Project Run and Play: Greenery

I really enjoy sewing along with the challenges for Project Run and Play.  It helps me to maybe sewing things that I wouldn't normally or learn more about sewing in general.  This week I discovered that I don't buy green fabric.  I don't have anything against green, I just don't buy it apparently.  Given that this week's challenge focused on green, I had to think about how I was going to get it without actually having to buy more fabric (I'm trying to be good, I promise).  I was very tempted to get out the green dye from my tie dye kits and try to make a gingham like pattern, but I didn't was the mess or hassle.  Then one day I was putting something away in my closet, when I saw a dress I made when I was first learning to sew that I don't wear (the sewing on it is a bit embarrassing).  It just happened to be green.

So the outfit I made is green in a couple ways, color obviously and it has been recycled a few times.  The green fabric started out as a sheet before I turned it into a dress and the tan fabric was a slipcover I made for a couch that didn't turn out well before I used it in the dress as lining.

The pattern is Zephyr from Figgy's.  I changed the straps to be able to tie at the shoulders.  I've made it a couple time and the button loops always give me problems coming out the seam.  If I make it again, I will have to remember to find a way to improve on it.

The bows are so cute!

"It's All About That Place": Aloha

A few weeks ago, the girls' school had Hawaiian Day, but only told the parents the afternoon before. I don't really buy/make the girls much in the way of tropical clothing.  So cue me sewing like a crazy person all night.  Since Project Run and Play's first week's theme is "It's All About That Place" I thought I would enter Laurel's dress. 

For her dress, I used the peasant dress from the Sweet Innocence pattern by My Treasured Heirloom using a random tropical floral fabric someone gifted me.  Laurel loves this pattern since it is "puffy" and twirly.  

As you can see, we definitely haven't entered Spring yet.  So tropical getaway sounds like a great idea to us.

Sew What Club: Butterfly Dress

I hope it doesn't feel like all I sew anymore is from Sew What Club.  It just happens to be what I either need to take pictures of (for testing) or what I want to blog about.  I used their free pattern (for signing up for the newsletter) Butterfly Dress for the girls' Picture Day dresses.  I love the bows!

It was a really fast sew.  I was able to get both sewn in one day.  The fabric for Laurel's is Castles and Carriages and feels amazing and so soft.

  The girls love them and they turned out so cute. 

I've decided that this dress works best with a large print.  Without the belt, Eleanor's looks like a hospital gown.  It is still cute though.

Eleanor decided to get a little goofy at the end.

Project Run and Play May:Summer Chevrons Shirt

This month for Project Run and Play, everyone is working with Crafty Cupboard's Summer Chevrons Shirt.  

For my version, I used knit and left off the elastic waist, because shirts like that tend to get caught on her little belly.  Since it was for her and I wanted a few minutes quiet while she rummaged, I let Laurel pick the fabrics.  The kitty knit is from an inexpensive 3xl tank top that I got to make something for the girls.  

By the time I took these pictures, she had already worn it several times (and at the end of a full day field trip with kindergartners).  I probably should have ironed it, but it is a shirt for a child and who has time for that.  I also only got these few pictures, though a couple are from the field trip, because the battery on the camera died.  It has been a long day.

The changes I made was to curve the neckline and not include the waist elastic or the button closure.

Sewing Rabbit: Knot Dress/Julie's Dress Mash Up

This month, Project Run and Play's challenge is to make something with Sewing Rabbit's Knot Dress.  I used it to make the girls' Easter dresses with some sweet rosebud fabrics.

Both girls were made a size 4 bodice and then for the skirt I used both skirt lengths and had a layered look like Sewing Rabbit's Julie's Dress pattern.  Laurel's is the size 4 lengths and Eleanor's is size 5.

Eleanor's dress is white lined in the pink fabric and Laurel's is pink lined in the white.

They loved the dresses so much, they insisted on wearing them and their crowns to buy milk after photos.  Such silly girls!

The crowns were made using this darling tutorial.

Project Run and Play "Signature Look"

For this week, I took care of two birds with one stone, Project Run and Play and Easter dresses.  My girls love wearing dresses and I love them wearing dresses.  One of my favorite dresses I made for Eleanor was the one I made for her to wear as a flower girl.  I used that pattern again.  It is Julie's Dress by Me Sew Crazy.  It doesn't seem to be sold anymore.

Thing after thing came up to keep me from getting this done, including a cold when I was trying to finish up.  Then it was raining so I couldn't get any outside pictures and this house has zero natural light.

The pattern calls for twice as much fabric for the skirt width, but apparently I can't read and was working from a half yard bundle.  I used Michael Miller's Glitz.  Laurel's is Mist and Eleanor is Glitz.  For the binding I used some glittery gold quilting cotton.

For the buttons, I used some beautiful gold and ivory floral buttons that were my grandma's.  The girls really love their new dresses.  Laurel even threw a tantrum when I tried to take it off.

Project Run and Play "Design Your Own Fabric"

This week's challenge was difficult for me.  I came up with a bunch of ideas, but reluctant or unable to get supplies to do most of them.  It finally occurred to me that I have a roll of tulle I needed to use.  I thought about making a bunch of little flowers to sew on but didn't want to take the time to make that many flowers.  That is how I decided to make tulle ruffles.  

I found a large scrap of gray leftover from a shirt I made me, which was plenty large enough to make a basic skirt for Laurel.  I sewed the tulle ruffles on in a wave pattern and with the remainder of the roll I made a layer of tulle under the cotton fabric then constructed the skirt.  Basically this outfit is just covered in gathers and ruffles.  I love how poofy it is!

The gray made me think of elephants so I made a shirt with an elephant holding a balloon.  I used Terra's Treasures pattern for the peasant knit top (it doesn't look like she still sells that exact pattern anymore, but there is another one that is similar but with more details).  It would have been a very easy shirt if my serger would have cooperated and then the bobbin elastic.  The knit came from the scraps of a clearance shirt that I cut up to make the picnic shirt.  I appliqued the elephant and balloon on.

This is one of my favorite outfits I have made.  Laurel loves it too; she didn't want to take it off. 

Project Run and Play "Spring Break Challenge"

This week's challenge is to design an outfit based on a favorite vacation spot or dream vacation.  My favorite place to visit is the Oregon Coast, so I used that as my inspiration.  Just like at the coast it was a bit windy when we went to do pictures so it was hard to get very good ones with a very wiggly 4 year old.

I made capris since they are perfect for dipping toes in the ocean.  I used the Ottobre Designs pattern 'Row Boat' from 3/2013 in the smallest size, because Eleanor has a tiny waist and I wanted them a bit shorter than pictured.  It might be hard to see, but there are cute little button tabs at the hems.  I just learned that Eleanor doesn't like pants to hide her belly button so they look way longer than what they should.  Silly girl.

For the top, I used Hollywood Cerise from the 3/2012 issue of Ottobre Designs cut to a tunic length.  I bought some super cute wave fabric with paper boats on it last summer that I knew would be perfect.  I didn't want the waves to over power it so I just some red for contrast.  I also did all the stitching in red so it shows some all the details when you see it in person.

I love the buttons going down the back.

Project Run and Play: "Put Me in the Zoo"

With moving basically done and living with my parents, I have a lot more time for sewing so I'm going to do my best to do the sew a long for Project Run and Play.  The first week's theme is "Put Me in the Zoo".  I thought about doing kitties, mice,or giraffes, and somehow got thinking about ants.  Ants led me to thinking about picnics.  So my idea was a red gingham wrap skirt with a curved front with ants along the edge going up to a shirt with a picnic basket.

I thought I had a pattern for a wrap skirt that I could adjust easily to the shape I wanted, but it turns out it was just a pleat.  So I did a mash up of Ruby Jean's Twist and Shout Skort with Violette Field Threads' Vivienne Skirt.  As much as I love the ruffles on the Vivienne skirt, I wanted something more play/picnic friendly.

I really think the ants make the skirt.  They are so fun!

For the shirt, I used the Seesaw shirt pattern #17 from Ottobre (yes again, I love my subscription!) from the 3/2012 issue.  The flutter sleeves are so fun.  I made the smallest size, but added length to where her heights suggests.  As it turns out, she must have a very long torso, because I should have added more length.

 Luckily, Laurel has the same waist size.  So the next time this is worn will probably be by Laurel.  All in all, I love it. 

Collar to Crown

I thought it would be fun if I told you how I created the darling crown I showed in the Dress Shirt Challenge post.  I didn't take pictures as I went, but it was super easy.

First seam rip the top portion of the collar (that part that folds down) off a dress shirt.  Next hem the raw edge.  Over lap the two short edges slightly and stitch them down.  Last, but not least take some buttons and sew them on as jewels.  I used the spare buttons from the dress shirt.

Project Run and Play Signature Look

 

It is the last week of Project Run and Play's current sew along, so that means time for Signature Looks!  I would probably describe my style for the girls to be practical (most of the time), feminine and whimsical.

I've been making a lot for Eleanor lately, so I decided that this one would be for Laurel.  I looked through my Ottobre Designs at all the patterns that would fit her and narrowed it down to a wrap dress (#9 from issue 6/2007), t-shirt and leggings (#1 and #2 from issue 4/2012).

It is hard to see, there are the cutest little bows at the hems.

 For the dress, I used some fabric my sister gave me way before I was married, or even thinking I would ever get the chance to date.  The leggings and t-shirt were made using some misprint shirts from Camp that Michael couldn't sell.  I used them so I wouldn't have to hem anything.  I hate hemming.  I even shortened the sleeves to avoid doing the sleeve binding.

I love her cheesy smile!

Project Run and Play Sew Along Week 5

The Men's Dress Shirt Challenge is what I had to work with this week for Project Run and Play's Sew Along.  Once again I pulled my inspiration from Pinterest.  I choose two post to base this week's outfit from here and here as well as a little something all my own.

I started with a plain white dress shirt stolen from my husband.  Then I used some leftover dye from a tie dye kit, I had from dying stained baby onesies to dye it a super pale turquoise.  I love how the color turned out, although I should have done my seam ripping before dying, because now there is an interesting pocket shaped less dyed spot.

She's getting over a cold, so I could only get to to take pictures if she got to sit.

Using tutorials that don't provide pattern pieces, remind me how much I need a physical pattern.  They didn't turn out exactly like I had hoped, especially the pants that I ended up having to turn into leg warmers of sorts.  Oh well, it still turned out cute.

My favorite part is the the crown I made from the part of the collar that was seam ripped off.

Project Run and Play Sew Along Week 4

Love is in the Air is the theme for this week at Project Run and Play.  My main inspiration for this week was this super darling stuffed robot toy.  

I couldn't find where it came from, but I did find where someone made one just like it and shared how here.  I started with her measurements traced on paper, but cut one head piece, one body piece and four hand/feet pieces as well as a little heart.  I played around with them on a t-shirt and cut some smaller till I found something I liked.  (I was going to use ric rac for arms, but liked it better without.)  

Head: 1.5 inches square

Body: 2.5 inches square

Arms and Legs: 1 inch square

Then I cut those sized pieces from fusible web.  I ironed the body pieces onto some white knit and the heart from a scrap of knit from the shirt and cut those out.  Next, I positioned them in the center of the t-shirt front, stitched them down on the sewing machine.  

For the next part, I used a technique I also found on Pinterest, where she colors in her embroidery with crayon and irons it to set it in.  

I then added buttons for eyes and a bow.  I nearly added a skirt made from ruffled lace, but couldn't make up my mind.  I also used a back stitch with embroidery thread  to make the mouth.

I used the Elise pattern again from Violette Field Threads, this time with the short sleeve option.  I really love it, because it is so fast and easy and fits Eleanor really well.  This will be her third shirt made using it.

For the skirt, I used the pleated skirt tutorial from here.  I've wanted to make it since I first saw it, around the time it was posted.

Source

I made it in the same fabric as the jumper from here.  I'm trying really hard to use it up.

I really like the buttons on the sleeves.

As well as on the skirt.