Project Run and Play Challenge: Inspired by Outer Space

I've always loved gazing at the moon.  The way it changed fascinated me as a child.  I can remember my parents reading me book after book about the moon.   Fiction or non-fiction it didn't matter!

So the moon and it's phases 

are the inspiration for my design this week.

When I designed the pockets for this romper, they mimic the shape of the first quarter and last quarter moons. 

I also chose a deep grayed purple french terry knit fabric contrasted by the bright yellow striped knit.  I wanted to show the contrast of the dark and light side of the moon. 

Next, I wanted to highlight the fact 
that the moon is always changing.  
I used Burda pattern     which features 
8 segmented pieces for the shirt front. 

Now I know this is a bit abstract in thinking, but I wanted the segmented pieces to show how the moon phases are always changing and repeating. I cut-out the stripes going in different directions and even used different ways to top stitch the segments. 
(If you like this pattern and want to use it yourself, I want you to know that I made some changes to the construction of the pattern and didn't follow the Burda instructions exactly.) 

I repeated the pattern of purple and stripe to show that each month the moon phases repeat themselves.

 
  For the top fabric, I used both a matching color single knit, that is deep grayed purple in color too and has a smooth finish, 
and the original stripe fabric from the romper.  

  Miss C is on her spring break and I couldn't get a picture of her in her new romper and t-shirt. The romper has straps that cross in the back and have elastic in the back waistband only.
That romper turned out a bit wild with it's harem legs,
 but she loves it as it is so comfy! 
The legs of the romper come just to the knees. 
I even made her an Easter Bunny wired headband 
to go with her outfit!

Smiles,
Deborah

Project Run and Play Challenge: Creating Children's Clothing Inspired by a Book

This week, the Project Run and Play Challenge is to be inspired by a children's book and weave elements of that book into your clothing design. 

When my children were small, we read many

 different alphabet books.  

One of our favorites was  Eating the Alphabet. 

Our children loved the bright colorful pictures and calling out the names of each
 fruit or vegetable.

 I loved the fact that it was helping me to teach my children their alphabet letters in a fun way.

This Second Graders learned her alphabet long ago, but still loves bright and colorful pictures on fabrics.  

So for this challenge, I wanted my creation to be
 FULL OF DETAILS

1.The bottom edge of the shirt was finished with a ribbed knit band.

On top of the band, I appliqued these 2 lemons. 

 Aren't they a riot!!!!

I swear I was smiling the whole time I was stitching them onto the band with a stretch stitch.

2. On the back of the shirt I used a colorful fruit with sunglasses fabric and a pre-printed panel on the front. I chose this fabric because this panel, "The Future is So Bright" just made me smile.

Isn't that was the love of reading does...

 makes your future so bright!

3. On her matching bomber jacket, I added another "Perfect Pair" panel to the jacket back.

4. Of course, I had to do something special for the pants too. I decided to add a lower panel of a fruit print to ONLY one leg of the matching black pants.  Then applique some more  fruit....banana, grapes, and an apple, just above the colored print panel.  Yeah, I was smiling again as I stitched around those whimsical fruits.  I repeated the fruit fabric on one of the bomber jacket sleeves too.

5. Continuing the "fruit theme," I added one more detail.... shoestring toppers for her shoes.   Now Miss C is smiling.

6. This headband was made out of the same ribbing fabric on the shirt and jacket.  I hand-sewed some soft velcro circles onto the knit, then I glued the sticky velcro to the back of the gems. Press on the jewels and away you go!

  7. While sewing the turn back cuffs on the shirt, I used the sewing technique Stitch In the Ditch .
On the sleeve cuff,  I sewed a virtually invisible seam through multiple layers of fabric because the new straight stitch seam becomes hidden in the existing stitch seam. 
This keeps the sleeve cuff in place even through
 active children's play or when laundered. 
With my fingers, I gently pull the fabric near the seam apart in opposite directions while sewing the straight stitch seam in the existing stitch seam. When you release the tension on the fabric,
 the seam disappears.

I know this blog post is long, but as a retired teacher, mother and grandmother, I thought that perhaps you might like to read this book to your children too.  Here are some question to have fun with, as you read it to your child:

• What kinds of food start with the letter A?

• Blueberry, bean beet and banana start with which letter?

• What colors were the fruits and vegetables on the C page?

• D, E and F are on the same page. What are some of the names of the fruits and vegetables?

• Which of the G foods is your favorite? Why?

• Where do you see Indian Corn?

• Have you ever eaten jalapenos or kiwifruit?

• What two colors are all the fruits and vegetables on the L page?

• Melon and mango start with which letter? Nectarine? Onion?

• How many different kinds of fruits and vegetables started with the letter P?

• Have you ever eaten any of the vegetables that start with the letters Q or R?

• How do you think the Star Fruit got its name?

• What letter does Ugli Fruit start with? Vegetable Marrow? Watermelon?

• Which letters are on the last page? What fruits and vegetables start with the letters X, Y and Z?

Smiles,
Deborah

Project Run and Play Challenge: Inspired by Machu Picchu

Season 15 Project Run and Play Challenge is to

 recreate the feeling of one of the 7 Wonders of the World.

My inspiration is...

1.  Notice the pattern of the steps carved into the mountain side. I replicated that pattern when I created small pin tucks sewn on the red knit fabric featured on the

 arms and legs of both the top and pants.  

2.  A "burned out" two layer fabric of grey and black knit was used to replicate the texture created by the building ruins.

3.  I researched the colors used in Traditional Peruvian Dress and found a strong influence of red and black.  Colorful patterned stripes of many colors are also used.  

My outfit features red, black,  and white and black bands of striped fabric.

After choosing my fabric based on my inspiration, the next decision involved choosing just the right pattern for a pre-teen.

Crazy though it sounds, I used a German pattern 
to create the hooded top.
It's called "MiniMe" by Fusselfreies. 
It was fun to use a Google Translate app to help me know what to do.  Most of it is just like any sewing technique, but some of it is unique to that pattern.  Fun challenge for me. 

Can't have just plain grey pants to go with this top. So I drafted the pants myself, inserting the pin tuck panel in the knee area of the legs, just like the ones in the arms of the top. 

I chose the curved front panel option on the pattern.

This front panel on the pattern would be great to highlight words, Cricut cutout, or a preprinted panel.















The white and black bands of striped ribbed knit fabric frame Miss E's face and finish the arm and bottom of the top. I think the contrast of this stripe gives the outfit a real POP!

 

The bands of red fabric on the pants make her legs look so long and make the pants quite unique.

So do you think I achieved a look that is inspired by Machu Picchu?

Smiles,

Deborah