Posts Tagged ‘project run & play’

Handmade: Earth-Friendly Outfits

April 27th, 2012
28 Comments

This post is brought to you by Baby Lock. Baby Lock is dedicated to the love of sewing by creating a full line of sewing machines all with ease-of-use, high quality and a touch of elegance.

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This weeks challenge for Project Run and Play was to create an Earth Day look. We could recycle, use earth-friendly materials, etc. I went the recycling route and whipped up a mommy-daughter look. What Earth week look would be complete without a little green? I combined several greens for an eclectic look.

Materials used for this look:

Penelope –

Me-

The two dresses I used to make Penelope’s top were rescued from the donation pile. The dark teal top had knit binding that was falling off, so I unpicked the rest of it and added it as trim. I really like how the raw jersey edge rolls up and adds a new dimension to the bias tape look. the buttons were originally on the sleeves of the print dress/shirt.

She’s such a mini hipster with her skinny jeans and fake tatts.

I used twin needles and topstitching for all of the finishing details. It really helps stabilize the stretch and add a polished look.

The tank dress I used on the back panel was originally pieced together in asymmetrical lines, I thought I’d include those lines in with the back. I also gathered and lengthened the back. When Penelope runs around, it’s like she has a cape on her back. SO freaking cute.

Check out these little motorcycle jeans. They’re so hot on her. She really likes her “knee pads”. The ankle length skinnies and vintage oxfords are screaming to be discovered by the Sartorialist.

This competition has been so intense. And I feel like I wouldn’t be able to hang with the crowd if I didn’t do something extra. Penelope’s look is really quite simple (but hey Michael C. made it really far in Project runway and his designs were simple, right?). So I thought I would dig into my pile of “clothes to refashion/tailor/alter/etc” and made a coordinating outfit for me. I’ve had this bow top for a while, but I didn’t really dig how bulky the bow was. I know. I MADE IT WITH MY OWN TUTORIAL. So I revamped it. And it’s way better now. I’ll share a new tutorial, if you’d like. ;)

I also made this maternity top into a skirt. It wasn’t really a maternity top, I got it from Ruche, but since I only ever wore it in the maternity context, I couldn’t help but feel fat and pregnant every time I wore it. It’s stupid, I know. That top was awesome. I really loved the print, and on a whim, Sarah convinced me that I needed to make it into a skirt. I love it a million times more, now. I also love the striped elastic waistband with it. It’s an unexpected combo. I love unexpected combinations.

Oh, sweet Penelope. I love you. I love that you let me dress you and make clothes for you. I love how excited you get over them. Please never change.

P.S. Thanks for all of your support with this project!

Fabric supplied by Fashion Fabrics Club. Connect with FFC on Facebook and Pinterest

Handmade: Sportswear for Pen

April 20th, 2012
11 Comments

This post is brought to you by Baby Lock. Baby Lock is dedicated to the love of sewing by creating a full line of sewing machines all with ease-of-use, high quality and a touch of elegance.

Connect with Baby Lock on Facebook and TotallyStitchin.net.

I just want to thank everyone for all of your support last week on Penelope’s circle top outfit in Project Run & Play. I’m really happy to still be in the game for this week’s challenge: sportswear. When I think about the things I make for penelope, I’m all about making practical items that she could wear on a daily basis, so naturally, the wheels were turning on overdrive for Miss P.

The inspiration for this look was something that Penelope’s school teacher said some time ago: “Penelope is the girliest tomboy I know!”

I made her a tomboy outfit with girlie touches for impact. I used two floral prints, one large and one small. They’re not meant to match each other, but I feel like they coordinate really well.

I made a raglan top with the large floral on the sleeves and a cobalt ribbing for the neckline. I made the sleeves extra long and skinny at the wrist so bunch up nicely.

I made little chambray shorts with a floral cuff using the small floral print. I made these shorts with a flat front and an elastic, gathered waistline in the back to allow for growth. The shorts are just the right size to allow for growth over the summer months.

I top stitched all of the seams on Penelope’s shorts, which gives it a nice finishing touch and reinforces those seams against all of the abuse they’ll be enduring this year.

She really loves her new shorts. A LOT.

I had every intention to make her some sweet leather kicks for her ensemble, but the shoes ended up being more work than I could accomplish within the time frame. It has made me think that I should become BFFs with my local cobbler and learn everything I can about making cool kicks.

Instead, I made her a little leather tote bag. This will be perfect for play dates, church and errands around town. I’m considering making her a matching wallet to store her “monies”. This leather was a dream to work with. I had this cream leather on hand and I bought the blue leather for her shoes.

I’m thinking the blue leather might make for a nice tote for me instead.

I also made Penelope sweet little lace socks from a stretchy lace I found. They’re long, so they can go well peeking out of her little boots or bunched up around her ankles.

After seeing the competition in works last week, I thought this look wouldn’t be complete without a little hair accessory. I braided the jersey used in her look and added a little knot at the top for a turban-ish look.

How cute is Penelope? She’s such a wiggly girl! She sure does love her new look.

Fabric supplied by Fashion Fabrics Club. Connect with FFC on Facebook and Pinterest

Baby-Doll Circle Top

April 13th, 2012
21 Comments

This post is brought to you by Baby Lock. Baby Lock is dedicated to the love of sewing by creating a full line of sewing machines all with ease-of-use, high quality and a touch of elegance.

Connect with Baby Lock on Facebook and TotallyStitchin.net.

If you’re here from Project Run & Play, Welcome! Read below for project details and inspiration. If not, please head over to Project Run and Play and vote for me! At least if you like the look I made for Penelope.

THE INSPIRATION

Our challenge this first week was to create our own version of Dana’s Circle Skirt tutorial. I knew I wanted to go a little outside the box for this one, so I decided to incorporate the circle motif into a flouncy top. I also wanted this look to be girly, but comfortable for play. It’s both of those things, Penelope had so much fun running around in this little outfit! See below for all of the little details.

THE CARDIGAN

My cousin-in-law gave me her old burgundy cardigan originally as an option for refashioning my wool coat way back when. I didn’t end up using it for the refashion, but the color worked so perfectly with penelope’s top I decided to refashion to Penelope’s size. I added mis-matched buttons and created an asymmetrical button front. It sure is cute all buttoned up.

THE TOP

I drafted the bodice from a newborn onesie pattern (adjusting the size to fit Penelope was a tad tricky), so it would be easy for her to pull over her Esplin head without buttons or zips. I used a patterned sweater knit for the dress and left the edges raw, but reinforced the raw edges (neckline and hem) with double needles. I added grey chambray details to the waist and sleeves. I like that they’re almost all on the same line so it reads as one long grey stripe across Penelope. The bow was a little sweet detail that I just couldn’t resist. How adorable are little girls with bows?

The back has adjustable ties, and with the sizing of this top it will grow as Penelope does.

THE LEGGINGS

I drafted from a pair of her old leggings (using this method) using an interlocking knit in pink. The pink leggings with the teal top was much to sweet for my taste, so I dyed the leggings orange. I LOVE this color. It’ll be perfect for any season. I considered for a moment to do an ombre, but ultimately I thought that I would, perhaps, be piling on too much. One thing I’ve learned from the real Project Runway was edit, edit, edit.

This outfit was paired with her little grey booties from H&M that have little bows on the sides. How perfectly coordinated is she? We had a lot of fun modeling this outfit.

I do hope you’ll head over to Project Run and Play and vote for my entry!!

Fabric supplied by Fashion Fabrics Club. Connect with FFC on Facebook and Pinterest

 

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