Project Run & Play Sew Along–Week 3 Part B

I squeezed in one more project for this week’s challenge. For this upcycle, I took a pair of bloomers and a vintage dish towel and transformed them into a baby sunsuit. Here is a lousy picture of what I started with.

Wiggly babies make it hard to show the outfit, but they sure make the cutest models.

I salvaged the crochet edge trim and used it to make criss-cross straps across the back. Vintage pink buttons attach the straps to the bib portion.

I think this will be the perfect simple style for the hot Mississippi summer.

Project Run & Play Sew Along–Week 3

This week’s challenge was in honor of Earth Day. The assignment was to use organic material, recycle, or upcycle. This one was a stretch for me. I really love cutting into a nice new piece of fabric and creating something wearable. I’m enjoying playing along with PR&P, so I decided to take on the challenge with an upcycle.

This robe has been in my “get rid of someday” pile for years now. I actually like the soft patchy fabric, but I never wear it. I decided to see what I could do with it.



I could actually file this post under a vision accomplished post because my inspiration came from rompers like this one I’ve been pinning.

Source: chasing-fireflies.com via Courtney on Pinterest

I didn’t have a pattern to go by, so that just added to the challenge. I cut the shorts portion of the romper from the sides of the robe keeping the pockets in tact. The trim up the front and around the neck of the robe became the bottom ruffle of the shorts. The bodice pieces were cut from the sleeves of the robe. I think the patchy look translated well to the romper. Ta da!



She loves the pockets! I used one of the inside robe ties to add a bow at the waistline.



The belt and neckline are shirred pieces of knit. I shirred the neckline closer towards the neck hole to get a flared look at the outer edge.



I am hoping to squeeze in an upcycle for Tandy too before the deadline. The fabric is cut, so it’s time to get sewing!

Six Months

Wow, this has been a busy month! I had my first plane ride and travelled to Mom’s home state of Texas. I celebrated Easter and met more of the family. Everyone seemed eager to hold me, and I was happy to oblige. I’ve started to eat solid foods, and this will probably be the only time rolls on my thighs are cute. Avery and our dog, Bella, continue to captivate me. I spoiled Mom and Dad with being a good sleeper early on, but now I’m giving them a bit of a hassle in the wee hours of the morning. Gotta keep everyone on their toes!

Project Run & Play Sew Along–Week 2

This week’s challenge was Sportswear. Defined as:

Sportswear is based upon stylish but wearable, comfortable and interchangeable multi-purpose clothes that combine practicability with style!

This one is pretty broad to me, but for kids, I went with a wearable, playable style that can transition to a classy look as well. Knits provide the ultimate in wearable style since they are iron and fuss free.

I went with this Shirrly Tank Dress from Sewing Modkid Style in bold knit prints.

As you can see, totally play friendly!

I changed up the straps by sewing a ruffle strip over super soft fold-over elastic. I also brought the straps to a V in the back of the dress. I used my twin needle throughout this dress.

To add a more tailored look, I paired the dress with a basic shrug. I like that it gives an extra layer and takes the strappy sundress to a more classic style.

This photo is kinda blurry, but I really loved her pose. I can’t tell you how hard it is to get this girl to cooperate with picture taking! Of course, it would help if I knew my camera a bit better.

Be sure to check out all the other sportswear submissions on flickr and the contestant’s outfits on the blog.

PR&P update

My little pants from the week one challenge of Project Run & Play were featured over at Simple Simon & Company. So fun! I just wanted to let you know that I won’t be doing the shoe lace tutorial I talked about in the week one post. (I do try to keep my promises!). The plastic tab method I used at the ends of the laces actually came off at the end of the day. I wouldn’t want to waste anyone’s time with a faulty tutorial, so I’ll save you the trouble!

Good Trip

Here is a quick post to close out to our trip to San Antonio. Avery had a blast at the ranch as usual. Wagon rides are fun, but pulling cousin Ford is even better! Tandy had a great intro to our greatest state (yes, I’m biased.)

Todd caught a plane to join us for the last couple of days, so we headed to Sea World while Omie took care of Tandy.

Our friend, Leslie, is one of the killer whale trainers, so we were able to get up close and personal. We kept having to dodge splashes from the two year old whale that was trying to play with Leslie.

So fun to see Leslie! Momma and baby whale apparently like to pose for pictures too!

Omie and Opa sure took good care of us, and made it a great trip. We’ll be back soon!

Easter at the Farm

We met up with tons of the family out in the country for Easter. There was lots of baby holding.

Truck rides to feed the cows.

Easter egg hunting. (No the cute baskets did not make the trip from Mississippi!)

Tractor rides. (Too loud for Avery, but Ford had a blast)

Splashing and rock throwing in the Colorado river.

Through it all Avery kept up with the boys; she was a total trooper. Love my girlie girl who’s not afraid to get dirty!

Project Run & Play Sew Along–Week 1

I’ve been a huge fan of Project Run & Play for a few seasons now. Project Run & Play is a blogger’s version of Project Runway, but for kids. They have included the chance for non-contestants to sew along for potential prizes. I do not anticipate being able to participate each week, but I certainly hope to join in the fun when I can.

This week’s challenge was to remix Dana’s Circle Skirt Pattern. In other words, take her pattern and create something new and different. I took Dana’s great idea and tutorial and incorporated it into pants. The circle pattern made the most wonderful flounces at the bottom of these knit capris.

I actually combined the legging pattern in the book Sewing Clothes Kids Love and the circle skirt tutorial to create these pants.

I couldn’t just stop there, so I used a simple tank pattern with some pink ribbed knit and dressed it up with trims and a bib front. I love using vintage buttons, and these soft pink ones were the perfect accent. The ruffled fabric came from an old shirt of mine.

The accessories round out the look. The cute Keds came from a consignment sale looking almost new except for raveled and frayed laces. I hope to post a tutorial for the new laces I made using gingham bias tape.

I made the softest of headbands with fold over elastic and knit.

There is still time to play along with Project Run & Play, so get your machines going! I’ll be adding my submission to the flickr group as well.

Ruffled Shorts Tutorial

There were a couple of requests for a tutorial for the ruffled shorts from the Vintage Play Set I blogged about here. This is going to be brief, but if you have some sewing background, you shouldn’t have any trouble.

I started with the basic shorts pattern from Simplicity 5118, but any basic shorts pattern will work. I shorted the length of the front and back pieces by 1/2” since I would be adding the ruffle. Next, round out the front and back pieces at the outer leg seam. I used a roll of masking tape to get an even curve. Cut out your front and back fabric pieces.

Then I cut four 1.5” strips of contrasting fabric using the entire width of the fabric. You will not need the entire width, but I started with this and trimmed it up later.

Now you are ready to sew. First, sew one front piece to one back piece right sides together at the inner leg seam. Repeat for the other front and back pieces and finish your seams.

Place the front and back pieces right sides together and sew around the crotch. Finish the seams.

At this point, I like to go ahead and press my elastic casing at the top of the shorts. Use the casing measurements based on your pattern.

Join two strips of the contrast fabric. Repeat with the two remaining strips. Finish one long side and one short side of your contrasting strips with a rolled hem. (You will need to cut a wider strip if you want a folded hem here.) Ruffle up both strips.

Next, finish the side edges of the front and back pieces from the curve up to the top of the piece.

Pin one ruffled strip to the bottom of the shorts leg right sides together. Start the finished short side of the strip at the curve at the BACK of the shorts. Continue the strip all the way around the leg and up the side seam of the front of the shorts to the top. Trim the excess ruffle and sew in place.

Finish the seam.

Press the ruffle out and top stich 1/8” from the edge of the seam.

Next, overlap the front piece with the back piece at the side seam. I aligned my seam allowances as much as possible, so I would not change the width of the shorts. Your stitching should start at the top of the shorts and end just beyond where the ruffle stops at the back of the shorts. I stitched on top of the existing top stitch.

Repress your casing at the top and stitch leaving a gap for inserting your elastic. Insert the elastic and close the casing.

Now you have a little sassy ruffle added to a very basic pair of shorts. Everything is better with ruffles!

Keep Out

Out in the country even the gates are more fun, especially when you can try to keep Mommy and her camera out!

Sweet success!

Tandy seems to like Texas country too. She thought it was about time she got here!