Men's Shirt into Long Multi-Layered Dress

Recently I blogged as a guest blogger at Project Run and Play. 
My post was about different ways that I've used specific parts 
of a men's shirt when creating re-purposed outfits.

So, I had this wild idea to push my creativity even more and create a multi-layered long dress using a man's shirt.

I started by shopping for a nice men's shirt in my husbands' area of the closet. When I found a nice yellow and white mini-checked one with a laundry ticket from 2013... I knew I had found the perfect beginning for my new design. Next, I cut up the shirt for maximum yardage, and began creating my pattern.

Source: Sarah Clemens Clothing

My finished 2 piece long  dress.

My inspiration for this dress came from this photo that I found on  Etsy,  
that I found quite interesting 
and had pinned for my Pinterest board.

For modesty sake, I wanted a built-in bra in the top instead of layering a t-shirt under it. I thought the finished product would look more feminine in keeping with my design. Four vertical tucks down the front of the top also add to that soft feminine look.

The built-in bra is a separate layer in a solid knit fabric.

 Again, I shopped for fabric in my recycle bin, and found 
the perfect light yellow t-shirt (it was Fate!).  

The front of the dress utilizes the buttonhole tab from the front of the men's shirt.  

I also made the back the the dress in a racer-back design, which makes the design more current and everyday. I was trying to create a comfortable everyday dress that could be worn to church or informal situations.

To save more time, I used the original hem on the shirt on the top layer dress. Next, the flowers were created at the bottom of the top.

The long under-skirt has an elastic waistband, and a deep gathered ruffle that has 2 rows of tucks near the bottom of the skirt.

I love how this long dress turned out as it is different from any

 re-purpose men's shirt outfit that I've ever created before.

Smiles,

Deborah 

PR&P "Prize Fabric" Sundress and Doll Outfit

Have you ever wondered what Project Run and Play Contestants do with their "Prize Fabric?"

Here is what Miss E did with her coupon from Riley Blake Fabrics.

Using a preprinted fabric panel she made an outfit for her American Girl doll with her Grandma's assistance. The fabric is called Wiltshire Daisy.

She also sewed her Bunny Ear Wrap to match her dress.

Her Grandma made her this sundress.

 Project Run and Play's Challenge this week is to show your style.

My Grandma's style is simple...

 she sews things for people she loves to make them happy.

Smiles,

Miss E and Grandma

Reywear: Romper for the Children of Jakku

  I am creating an everyday outfit with all the necessary accessories, for a child from Jakku. 
My inspiration is Rey from Star Wars.
  My designs are called: REYwear.

...And so the story begins...

As a child, Rey lived on the planet Jakku,  and grew to become an inventive scavenger.   

One day while getting dressed, she envisioned a way to make an easy-to-wear, and comfortable version of her outfit for

the children of Jakku.

Rey loved the natural linen and cotton fabrics used in her outfit that kept her cool on hot summer days in the desert, so she wanted to use those fabrics in her designs.

The Romper Design

For indoor play, the romper features the soft, lightweight cotton gauze on the top, in a sand color that won't show dirt or sand. The lower part of the romper was made with a linen striped fabric.

It's so easy to get dressed in the morning because it quickly fastens, with buttons salvaged from rebel uniforms, at each shoulder.

Now, if you want to look more like Rey, you can add...

F

 the light weight body wrap scarf, 2 buckle belt,
bracelet, and mini canvas tote.

When playing outdoors, a light weight, pleated body scarf is added over the romper to protect skin from the wind-blown sand or the hot rays of the sun.  To make it easier to put on over her romper, special built-in ties secure the  scarf at each shoulder.

My Canvas Tote like Rey's

Rey's canvas tote

 The scarf above is fastened with this belt, that is a replica of Rey's belt. The belt secures the scarf so it doesn't interfere with playing

and provides an easy way to carry her canvas tote at her waist

for discovered salvaged treasures.

Though Rey carries a military backpack, she wanted to create a special rucksack that would protect and be useful for young children.

So,  this  Locator and Messenger Bag was designed to keep children safe by allowing them to communicate with their parents, and the other children with them, while scavenging .

 

On the side of the bag, locator panels have been encased into the pocket. These locator panels help the children find valuable parts and test the part to see if it worth salvaging because it still works.

To make it more comfortable to wear, the lined rucksack has a padded body and shoulder straps.
Click here to read more about the design of this special rucksack. 

 Jakku’s sandy wastes are littered with old wrecks, picked over by desperate scavengers searching for parts that can be salvaged and sold. Rey likes to salvage button from the Rebel uniforms.  Every girl loves jewelry, so Rey designed a special bracelet made with the buttons from Rebel uniforms.

This little Rebel loves her outfit for playing both inside her home and outdoors.

Smiles,

Deborah

REYwear: Locator and Messenger Rusksack Bag

Foreword Note: This bag was designed as part of an Internet Sewing Challenge by Project Run and Play.  The challenge is to design children's clothing inspired by Cos Play. I am creating an everyday outfit for a child from Jakku that is inspired by Rey from Star Wars.This bag will accompany the everyday outfit.

... And so the story goes....
In order to survive, Rey became a talented scavenger in the planet's Starship Graveyard, which was littered with the remains of starships and other war technology from the Battle of Jakku. She also gained skills as a linguist and a pilot, all of which were necessary to survive on the planet.  Despite growing up in a harsh environment, Rey is very compassionate towards others.

She knows other children from Jakku scavenge parts too, in order to help their families buy food.

 

So,  this  Locator and Messenger Bag was designed to keep children safe by allowing them to communicate with their parents, and the other children with them, while scavenging .

  

First, a scavenged communicator is striped of it's communication panel.

 This panel is then encased in the rucksack bag. This feature lets the children communicate with their parents so they know where they are, in case there is a problem, or they become lost in the desert while playing.  

On the side of the bag, locator panels have been encased into the pocket. These locator panels help the children find valuable parts and test the part to see if it worth salvaging because it still works.

The lined rucksack is also helpful while carrying books to school, or salvaged parts.  The bag is closed with Velcro patches and a belt.

The bag itself is padded and lined to protect against parts jabbing into your back.  The shoulder straps are padded too since books and parts are sometimes quite heavy. 

Stay tuned for Part 2: The Reywear Romper, Belt, Body Scarf, Mini-Pouch, and Arm Guards.

Smiles,

Deborah

Red, White, and Blue Knits for the Two Cousins

Smiles,
Miss G and her Grandma

Love You Still... Great-Grandma Kelly

This fabric manipulation submission to the Project Run and Play November Contest 

was created by my 

Great- Grandmother and me.  She created these flower garden quilt patches in the early 1960's and I've saved them all these years.  

Some are pretty. . . and some are an unique combination of fabrics she would draw out of her sewing basket.

 She would hand-sew the pieces together while we watched TV together. I remember that she liked Roller Derby and Wrestling on TV. 
 I just liked being with her.

 I created the fabric with layers. Backing, flannel center, purple polished cotton, and then the quilt squares.

I also added diagonal quilting lines and free hand machine-stitched embroidery with sparkly ribbon thread. 

Then I washed the whole fabric and dried it with a hot dryer temperature to shrink the flannel and create a soft quilt fabric.

I love how the old and the new blended together.

Since the fabric is heavier than most fabric used to create a child's top, I reduced the bulk of all the seams by zigzagging close to the seams and trimming the excess. I bound the hems with bias tape, just like you would a quilt.

My hope is that when my Granddaughter wears this top, it will feel like she is wrapped in a warm, soft, cozy quilt made by her Grandmother and Great-Great-Great-Grandmother.

Love you still Great-Grandma Kelly,
Deborah