We are so excited to kick off Season 29- our very first SUPER SEASON! Since we have 12 designers this time, the voting will be done in two groups of six: Monday through Tuesday and Wednesday through Thursday. So, make sure to come back later this week to vote again!
Did you notice the new look that Project Run and Play got this year? We have changed up all of our logos and branding from aqua and red to black and white. This is part of what inspired our first theme:
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.)
Now, let’s get to the good stuff! The designers did such an amazing job this week! The voting poll is at the end so please check out all SIX looks and then vote for your favorite. The poll closes Tuesday, 9/3, at 8:00pm EST.
Katie – Concrete Patchwork
When I heard the first theme was Grayscale, I was very excited. I love neutrals, especially the colour grey! Now how to truly capture grayscale? To give the illusion of a colourful outfit – but with shades of grey, all of them! I wanted to capture the vibrant, dynamic nature of city life and the beauty of combining various shades of grey. I love to use colour-blocking to create unique interest, intricate patterns and to play with colours (or lack of colour😊) – so why not level up and create quilted accents pulled through the jacket, shirt and pants! Introducing Concrete Patchwork -something that combines the gritty, modern feel of concrete with the artistic flair of patchwork quilting
I started sewing when this little man was 2 months old. Well after 10 years, he is growing up, as is his style. I designed this look to be a play on “back to school” but with a modern updated twist. An oversized, relaxed fit to capture my son’s style – which is comfort above all else and clothes that can move, bend and keep up with his active life. Most importantly an outfit where he would be confident with a touch of swagger.
The classic letter jacket is a stereotypical school staple, but with a modern vintage twist – its quilted! This jacket is the star of the outfit and is fully reversible – business in the front (simple, classic black and ivory) and party on the inside. The jacket is a modified Billie Bomber by Petite Stitchery & Co, hip length with pockets. I used a combination of brushed french terry with ribbing and a pop of tie dye in the pockets for the exterior. On the inside I used a combination of grey FT and my own patchwork design of different shades of grey cotton lycra jersey. The back is quilted with wool batting for extra warmth on those cooler Canadian fall days. Next is the t-shirt. A play on the Spenser pattern by Petite Stitchery, I wanted to carry through the half-square triangle quilt, but as part of a larger overall patchwork tee. I combined 4 different shades of grey cotton lycra for the four quadrants on the back of the shirt then replaced the lighter shade on the front with the smaller scale HST quilt. Lastly are the joggers, featuring a double cargo style stacked pocket with a contrasting gusset. The top pockets pull through the quilted detail at the same scale as the tee. All fabric and notions are from Shear Perfection Fabric. Hop over to www.instagram.com/custom_by_kate if you want to learn more.
Bekah – A Modern Dorothy Gale
Grayscale? As I pondered this week’s prompt in relation to my practice of sewing functional items, I was a bit stumped. I’m a self described “boring” sewist. I needed to find whimsy and delight for project run and play while maintaining my sense of purpose in creating a comfortable and classic fit for Lucette.
Classic children’s novels are an important part of our family culture and always spark our imaginations so I turned to one of our favorite stories for help.
The most iconic literary (on the big screen) grayscale moment has to be Dorothy Gale’s last moment before entering the explosion of color in Oz.
Lucette and I present Dorothy Gale in Grayscale. I began with cream cotton lycra and warm gray gingham homespun. The Made for Mermaids Patterns: Audrey and Samantha were a perfect start. I made edits for her petite stature and my limited fabric. I had hoped to make Lucette a custom organza petticoat, but alas the organza was backordered and didn’t arrive in time. I hope to be able to present that with future looks.
Anna – Cozy Core
Grayscale is growing in popularity both on the runway and in home décor; this style incorporates different lengths, fits, and textures within the same hues. I chose my oldest daughter for this style because when I think of creams, grays, and blacks I think sophistication – and this tends to lend itself to older children. My oldest daughter also happens to like grays as she says it brings out the subtleties of the hues. She sees purples, greens, yellows, and blues in grays. These happen to be her favorite colors, so I tried to incorporate those different gray hues as much as I could.
Cozy core is a fashion trend that leans into the idea of being comfortable and cozy but still stylish. This is my oldest daughter at her core. Her clothes need to be comfortable, resilient and quick to put on. I used all natural, organic fibers for comfort and tried to incorporate as many different textures as I could. My daughter says this is one of the most comfortable outfits she has ever worn and that I should expect to see her in it constantly.
For the look, I began with the basic tee from Lowland, extended the shoulder seams out and lined it with bamboo to keep it extra comfortable and cozy. Next, I constructed the pants. I began with a basic jean construction on the top and gently flared out the bottom. I used an organic fleeced French terry with accents of white sand 2×1 rib and drawstring from L+E fabrics. I have always envisioned a fitted, flowy high-low cardigan, but have never found a pattern for it, so I self drafted one based on my daughter’s measurements out of bamboo. Finally, I made a couple of accessories to really pull the look together. I deconstructed my daughter’s favorite beanie to create this gorgeous, waffle beanie and added that extra embellishment with the adventure crew label from Shine Bright Label Co. For the clutch, in Sagittarius fashion of epitomizing functional style, I designed a small clutch that includes a zip pocket inside so she can organize her little treasures.
Sara Jean – Urban Explorer
My daughter has been anti-dress lately, so I was inspired to create something fun but practical for Week One. She has a huge imagination and would prefer to wear costumes over regular clothes so she needed something to spark her creativity while remaining functional. The urban explorer outfit and lion purse I created for her combine her adventurous spirit with a touch of everyday magic.
To create her urban explorer romper I started with the Rowe shorts pattern from Little Lizard King and merged it with a button-down dress pattern I owned. I drafted my sleeve, added more pockets, and a zipper for easy bathroom access. I thought this black fabric with silver paint streaks and the silver piping gave it a perfect urban twist. Her favorite part…the pockets! Great for gathering treasure while out exploring. And what outfit is complete without a label from Shine Bright labels.
To make her purse I found a lion clip art online and cut each piece of the mane from a different faux leather or felt and stitched them to a circle of marine vinyl. I used my Cricut to cut the face from HTV and ironed it on. I used a purse strap I thrifted. She is ready to take on the world (or just our local zoo!)
Patterns used: Rowe: Little Lizard King Lantana: Peony patterns
Candice – Classic Cinema
When I received the first theme of grayscale, I was immediately inspired by the elegance and chic sophistication of classic cinematic films. I envisioned a formal dress that would embody the timeless grace of those silver screen beauties. I worked through several design concepts before landing on my drop shoulder with a sheer yoke look. I was inspired by the Meredith pattern by Little Lizard King and decided to use the pattern as a base for my creation.
I kept the pattern’s boatneck and extended the shoulders out and down to achieve the desired silhouette. I made several modifications to the back of the Meredith pattern, as well. Instead of the original button and loop closure, I opted for a decorative zipper to give an extra contrast pop along with a diamond like shape opening. While the theme grayscale inspired classic looks, it also made me think of geometric patterns. I wasn’t initially satisfied with a solid white bodice so I draped the fabric on my mannequin and folded pieces in place until it all created the sweetheart pleated finish.
Designing the skirt proved to be the most time consuming part of the process. After experimenting with several ideas, I ultimately chose a classic tulle, tea-length skirt that complemented the gown’s overall aesthetic. To add a bit of contrast, I incorporated velvet ribbon along the bodice seam and neckline. My daughter contributed a delightful finishing touch – placing a pearled ribbon on top of the ribbon along the neckline to create the effect of a faux necklace. This project was a true blend of inspiration, experimentation, and a little family teamwork – bringing grayscale to life in a fun and personal way.
Steph – Blank Canvas
When I heard the theme for the first week, I was excited. I’m definitely a monochromatic kind of girl. I love black and white but tend to avoid them for sample garments as they don’t photograph well. So I set myself out to create something that highlighted the details in solids when a print would normally hide those details. My default option would be to make a classic little black dress but where’s the fun in that? I’ve got to challenge myself and work in a color I almost NEVER work with-white!
Girly is really into art and drawing and painting and creating creatures from old cardboard boxes. She has always been my museum-going kid and I set out to make her a dress that she could walk through a gallery in something that wasn’t babyish but also not something you’d find in the Junior’s section. She’s at that in between age. As soon as this season of Project Run and Play is over, I promised she could paint on her new dress to really make it hers and so the Blank Canvas dress was named!
I chose to work with Michael Miller’s Couture Cottons in black and white because I really love the crispness and sheen of it. I started with my basic sloper that I developed for all of my patterns and worked out from that starting point. In addition to being lined, the bodice also has an “inside out” facing on the neckline to define the top of the dress. Since it’s still very hot here in New Mexico, we discussed options and she agreed that 2 small cutouts at the waist would be very cute and cool. I defined those triangles with black as well. Girly hates plain gathered skirts right now so I chose to make a gored skirt with black panels that only peek out when she walks or when she wears a crinoline, which, of course, I had to make! Her crinoline is a basic 3 tier gathered crinoline that I just eyeballed for length and fullness. It was a “can I make it work with the 2 yards of tulle I have on hand” situation. Of course we can’t forget pockets. This dress has pockets to extreme! I discovered a magical pocket solution that keeps them flat and supported while still carrying all of her important young teen objects.
This is going to be really hard to choose! Everyone did an outstanding job and there is so much variety!
There are six more incredible looks coming on Wednesday so make sure that you come back to vote again!