Category: Season 29

Last week all 12 of the designers did an outstanding job! Since this is our first “Super Season” with twice as many designers, we decided to give everyone twice as many opportunities to continue! The votes from last week will be added to the votes from this week to determine the top three designers in each group. Make sure you check out all of them and cast your vote at the end.

Are you ready for our next challenge? Here is the prompt:

SOFT FOCUS
Get inspired by textures, colors, or blurred lines, and make it fashion!

If this inspires you to sew something for kids, why not join the sewalong? Details are HERE.

Now, on to the main event…

Steph – Float

Week 2’s theme threw me for a loop.  Soft is not something I do.  I like structured dresses and crisp fabrics.  Okay, so how do I do “soft?”  I trip to the fabric store feeling every fabric I don’t normally work with.  I found some double gauze in a nice soft color (deep dusty teal) and got the rest of the bolt.  I had 2.5 yards to work with and make it work.  It’s still very hot here (into the 90s) so I’m still in a summer dress frame of mind.

I started by tracing with a running top to make the inner shelf bra and then worked outwards from there.  I knew I wanted thin straps so I made a whole lot of it and played around with what looked good.  I liked the combination of normal and crisscross straps.  The gauze was calling to be a swing dress so I used the “slash and spread” method to even distribute the extra volume of the bodice and added a fun zig zag waistline.  I then wanted the skirt to be even fuller.  As full as I could get out of the fabric I had on hand.  The skirt resembles upside down petals growing from the stem of the bodice.  Each petal has a 40° angle, with 10 petals total making the hem of the skirt over a full circle.  There is 23.33 feet of hem in this dress which is all hand stitched.  That’s a lot of hem!

Even though this dress is pretty heavy in real life, it seems to be floating away from the model barely attached at the spaghetti straps.  Knowing this was a “twirl worthy” dress, I made matching bike shorts quickly for modesty.  Neither the bike shorts nor attached shelf bra are shown because we do not show off our foundation garments, lol.  The amount of bounce and swing this dress has earned it the name Float because it just seems to be floating around Girly as she walks.  This dress seems to defy gravity.

Candice – Whimsy Wishes

Who else is still in awe over the first week’s designs in the competition? It honestly made me that more excited to compete in week 2! I absolutely loved the theme Soft Focus, a concept that weaves together textures, soft colors, and blurred lines. This project was heavily inspired by my oldest daughter’s vivid imagination, bringing to life a dress that captures whimsy and a dream-like essence. I wanted to create something that felt like it was plucked right out of a daydream, with every detail carefully thought out to evoke a sense of softness and flow.

When thinking of the theme, soft focus, I chose the color pink for this dress because I felt its gentle hue perfectly embodies the idea of softness. I decided to use Lienz by Little Lizard King as a base for our dress. I loved the hi low top skirt and the closures on the back of the dress. To create our vision, I used chiffon for the bodice but added a crushed satin overlay to serve as a modesty panel.  I draped delicate tulle over the bodice to create a visual effect of blurred lines, giving the dress an ethereal quality. Then to complete the bodice, I added a beautiful flower and pearl applique. The skirt was a labor of love, crafted from multiple layers to achieve the right blend of texture and movement. It is made of 4 layers of differing materials in which you can read more on my instagram @sewing4wildflowers.

To elevate the whimsical nature of the dress, I added a pair of butterfly wings that bring an extra layer of enchantment to the overall look. I used 14-gauge wire and bent them in the shape I wanted. Once I was satisfied with how each wing looked, I added on a pink organza to hide the wire and fill in the wing. To tie the wings into the overall design, I added appliques that matched the bodice, creating a cohesive look. I then wrapped a ribbon around the edges and the center of the wings. I also created a magic wand using the Blazing Star pattern by Sunflower Seams. To make the wand more personal, I added on layering labels from Shine Bright Labels that perfectly embody who she is.

This dress is more than just a piece of clothing – it’s a representation of my daughter’s imaginative world, where soft edges and whimsical shapes define her view. I’m incredibly proud of how this dress turned out, and I hope it inspires others to see the beauty in subtle textures and soft hues. Sometimes, the most magical creations come from looking at the world through a softer, more imaginative lens.

Sara Jean – Boho Elegance

This week was tough for me. I have discovered that soft materials are not my forte. After several failed attempts, I was inspired by the soft, flowing Bohemian-style dresses filling my Instagram feed. The rich teal color is my favorite for fall, and this soft voile was the ultimate choice for spinning in the falling leaves. The free-spirited bohemian aesthetic was perfect for my wild child, and the lace added a romantic, soft focus and a touch of elegance. 

I created the Boho Elegance dress using a soft, sheer cotton voile, vintage ribbon, and hand-dyed lace. I used RIT dyemore on white, floral lace and it took a few tries to get the right color mix to match the voile. For the construction of the dress, I started with Peony Pattens Dahlia Dress. I added a lace tie to the cutout in the back to match the lace ruffle on the skirt. I created a flutter sleeve and drafted a split bodice and v-neck for extra drama. I made an angular shape waistband and sewed in ruched material to soften the waist seam. The skirt is a slight high-low maxi with 2 layers of soft lace ruffles. I added a vintage ribbon to the exposed seam of the lace. My dress-hating girl loved this one because it is so soft and lightweight. The twirl factor was a big win!

Anna – Vintage Blush

Soft focus can have multiple meanings and I wanted to play off of them in week 2. In photography, it is used to create a slightly blurred image to invoke a dreamy or almost ethereal feeling. To achieve this look, I used an open aperture and golden hour lighting.

Having astigmatism, my vision is always in soft focus. It allows me to see the blending of light and colors. You can achieve this by relaxing your eyes and opening your perception. It allows you to to take things in as a whole, appreciating the many parts of a work harmonizing at once. I created a look with many layers, textures, and shades of pink and gold.  When you soft focus your eyes, it creates a soft vintage blush that brings feelings of fondness, gentleness, youth, and health.

To create this look, I focused on soft, natural fabrics. I began with the Oxford blouse from Little Lizard King using cotton dimity fabric and organic cotton lining. Instead of using buttons up the back, I turned it into a zippered back. I cut the puff sleeves down the center to create an open sleeve, hemmed them in, then I added binding to the end of the sleeve and an eye and hook closure to keep it closed. I sewed a daisy flower button on top. My second daughter loves to be stylish and wear dresses, but she also loves to run and climb and jump. In order to create a look that was play friendly, I decided to make her pants, but I wanted them to look like a maxi skirt. I used gauze because it is soft, comfortable, and breathable. I began with a basic jeans pattern, added elastic to the back waistband, pleats in the front with daisy buttons and made the legs wide to mimic the look of a skirt. To add dimension to the look, I added a quilted jacket from Frollein S using the Storm pattern from Boo and Lu. I adjusted the welt pocket location and made it seamlessly lined with a vintage floral. Finally, I made her a bejeweled headband and a handbag with the quilted fabric and a vintage handkerchief.

Bekah – The Secret Garden

“Where you tend a rose my lad, a thistle cannot grow.” 

Lucette and I present another literary interpretation of this week’s theme: Soft Focus in The Secret Garden

Translucent embroidered tulle and the softest sage washed cotton paired well with the patterns for Pirates So Classic sundress pattern.

I fussy cut some of the tulle and hand stitched it with translucent thread to better embellish the front bodice.

The straps were widened and a little gathered puff “sleeve” was added. Instead of measuring the two skirts, I just used everything I had, making this a low waste project.

Bekah Adams
@clothed.in.vermillion

Katie – Pom Pom Party

When I heard the theme Soft Focus my first thought was glamour shots and soap operas from the 80s, the soft light, blurred lines, and warm feel.  Then I snapped back to present day.  How to embody the 80s drama but make it Fashion?  I wanted to create a look that played on textures and soft fabrics, that was colourful, but with muted tones, and where the drama can build.  An outfit that can match my daughter’s more is better style and her large personality. Just like many runway shows, where the collection builds to the final feature – bridal or ball – this outfit blooms from basics to bash.  Introducing Pom Pom Party.

Pom Pom Party – a fashion collection in one outfit – where the pom poms bloom throughout.  Mix and match the pieces to create versatile, flexible options to extend those fancy party dresses.  The simple pink dress is playground approved juxtaposed against the shiny high tops for the ready to play look.  The dress uses Boo & Lu Solstice dress pattern as a starting point, made with the luxuriously soft cotton lycra jersey from Shear Perfection, in a soft pink.   Pair the dress with knee high socks and hair clip bow with a hint of pom poms – foreshadowing what is to come.  The socks are a hack of the Opal pattern from Petite Stitchery, with added tulle and poms.

Next, layer on a cropped cardigan, to elevate the look.  I used a combination of Petite Stitchery patterns (Arlo, Tori, Charlie), and some trial and error to create this hidden snap placket, with puffed bishop sleeves cardigan that features a splash of poms.  Then layer on the feature bubble skirt for the final pom pom burst.  Layers of soft pink tulle, with a top bubble skirt that features a hidden pocket on the inside to easily change the skirt fill to reflect different themes and events.  A full pom pom party!  Hop over to www.instagram.com/custom_by_kate if you want to learn more.

These are all so amazing! Everyone went all out this week creating beautiful, soft looks! It’s an impossible task, but try to choose a favorite in the poll below. It closes at 8pm EST on Tuesday, 9/10. Then, come back on Wednesday to vote for your favorite in the next group!

We’re wrapping up week 1, and what a week it was! Our designers get to sew for 2 weeks, and the votes from both weeks will be tallied up to see who moves into week 3. I hope you’re ready to watch next week and vote!

The designers are all amazing, and the votes were SO CLOSE this week. Just one vote separating in some cases! Please be sure to support them.

Group 1 Top 3 were:

Kate Bolla, Sara Jean, and Candice Schoffstall.

Group 2 Top 3 were:

Bonnie Flitton, Amy Gilane, and Chandy Mueller.

Our bottom 3 from each group still deserve to be here, so be sure to vote and share your favorites next week! Don’t forget, the votes will be added together from week 1 and week 2, so things could change!

Anna Buder, Steph Carton, Bekah Adams, Nikki Scott, Liz Rios, and Em Getz.

Our generous sponsors make this whole lot more fun. Check them out, and maybe you’ll find a new-to-you shop that you will love!

Our sew along is open to anyone who sews for children, so please join in. Maybe you could be in a future season!

Season 29 is SUPER exciting and we are only halfway through the first week! With twice as many designers competing, we have twice as many opportunities to choose your favorite! The votes for the first half have been recorded and we will share the results on Friday. Now it is time to vote on the rest of the designs!

As a reminder, here is the theme for this week:

GRAYSCALE
Make it monochrome with shades of white, ivory, gray, black or anything in between!

Does this inspire you to sew something? Join in our sewalong! (Details HERE.)

Are you ready to vote? Please check out all of the incredible submissions and choose your favorite at the end of the post. . The poll closes Thursday, 9/5, at 8:00pm EST.

Bonnie – Preppy Perfection

Hey sewing friends! After hearing “Grayscale” as the theme for week 1, I immediately knew what I wanted to sew!  I love a monochromatic look and the stark contrast of black and white. I sewed up one of my tried-and-true woven dress patterns.  I wanted to add a collar with trim and ended up self-drafted the collar.  I also self-drafted new sleeves by making them more voluminous and added elastic at the hem to pull everything in.  I also added more width to the skirt pieces because my little one loves a dress with a good twirl factor! I love classic surface patterns and nothing is more classic than gingham.

I used a tank top pattern for my sweater vest and found a charcoal sweater knit with a little bit of stretch.  The cropped vest is great for the upcoming fall season.  If my daughter gets too hot, she can always take the vest off and wear the dress alone.  The heart shape of the backpack adds a whimsical touch, but the practicality of the backpack is great for my daughter because she’s always carrying toys around the house and car. I used a gray zipper to pull in the charcoal of the vest. The cropped vest and posh backpack really pulled together the preppy look I was going for.

I love the contrast of the black and white gingham in the dress with the gray sweater knit and the black leopard print in the backpack.  The fabrics work well together color and texture wise.  I loved adding a few special touches with the lace trim on the collar and leather patches on the sweater vest and bag.  It really steps up those handmade items and makes them look professional.  This look really is preppy perfection!  You can read more about my look and the patterns and fabric I used over on my Instagram.

Chandy – Tween Dream

This was a hard challenge for me.  I normally make things in bright loud prints, but my eldest is outgrowing the themed prints and gravitates towards plain clothes. So I decided the grayscale theme would be this tween’s dream, but mama still got to sneak in a print.

Starting with the top I kept it pretty simple, I made a basic white t-shirt that I then dip dyed to get an ombre from white to black.  His vest is Little Lizard King’s Benton, the outside is a plain gray, but inside is a fun lightning bolt print because I can’t not use a print.  Also, we’re pretty big Harry Potter fans here.

Every tween needs some cool black jeans.  I started with Winter Wear Designs Rover pants because I love the huge pockets, I modified the pants by adding moto detailing and to make it really pop I used white topstitching throughout.

I love adding fun details to pockets. I personalized this pair to my son by taking a pair of his taekwondo pants that he has outgrown and used them for pockets.  The back tag is from his infant car seat shoulder pads.  I can’t believe he used to be so tiny!

Follow my instagram for pics of the carseat and taekwondo pants before I upcycled them!

Nikki Scott – Dress Like a Parisian

When I initially thought of monochrome, I thought of how important good basic neutrals are that can go with any outfit. This led to the theme Dress Like A Parisian. I went for a look that is fashionable, yet not fussy, and in a way that’s simple, chic and appealing. In the book, Dress like a Parisian by Alois Guinut she states, “The words that come to mind when you think of Parisian style are effortless, chic, understated and our obsession with perfect basics may make us look alike… but for La Parisienne singularity is all in the details.” I tried to play up on the details for this look. 

For the jeans, I started with the Joplin Trousers by Petite Stitchery because we loved the look of the button closure and high rise. These were modified to have a straight leg (typical Parisian fashion) and moved the pockets to the back. The back pocket detail is a cursive “A” which is the first letter of my daughter’s name. I double stitched every seam to give it the high-end feel. Speaking of feel, this stretch denim from Fabrictopia is so stretchy! I used the back side of the fabric for the light grey (the front side is black) because I couldn’t find any other good light greys to match the theme. She has full range of motion in these and now feels the need for me to make all her jeans! 

The shirt is a simple Brynn by Sew a Little Seam. It is out of a single brushed poly that’s been in my stash forever. I went with binding for the neck and gathered the sleeves for a little extra detail. And gotta line up those stripes! The vest started from the Jessie Moto Jacket from Designs by Violet Vixen. This pattern is made for stretch fabrics, but I really love the look of quilted (non-stretch) and velvet (stretch) together. I made it one size up and as a vest to help mitigate any issues. Also, I constructed it differently to have a nice finish for the arm holes. The buttons used for this were very special to us because they came from my husband’s grandmother’s stash of buttons that were left to me. I hope my sews for this week’s theme give you the motivation to make your own elevated basics!

Amy Gilane – Spellbound Love

  Enticed with the brooding cloudy days, and theme of gray monochromatic tones, I breathed into the fall vibes and my daughters’ requests to be “witchy.” When offered this opportunity to sew for Project Run and Play, I knew whatever I would make would have to appease not just the judges and sewing friends, but most of all, Her! She was my full inspiration with her big brown doe eyes and desire for woodsy vibes, and pretend play. 

    I have used the Holly Tunic from Boo and Lu Sewing Patterns with the flattering asymmetrical waistline and gathered circle skirt in tunic length. Adding a flare for the dramatic, I added the skirt of Nova in the high-low option as an underskirt. It then lended to the circle sleeves I cut, adding to the ¾ length.  The crossover collar and lettuce hem completed my look for the top. Peep the  tiny “I love you” tag, in ASL from Shine Bright Label Company in the lower bodice side seam. Organic cotton jersey hearts fabric is from Frollein-S Fabrics. 

  For leggings I have used a charcoal confetti rib knit from Millie and Dot as another shade of gray, starting with Lynx Leggings from Boo and Lu Sewing Patterns. Instead of traditional cuff bottoms, I cut large bows for the backs, to balance the dramatic sleeve. I used a touch of interfacing to hold them somewhat flat on the bow edges.

Emily – Little Quilted Queen

For my monochromatic grayscale look, I immediately thought of a fall jacket with flare pants combo. Dug through my fabric stash, and found these quilted triangles that I planned my outfit around. I had bought them with the Free People quilted jackets as inspiration, so I was excited to do my own spin and finally make it! 

 I used Lowland Kid’s Letterman Jacket as the base, with the collar from their half zip, elastic at the wrists in place of cuffs, and hemmed the bottom. Underneath is Samantha Marie Design’s Blythe for a basic white tee out of DBP, with lettuce hems to dress it up a little. The pants are Lowland Kids slim flares out of a 1×1 rib.

 Of course, my ‘Little Quilted Queen’ outfit wasn’t complete without a tag or label. Both the “Mama’s Little Bestie” and the heart label were sponsored by Shine Bright Label Co.

Liz Velazquez – Corte Èlègant

When I heard the theme “Grayscale” the first word I thought of was “Elegant.” I imagined a dress with puff sleeves and floral details like a European style. One of the accessories I love to create is scarves so I couldn’t miss them in this style. 

I used a variety of patterns from Little Lizard King to create my vision, including the Colmar top, Sorrento skirt and Roslyn sleeves. I used cotton woven fabric from Joann. 

To give a special touch to this style, I designed a small purse with kitty ears and a scarf. The kitty details and scarf made this look fun and elegant, without losing the essence of clothing for girls, just as I imagined it. I named it with a variety of words in Spanish and French “Corte Èlègant” so as not to lose the touch of my visualization (A European style).

See more pictures in my IG: @lizvdisigner

Amazing!!! It’s going to be incredibly hard to pick a favorite, but here is the poll for you to try!

The Week 1 results will be announced on Friday and the votes will be added to next week’s designs to determine who advances to the semifinals. So, make sure that you check back next week to vote again!