Narwhal Hoodie

This week's challenge at Project Run and Play is

 "Your Signature Style."

Design a look that best represents your own unique style,

 taste and most suitably showcases your skill set.

So this hoodie is the perfect example of the type 

of garment that I love to create.

First, I like to combine different fabrics.  This one features a panel, a print, a stripe, and a bit of squiggle whimsy.

Mostly, I like to use 3 different fabrics, and one usually reads as a solid, even though sometimes it's not really a solid.  In this hoodie, the center panel reads as a solid. 

Next, I like to add interesting details, like this striped cowl. I even added a highlighting fabric strip of stripe, going in the opposite direction, in the neckline seam to draw your eye to the cowl neck.  And the grommets in the cowl are only there for fun!

 Notice the squiggle fabric that runs down the diagonal seam in the hoodie front.  You don't have to add it... it's just one of those interesting details.

On the waistline band, I combined two different fabrics to draw your eye to the narwhal applique that I created.

Smiles.... Deborah

Best Friend Sisters

My granddaughters that live with me are very best friends.

Even though there are years between them

they love spending time together.

So I wanted to create a shirt that was similar

for each of them

but not the same.

They are both made from the same pattern.

I tried to make the sixth grader one that was a bit more grown-up.

The third grader loves stripes, so I made sure

 to include them in her design.

So what is my style...well, I love to combine fabrics and textures.

But mostly I try to make garments that the 

wearer will love. 

Smile,

Deborah

Hedgehog Watercolor T-shirt

Watercolors seem to softly flow onto the artist's paper. So when challenged to create a garment influenced by art, I knew I would be influenced by my love for watercolors.

In addition, I wanted to be an artist too, and try to create with my sewing machine instead of a brush.

Tiny little strips of knit fabric and thread became my artist medium.

My little hedgehog rests quietly on the 2-color lower band. Tiny strips of the print knit fabric make up the hedgehogs fur with thread top stitching to add even more texture.

My shirt featured 3 components: a watercolor print panel, watercolor geometric print, and a solid mustard 

gold cotton Lyra fabric.

 Of course, I like to color block the sleeves for added interest.

 Sewing each individual pin tuck. Photo of the finished tucked panel.

 Trimming off the excess fabric to fit the sleeve.

 Cutting the fabric needed for the remanding lower sleeve.

 Sewing on the lower sleeve to the tucked panel.

 Those tucks really add interest and are so worth the effort.

Smiles,
Deborah

Sewing Technology That Lets You Be an Artist

Today's technology has found it's way into the sewing room and given home sewers the opportunity to become an artist as they create garments for the people that they love. 

That's exactly how I felt as I created this one of a kind t-shirt for my pre-teen granddaughter. 

 Little details, like these grommet background Mickey silhouettes, were my brushstrokes on the canvas of my creation.

 Color blocking a plain hoodie pattern added dimension and interest.

 Of course, we had to include Minnie on the garment too.  

There are many ways to be an artist, and technology has made a huge difference in the way today's home sewers can express their own unique sense of color, design, and texture.  

Smiles,
Deborah

Living In Your Imagination: School Spirit Wear for Kids

I've always imagined that School Spirit Wear clothing

 should be more FUN and COLORFUL just like the fantastic clothing in Willy Wonka !

Every year at school it's the same navy, black, or grey t-shirt or sweatshirt with a vinyl cut-out of your school mascot.

So using the inspirational challenge of Project Run and Play, Season 17, I tried to re-imagine the 

Bears 

School Spirit Wear Outfit.  

 

Bears have claws like this 

So, I did a little research and found this fabric on Spoonflower.

Since the school colors are orange and medium blue.... this was perfect and so colorful!

So I had the fabric printing on a cotton knit.

I paired it with a medium blue 

scuba fabric to create this 

leggings topper.

My finished lined wrap-around legging topper.

It fastens with snap tape. The pockets and the finishing band at the top of the skirt are made from scuba cloth.   Scuba fabric is the fashion version of neoprene, the skin-tight fabric used by scuba divers. Scuba is a double-knit fabric, usually made of Polyester mixed with either Lycra or Spandex. It doesn't ravel so the edges of the pocket are a raw edge. 

This skirt rides below the waistline at the top of the hips and is meant to be worn with leggings.  It can be worn with either white or medium blue leggings.   

Where is the pullover mesh top from?  Well, it was purchased at a recent sale at Gymboree, for a price lower than I could buy the fabric.  So, I removed the original white pocket and cut out a kangaroo pocket with the paws fabric.  I finished the edges and 
top-stitched it onto the purchased pullover. 
 Since it is a mesh fabric, 
a medium blue t-shirt is worn under the top.
Lastly, we added some 
silver Converse shoes and white or blue leggings
and they are ready to go.

Colorful

Fun

School Spirit Wear

Living in Your Imagination! 

W A I T !!!!

Not 1, but 3 outfits were made.

There is nothing like you and your two best friends showing your school spirit 

walking down those middle school halls

t o g e t h e r !! 

 

Ruffles in the Back Only, T-shirt Edging

When sewing a t-shirt, it is very common to finish the lower edge with a rib knit band.

 In this hoodie, the shirt hem edge is finished with a black and white striped ribbed knit band.

I like ribbed knit bands, but I wanted to try something new.

If you look at this diagram, you will see how I used the rib knit bands at

 different levels to create interest and a fun surprise in the back of the shirt.

There are two basic ways this can be sewn.

First, use a backer base and sew the individual ruffle layers to the base.

 Or
   Vary the length of the ruffles and stack them on top of each other from the thinnest to the widest.

In this example, you can see that I layered them from thinnest to widest. Next, I placed the rib band on top, then sewed the bands together. Lastly, sew the band to the back of the t-shirt.

Topstitching the hem seam now that the 3 layers are sewn on.

In this picture, you can see the widest ruffle.The width of this ruffle is determined by how much space you need to fill, so that the front and back of the t-shirt, end up being equal in lengths.  

 What about the front hem of the t-shirt?  It's just finished the usual way, with the rib band on the edge of the hem.  I cut the band slightly less in width than the bottom edge so it hugged the front bottom a bit.

 

One-piece Knit Romper with Shorts

Miss Comfy loves her new knit one-piece romper. 

It has a built-in panel that allows the bodice front to gracefully lay in pleats with complete coverage. 

It's easy to get on...just slip it over your neck.

Here's a look at the back.

Front view.

 It's a  German pattern that I bought online from Makerist.

Here is the name of the pattern:

  Jumpsuit SummerBreeze Junior Gr. 122-164

Von Mamili 1910  

Note: One thing that I changed in this pattern is the size of the band that goes around the waist. I shorten the width in the front slightly, and sewed a piece of elastic into the top seam on the back band.  When I sew this pattern again, I plan to make this band in the same fabric as the shorts.

Smiles,

Deborah