can find more pictures and tell me what you think over at Girl. Inspired. And thank you for supporting this exciting and inspiring season of Project Run and Play - it couldn't have been more awesome!

Craftiness is Not Optional--Ballerine de Corail

I had SO much fun with this week's theme-"Spring Formal Wear"...and so did Sadie! After all, what's more fun than dressing up like a princess? Well....a ballerina!

I found this amazing coral fabric on clearance ($2 a yard or something ridiculous) and paired it with some stretch polka dot lace. It's a somewhat simple look, but has some lovely feminine and delicate details. I created a ballerina neckline with the lace and coral fabric, which then tapers down in a V shape on the back, and closes with some vintage white buttons with a fun texture to them. (hard to see but cool!) Then I made a "bubble" circle skirt! (circle skirt part using MADE's tutorial) I just love how it gathers and sways when she moves-just like a tutu!

For the accessories, I made a floral sash and headband, using the wrong side of the fabric for some contrast! I cut tons of circles for petals, then burned my fingers a lot melting the edges just so, then arranged, layered, and stitched them in place, then hand stitched on each tiny pearl meticulously. Same for the headband...just slightly smaller and 3 of them in a row. The sash is removable and the flower pins onto it...good thing cause I might just have to "borrow" it sometime... ;)

See many more pictures of my coral ballerina over on Craftiness is not Optional!

Giveaway: The Ribbon Jar

2013-04-18T04:30:00.000-06:00

Today we have a giveaway that I want to keep all for myself:

16 yards of ribbon

(Did you read that? 16 YARDS of ribbon! Oh, the possibilities....)

And this all this lovely ribbon is coming to you from:

The Ribbon Jar

Have you been there before?

It's like ribbon pure awesomeness.

They have everything---like pom pom fringe (which I just used some of last week), lace, velvet ribbon, insanely cool peach picot edge piping that I want a million yards of.... and that is just the tip of the iceberg!

There are so many choices!

To enter to win this giveaway jump over to The Ribbon Jar and find something you think is wonderful and then come back here and leave us a comment telling us what you've found.

That's it. And your entered!

Good Luck!

A Sneak Peak at A New Project

2013-04-17T08:15:00.000-06:00

For awhile now we have been working behind the scenes on a new project. One that we are very excited about. So excited that we can't wait until the day it should "officially" be announced. And so...we're just going to tell you all about it today!

Project Run and Play is going to have a companion site---Project Sewn.

(Which you can check out HERE.)

You see, our first love always has (and probably always will be) making, designing, and constructing children's clothing however...we have a secret: We also enjoy sewing for ourselves...a lot. Like "making personalized slopers for ourselves to draft patterns" off kind of enjoyment. We just don't share that love on our blog often.

Every once in awhile we'll share a little peek like one of Elizabeth's shirts:

or one of my skirts:

But in general we've kept those sewing adventures to ourselves...until now!

It should be fun...and cool...and we just can't wait to get started!

(It's going to be awesome---one project just focusing on sewing for children and one just focusing on sewing for women. It's like sewing heaven!)

So go and check out Project Sewn and then watch next week for the "official" announcement. (It comes with a giveaway that I promise you won't want to miss out on!)

Week Four: Spring Formal Wear (And The Results From Week Three)

2013-04-15T07:39:00.000-06:00

I can't believe we have already arrived at the final week of Project Run and Play All Stars! It has gone by waaaay too quickly. The projects, the photography, the designs...they've all been so amazing! (And this week, we are sure, will be no exception.)

The theme for our fourth and final week is: Spring Formal Wear.

(Easter outfits, spring weddings, fancy tea parties, etc.)

So let's get sewing!

(And remember to link up your designs at the bottom of this post!)

*****

As for the results of last week---by popular vote, the winner of the "It's All in the Details" challenge is:

Jessica!

Congratulations! For winning last weeks challenge you will receive $100 to The Ribbon Retreat!

And as for our sew along winner the judges have chosen for their favorite:

Do Guincho with her BEAUTIFUL pleated dresses!

Congratulations! You will be receiving a $25 gift card to The Fat Quarter Shop.

Thank you again to all of you who sew along.

And to all of you who sewed along with us last week, I just really quickly wanted to apologize for not making to every link and leaving a comment. I'm sorry.

We have a REALLY REALY BIG announcement to make (more than likely this week) and it has been taking up loads of time behind the scenes. I will try to be better this week. I promise!

Now, let's get sewing!

It's Time to Vote! Week #3 Designs

2013-04-12T05:52:00.000-06:00

Week #3 is here and it is time to vote! The theme as you remember is "all in the details" and boy, did these ladies put in some phenomenal details. Wait until you see them all up close!

The poll is up in the right-hand sidebar and it is just one vote per computer/ IP address. See you Monday bright and early with the results--but it might just take you all weekend to look at each of the individual designs and then decide on one to vote for!

Happy Together--Summer Lovin'

My outfit for the all in the details challenge was inspired by summer. The warm weather is here and I wanted to make something carefree. I used different kinds of fabric to have different textures. The strawberry print is silky, the red and the polka dots is cotton, the back green is a ribbed knit, and the skirt is a smooth knit. I was really happy with how they all came together. The top is a gathered piece in the front with two pieces overlapping near the top. I wanted the sides of the overlapped pieces to go just to the beginning of the back. They are held in place with wood buttons.

I used leather for half of the straps. There is another small piece of leather looped in the back so they can be tied in place. Some shirring was done in the back to bring it in a little bit, but there is still plenty of room for running and playing. The front is also longer than in the back.

The skirt is a simple wide a-line with a twist. I cut a slit in the middle front and back and then added a triangle shaped piece of fabric in those slits. I didn't have enough fabric, so I pieced some together. I like that kind of thing a lot anyways. You can see more pics and details over at my blog if you like :)

Girl. Inspired---Sparkle and Shine

I love this week's theme - the details!! The details are really what take our homemade clothes and give them personality, some flare, that extra something that distinguishes them from just another store bought outfit. When our little ones describe a piece of clothing, they usually focus on a specific standout detail - it's the heart shirt or the pants with that special pocket. And adding details makes designing clothes so much more fun, too! The outfit I created for this week was made especially for my 5-year-old cutie. She's full of spunk and personality, but likes comfortable, easy to wear clothes.

I started with a pink and grey knit tunic with 3/4-length ruched sleeves and ruching down the sides for a comfortable, but stylish top. I added burnt orange leather plackets on the shoulders with large metal snaps. This is where my metal detailing begins. I also added metallic stitching to all the standout areas - like around the collar and leather plackets. A silver metallic pocket on the front of the top gives it an extra little punch of fun and balances the metal snaps! Along with the top, I drafted a pair of super skinny denim capris with leather pocket accents on the front and back. It's hard to tell in the pictures, but silver metallic thread was used for all the topstitching on the jeans and really looks very chic. I added some small heat-set nailheads across the front faux-pocket plackets. I love how they accent the metallic topstitching and the metal snaps on the shirt. I rolled the hem of the pants because I think it suits the style so nicely - kind of a touristy/beach stroll look.

I hadn't intended to sew for Grace for PR&P, if I'm to be honest. It's quite the challenge to catch her in a mood where she'll model for a photoshoot. After a disastrous first attempt, Grace really shined during this second shoot. She was waaaaayyyy into the modeling - especially eager to swing her arms every which way and show off her pockets! Come on over to Girl. Inspired. for more pictures of the outfit and some very original modeling moves!

iCandy Handmade--Mini Mademoiselle

We loved this challenge. Our Mini Mademoiselle was inspired by our love of the 50's silhouette and Audrey Hepburn. Can't you just picture a young Audrey wearing this dress?

We envisioned our girls wearing these dresses at a cute outdoor cafe in Paris and we were super excited when we found this hotel courtyard that had the right feel for our photo shoot. The front of the dress is classic and simple, which we love, but then there is a party in the back!

The dress is a simple boat neck, cap sleeve dress mostly made out of white poplin which has a nice crisp feel to it. The back of the bodice is white cotton voile, which has pin-tucks going up at an angle along the neckline. The voile creates a translucent contrast to the rest of the bodice, which curves up to meet the bottom of the V back neckline. We created a huge bow, out of black poplin, lined with fusible fleece to hold its shape. It is sewn on one side of the zipper, and attaches with a large snap once the dress is zipped up. The bottom of the full, gathered skirt is scalloped.

The girls loved dressing up so elegantly. They feel so pretty in these dresses.

We hope you love them as much as we do!

Come on over to iCandy to see more details!

Jen & Autie

Craftiness is Not Optional--The Modern Marigold

"It's all in the details" week was definitely the hardest for me, design-wise...it took awhile to figure out what I wanted to do...after all, the theme "Details" is not much of a guideline. I could pretty much do whatever I wanted! Talk about overwhelming. Finally I was able to gather a collection of fabric together that I was excited about and decide on my pieces! The ruffled top is the piece that pulls it all together-with the mustard yellow, white, red, and blue. I added a cut-out notch on the sleeve and framed it in some red piping and bias tape. The three rows of ruffles were carefully tacked down so that they stay in place but retain their awesome ruffliness. (its a word...promise ;) The top buttons in back with a vintage brown button and the A-line cut of the top frames the bias trimmed mustard skirt. The sweet A-line skirt is actually a cast off from week 1! I dyed some too-bright yellow linen with tea bags until it was the perfect mustard yellow, then made narrow bias tape and sewed it on carefully for a fun swoopy sunburst pattern. Look carefully-it's subtle! It has a flat waistband in front, and some elastic in back for a comfy yet stylish skirt. I love the little kick pleat in back! I added some ruffled white trim on the bottom for some interest.

The red cardigan was made from a thrifted cardigan-totally cut apart and re-sewn into a new grandpa-style cardigan for this look! This piece took the longest because I wanted it to be as well made as possible. I added some pleated pockets, new red buttons to match, and button tabs on the sleeves with hand embroidered buttons to match the pattern on the shirt! I also added some color blocking on the top of the back of the cardi, and two little tabs on the side seams to hold the quirky tie. A many-petaled felt flower clip featuring french knots finishes off the look!

Come see many more pics over on Craftiness is not Optional!

Shwin and Shwin--All You Need is Love

All you need is love... a totally appropriate tittle for this week since detail work really is a labor of love. Especially in kids wear. You know countless hours or hand work and detailing to make everything perfect and special and then they out grow it in a month. This look was no exception. When I thought about the challenge I knew one thing. Embroidery would be my focus. (it's my first love) I also didn't want so many details packed into one outfit that the details were overwhelming. I wanted you to have to look at the details to really notice them.

The top was a design that I haven't been able to get out of my mind for months. I decided this was the perfect challenge for it since it is both simple, and complex. It has sweet little ruffled sleeves that contrast the straight band. I wide scoop neck that dips low in back. Three layers of a circle skirt each with a rolled hem so they lay perfectly and add a little feminine flounce. The back overlaps and buttons in place, and the skirt was cut to look continuous even when overlapped. Then my favorite part. The embroidered heart which consists of hundreds of tiny little french knots that fade down in the same ombre effect on the pants. The french knots are too look like little birds flying down and coming together to form the heart. I also embroidered the words "All you need is love" at the bottom corner of the heart. The pants are some skinny stretch denim jeans I made that started out white then they got a dip dye in pink bath and then thrown into a pale blue bath so they have the fun look of fading from blue (my favorite color) to purple (my daughters favorite color) Lastly I made a soft and lovely tulle bow for her hair to top off the sweet and feminine feel.

For more pictures and details head on over to my blog!

See Kate Sew--Gold Collar Girl

This baby outfit has 4 pieces: a peter pan collared button-up dress, button bloomers, tiny gold shoes and a bow headwrap. I screenprinted the triangle/arrow fabric for another look but ended up not using it. But it had to be used so I paired it with this plush pink cotton and a gold spandex. (GOLD SPANDEX!) I used lots of details in this look: custom fabric, gathers, shoes and lots of buttons! Buttons are one of my favorite design elements, so it only made sense to throw them into this theme.

There are 9 buttons down the back of the dress. I purchased a pack that happened to have 9 buttons on clearance and they fit perfectly! They are my favorite feature of this dress. The dress is yoked with a gathered skirt. It also has a gold peter pan collar and gold sleeve bindings. To finish the look, I made a pair of bloomers with spray painted buttons. Tiny gold baby shoes and a bow headwrap finish off this hip baby dress!

More pictures at see kate sew!

Giveaway: So Tweet Fabrics

2013-04-11T04:30:00.000-06:00

Today our giveaway is from one of our fantastic sponsors, So Tweet Fabrics. They are an online fabric shop that specializes in minky and designer fabrics and what I love most is that their listings already have the perfect coordinating fabrics paired together for your projects! What a great idea!

So Tweet Fabrics is offering one lucky reader a $50 gift certificate to their shop to buy some of their fabric bundles.

Like these adorable ones.....

Or these....

Or even these.....

All you need to do is head over to So Tweet Fabrics, tell us which is your favorite bundle in the comments and you are entered!!!!

Good luck!

It's All in the Details

2013-04-10T04:30:00.000-06:00

Just a few carefully placed details can change the look of an entire outfit.

(Taking clothing from drab and ordinary to something special and extraordinary!)

And let's face it details are fun to add...it's like the icing on the cake!

There are so many details that can be added it would be impossible to list them all. So, today we just rounded up a few of our favorite detail oriented tips, trick, and tutorials to share.

(Just click on the links below each picture to get all the information for that

idea.)

Hope you enjoy!

(And when your done scroll down to the link party in the post below...some really beautiful work has been submitted this week!)

Embroidery ideas

Fringe!

Pleated Shoulder Seams

Ruffled and Ribboned Bodices

Fun Appliques

A Time Saving Button Hole Tip

These are just a very few ideas for adding details. But there are so very many more.

What are your favorite details to add?

Week Three: "It' All in the Details" (and the results, of course!)

2013-04-08T04:30:00.000-06:00

We are officially halfway through Project Run & Play and we couldn't be more thrilled with the season. Our all-stars have done absolutely stunning work! Coming into Week 3 is even more exciting because the theme is a bit more open ended, "It's All in the Details," so we are hoping to see some fantastic things coming out of sewing rooms.

Let's get to the results first. Our designer winner this week was.....

Jess from Craftiness is Not Optional. Congrats Jess!!! Your piecing work was so beautiful!

She will be winning a $100 gift certificate to Fabric Mart, where they sell the most beautiful designer and apparel fabrics. They have fabrics from Ralph Lauren, Marc Jacobs and even Dana Buchman!!!

And my favorite part is that they have daily specials that are only $1.99 a yard (for knit, or chiffon, or silk or a load of others).....and I am totally serious. They are total bargains. You must go and check them out....

And our sew-along winner is....

The Shaffer Sisters with their Insignia Go Go Dress. Congratulations!!!!

They will receive a $25 gift certificate to Fat Quarter Shop.

Have you seen their new hexagons that they are selling? (I have some in my shopping cart right now. I want to put them around the bottom of a skirt, I am thinking they will be so cute.)

And lastly we have our giveaway winner from Fishsticks Designs to announce. The winner is

Annette Rose who said "Love the buttons and buckles overalls." Congrats Annette!!

I think that is all the business we need to announce so it's time for our "It's All in the Details" Linky Party. This theme was one of our favorites to come up with and we can't wait to see your interpretations. Please remember that the linky party closes Friday, April 12th at noon our time (MDT) so that the judges have time to deliberate.

Thanks everyone for sewing along!!!!

It's Time to Vote! Week #2 Designs

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We are here at week two and it is all about the chevrons this week! Each designer has created a unique look centered around 2 yards of Riley Blake Chevrons that they were sent as a starting point for their outfit. And boy, did they not disappoint!!!!

The poll to vote is in the right-hand sidebar. Be sure to scroll down to see all six designs and then vote for your favorite (which is going to be a very hard choice)! Remember that it is one vote per computer/IP address. And now...for the designs.....

Girl. Inspired--Schoolgirl Sophisticate

The Schoolgirl Sophisticate look is composed of two intricately designed pieces. The ruffled blouse and chevron-pieced skirts were both constructed from patterns that I drafted based on my daughter's petite measurements. The sweet, button-up blouse is made from a gorgeous mustard sateen. The color is rich and shiny, producing a luxurious-looking blouse. Puff sleeves are gathered at the base for a neat, professional look. The button-up front boasts pearl and gold buttons separating the layers of ruffles on each side and the neckline is trimmed in bias tape made from the same material.

I chose a teal and navy chevron for the material to be incorporated into the outfit. I wanted to alter the chevron and decided to cut it apart and turn it into a new "chevron with texture." I cut along the bottom zigzag edge of each navy row, which resulted in cuts on the bias. This left me with a zigzag raw edge that wouldn't fray much. I stacked each chevron row on top of the next, basted the rows in place, and then stitched inverted box pleats that extended from the top to the base of the new fabric piece. I have some picture details on this process over on my blog today if you're interested - pictures might be easier than words on this one!! Once the entire piece of layered chevron had been pleated, I used the material to cut my skirt pattern - a slim A-line skirt with a wide waistband in solid teal cotton to match the teal color in the original chevron. The skirt closes with a side zipper. It is also lined, since the little triangle "scales" pop open as the skirt moves. You get a little peek at that pretty contrasting teal. I love the dimension that the piecing of the skirt provides.

Olivia and I had a blast taking pictures over at her future high school! Most of the structures were built in the early 20's (especially old for California buildings!!) and Olivia had fun running up and down the hallways and peeking through archways - we'd love it if you stop over at Girl. Inspired. to see a bunch more pictures and the details on how I put together that skirt!! Thank you!

Craftiness Is Not Optional--The Vintage Arrow

Chevrons! You either love them or you don't. I am in the "love them" camp-so I was really looking forward to this theme! I also really wanted to alter the chevrons to give them a different look....so that's where the piecing came in. It took 2 yards of the navy chevron fabric, painstakingly cut and pieced together, to make the arrow skirt. It was a labor of love-this skirt, with all of the piecing, the waistband, and hand stitching the hem-about 4-5 hours was spent just on the skirt. (and don't I wish it came in my size! Maybe someday when the memory of all that piecing has faded away...) I created a wide, high waistband, with elastic in the back for comfort, and added some button tabs to the sides of the waistband for some interest. I just happened to have the perfect size of navy blue vintage buttons in my stash...love when that happens! It was a little sewing miracle.

I kept the vintage feel going with the sweet ruffled top. It was sewn with soft white cotton and I gathered three rows of serged strips to create the ruffled "yoke" on the front. It buttons up the front and has comfy elastic in the sleeves, also with a slight ruffle! The headband is a two toned oversize bow that used up all the scraps-nothing was left to waste with the fabric I had! I was just excited that I was able to match the navy so well. Phew! Hope you like it! Come see more pics, and also something extra that didn't make it into the final outfit...over on Craftiness is not Optional!

See Kate Sew--Zig Zag Bubblegum

I chose a grey chevron to work with. The first piece of the outfit was the zig zag tunic, a trapeze style top. I thought it would be fun to play with the zig zags by pleating them, gathering them and matching them up along the front button placket. I countered the harsh chevron lines with a rounded yoke near the waistline. The seam is piped with gold piping. 4 buttons line the front placket. The sleeves are gathered with elastic creating a soft ruffle.

The bubblegum coat design came together as I made it. It's made of wool and And it turned out looking pretty mod. (Go figure, I can't get away from the 60s, I love them too much!) There are slight gathers above and below the band. The jacket is fully lined with a gorgeous floral and has a peter pan collar. Rounded button pockets adorn the front. Come by seekatesew.com to check out lots more pictures and details!

Shwin & Shwin--Here Comes The Sun

I was so excited to work with the chevron print, and then I realized I had no idea what to make with it. After making 2 other looks that just weren't "me" I decided to mix some very "me" things with the chevron print to make a look I loved. So I decided a color blocked skirt was a must. I went with Coral and Sea foam green since they work really nicely as a pop of color with the navy.

The skirt is really full and gathered so it has the twirl factor that little girls love. I also made a navy tulle skirt to go under the dress so it has a nice "fluffy" look. The top is a circle neckline with back button closure, and it is all trimmed out with bias tape I made from the skirt fabric so it all matches. The back is split down the middle so it is easy on and off, but I matched up the chevron print so it looks continuous across the back. The skirt was pieced together and then gathered to fit to the bodice, and it can be worn with or without the underskirt for a less formal look.

Stop by my blog to check out more pictures!

iCandy Handmade--Pink Lemonade Dress

As we all know, Chevron has been the it fabric.

We were so excited to have this as our challenge this week... It was ridiculous to choose which chevron we wanted to use as we looked at all the possibilities; but we loved how girly the pink and white chevron was and our ruffly-confection design began to take root.

We knew we wanted ruffles, but not just a handful...yards and yards of sweet ruffles for the skirt of this dress. From there, we built up to the halter-style back, an empire waist with a hint of lemony-yellow and the large-chevron print bodice.

We were excited about mixing the two different sizes of chevron for this dress, and we both loved the pop of sunshine that the yellow brings. Doesn't it just make you feel like Summer is right around the corner?

Now before you go grab yourself a cold glass of Lemonade (wink wink), head on over to iCandy to see more fun pictures!

Jen and Autie

Happy Together--Triangular-fied

This was a fun challenge for me. I chose the large chevron print in black. Once it arrived, I looked at it for a few days and tried to decide what to do with it. I knew it needed to become something else, so I would fold it this way and that to see what new design I could make. This is what became of that. I found out it was easy to make triangles from chevrons!

I wanted to showcase the triangles, so I put it front and center on a top. I used piping around the sleeves and neckline and shirred on the top of the sleeves for some extra pizzazz. I had a hard time deciding on what to pair with it, but I ended up making some leggings from a t-shirt to which I added some zippers and little leather triangles above the zippers. I used the leftover shirt pieces to tie into a headband. I will be sharing more details on my blog today if you would like to know more and see a few more pics :)

Giveaway: FishSticks Designs

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It's giveaway time again!!!! Here at PR&P

we have some of the best sponsors and today's sponsor giveaway is no exception....Fishsticks Designs. They are known for their sewing patterns that are unique and always practical for you and your family. Another great thing they are known for is their BOY'S PATTERNS! Since Bonnie sews a ton for her three boys she is ever-thinking of great boy's styles....which is always a plus in the pattern world.

One lucky reader today is going to receive a 4-pack of PDF patterns to choose from. Some of our favorites are....

The Everyday Camp Shirt or The Pajama Party PJs

The Katie Jumper or The Playdate Bag

You know the drill.....head over to Fishsticks Designs, tell us one of your very favorite patterns and you are entered! And for an added bonus...a second entry if you are a follower of Fishsticks on facebook, and we'll even give you a third entry if you follow PR&P on facebook (just leave a separate comment telling us each one you follow).

Good luck everyone!!! We will announce the winner on Monday.