Let’s Hear It For the Boys! We love sewing for kids, and there’s plenty of good sewing around here for boys and girls, but we thought it would be fun to have a mini season this summer that just featured boy looks! We’ve gathered six of our past designers to go head to head, two designers each week, for a total of three rounds.
The theme for each week is the same: “Copy That Look.” Our designers will show you their inspiration and then their re-creation. It’s always fun to make, “I can make that,” a reality.
Public votes will be the only determining factor each week for who comes out on top, and we’ll be sending all of our designers home with an amazing prize, because they deserve it!
Sponsor Shoutout
We could not do what we do here at Project Run & Play, which is bring the sewing community together around children’s fashion, and amplify the creativity of hundreds of talented designers, and anyone who sews along (that could be you!), without some amazingly generous sponsors. We want you to know that the companies you see supporting the events we host are worthy small businesses that we would love to support, and for you to support as well!
Click their logos to check out their websites, and maybe find some new fabrics you need for your next project.
Thank you to Raspberry Creek Fabrics and See You At Six for sponsoring this week.
Our two designers this week are:
Bonnie Ferguson from Season 10 and Nele De Roo from Season 26. They are here to go head to head with their best boy look! Spoiler alert: they both have the most adorable models! Check out their amazing work, and cast your vote at the bottom of the post.
Bonnie – Playful Sophistication
This sweet little guy of ours was so excited that I was sewing an outfit just for him, and he rocked this first modeling gig! (Some of our neighbors drove by on a golf cart during our photoshoot, and he ate up the attention while they cheered him on!) I loved the sophisticated look of my first inspiration photo from H&M, but I had to add a bit more fun to fit this amazing kiddo’s playful personality. When I ran across the zipper-mouthed animal tops and sea-inspired sweatshirt from Mini Boden, I knew they were the perfect choices.
The appliqued whale t-shirt is my favorite part of this set! I started with the Charlie Tee, modifying it slightly since our little guy is solid and a bit on the shorter side. (It’s been a long time since I sewed my now-retired Fishsticks Designs patterns, and I couldn’t resist reviving them for this set.) The fabric choices are all cotton/lycra blends from my stash. It’s the zipper, though, that makes this tee stand out. It was a little tricky, but so worth the extra effort! Little guy is already planning all the tiny things he can tuck inside the whale’s mouth!
Once the top was done, I moved on to the shorts, using another of my old patterns and some stretch French terry, jazzing them up with cargo pockets to match the inspiration, and finishing them off with a no-button-hole drawstring trick. Finally, the lobster sweatshirt, which rounds out this outfit, came together lightning fast with the help of my Cricut and the long-sleeve option of the Charlie Tee one size up from little guy’s regular size.
Nele – Ready To Celebrate!
I’m so happy to be part of the Project Run and Play mini season, and this round’s theme — Let’s Hear It for the Boys — couldn’t have come at a better time. This spring, my son Jakob celebrated his spring celebration, and I knew right away I wanted to make him something handmade and festive for the occasion. What better excuse to create something special?
The Look: Bright, Tailored, and Joyful
For this celebration-ready outfit, I made a full three-piece look that’s both polished and practical. I found inspiration online and collaborated with my boy and he had one very clear wish: it needed to be RED!
The blazer is made with the Lounge Jacket pattern by IvL Hecho con Amor, sewn in a vibrant red stretch twill. It’s unlined and comfortable, but still gives off that “dressed up” vibe — perfect for a special day like this.
The button-up shirt is the Bayfield by Little Lizard King, made in a soft speckled linen-cotton with colorful horizontal stripes. I added bright red buttons to echo the red in the blazer and shorts. The shorts are a custom-modified version of the Bacca Bootcut by Designs by Call Ajaire. I made adjustments to the pattern to make it more boyish— drafting a new waistband, reshaping the leg and length and adjusting the fit through three rounds of test versions until it was just right!
Celebrating in Style
Jakob felt so good in this outfit: comfortable enough to run around and play, but special enough to feel like the guest of honour. The fabrics were chosen with movement in mind, and I love that the pieces can all be worn separately as well.
And because I can’t make something for one child and not the others… yes, I made matching outfits for my other sons too! It was such a joy to see them all dressed up in handmade looks for this special family moment.
A Labor of Love
What I love about sewing for boys is how much creativity it still allows, even within the bounds of simplicity. Bold color choices, special fabric textures and refined pattern tweaks made this project extra satisfying.
Thank you, Project Run and Play, for continuing to inspire and celebrate handmade kids’ fashion, especially for our boys. Let’s hear it for them, indeed!
These are two incredibly special makes! Now you have a very difficult decision. You may only vote once and the poll will close on Thursday, 6/5/2025 at 8:00pm EST.