Season 30 – Week 2 – Shop Project Run & Play

We’re back with six amazing Week 2 looks from our talented designers. No one went home last week, but after this round, two designers will have to go home, so be sure to give your support to your favorite look! The theme for week 2 is:

All About Asymmetry: Elevate your look by using asymmetry to create a unique, fresh design!

Along with the public vote, and a panel of judges, 1/3 of the score will come from a Celebrity Judge. This week Tereska Gesing of Core Fabrics is stepping into that role. Core Fabrics is a long-time Canadian sponsor of Project Run & Play. From their logo to their patterns to their style aesthetic, Core Fabrics embraces asymmetry. Let’s meet her!

Tereska is the Co-Founder of Core Fabrics, an online fabric store based in Montreal, Canada. Core Fabrics is created from the desire to source and supply beautiful, high-quality textiles that are kinder to the planet and people who produce them. She went to Lasalle College in fashion design and worked in film and television in the costume department for 8 years.

If you’re inspired after seeing these looks, we have a Sew-Along every season, and you can sew to win an amazing prize from Brightside Fabric Co! Sew for this week’s theme, or any other theme from this season, and join in on the fun. You don’t want to skip this one. Also, the Lemon Tee is on a flash sale this week, it has built in asymmetry with the color blocking options included. The work is already done for you! 40% off, no code needed!

Now we’re excited to share all the designers looks! Voting will be open until Thursday evening at 8pm EST, so please be sure to chime in with your vote at the bottom of this post!

Amber – Elegance and Grace

Asymmetry is not a design feature I typically gravitate towards, so this week’s theme challenged me to step out of my comfort zone and explore new creative possibilities. After spending a great deal of time searching for inspiration and drafting multiple designs, I discovered the Anastasia pattern from Violette Field Threads—and suddenly, everything fell into place.

The addition of the cream sash adorning the one-shoulder neckline beautifully accentuates the asymmetry, adding a touch of contrast and refinement. I chose to extend the sash into a delicate bow that drapes gracefully over the arm, creating a soft, romantic detail that balances the bold, structured lines of the dress. While the original pattern featured an asymmetrical skirt, it wasn’t quite what I had envisioned. To bring my idea to life, I drafted a half-circle skirt with a high-low hemline, creating a more dynamic silhouette. Wanting to elevate this feature further, I incorporated delicate lace trim along the underside of the hem, adding a layer of intricate detail. Typically, I shy away from designs that reveal the wrong side of the fabric, but by embracing this aspect and transforming it with lace, I was able to turn a design challenge into a beautiful focal point, enhancing the dress’s graceful and refined appeal.

For the black handbag, I made modifications to the Laney-Jane Bag from Emmaline Bags. I was drawn to its trapezoidal shape—an inherently asymmetrical form—and decided to push the theme further by redrafting the flap into a more dynamic, angular design. This subtle yet intentional touch allowed me to carry the concept of asymmetry throughout the entire look.

The true joy of this project, however, came when my daughter tried on the dress. She absolutely loves it, twirling endlessly and admiring how the skirt flows around her. The elegant details, from the high-low hem to the soft bow at her shoulder, make her feel like a princess straight out of a fairytale. Seeing her light up with confidence and joy while wearing something I created makes every challenge along the way completely worth it.

Laura – Fire and Ice

When I heard the theme for week two, I was SO excited! I knew I wanted to craft a dress that wasn’t just asymmetrical in design but also in spirit. I landed on capturing the dramatic contrast between fire and ice, one side a fiery inferno and the other a serene winter wonderland. I began with a modified version of Malibu from Little Lizard King, changing the neckline and adding a corset closure that’s double-sided in orange and blue satin, ensuring a seamless transition between themes. Adding a corset closure is my go-to for special occasion dresses, making them adaptable for a range of sizes while looking visually elegant and stunning! The bodice features a cotton lining with a satin exterior, draped in icy blue organza and red tulle. The sleeves are a masterpiece in themselves—organza for the ice side, and a fiery concoction of gathered orange organza layered with red tulle for the opposite sleeve.

For the self-drafted skirt, I opted for a cascading high-low design that screams drama (who doesn’t love a bit of drama!). The fiery side is a riot of vibrant red tulle, layered with orange and yellow organza finished with a rolled hem, mirroring the unpredictable dance of flames. To emphasize this, I knew I wanted a sunny evening for photos to backlight the dress and let the flames roar! The icy side on the other hand is a vision of elegance, with hues of chill blues and silver organza flowing gracefully, also finished with a rolled hem. The bodice and strap are bedazzled with shimmering jewels that catch the light like glistening icicles, transitioning to fiery gems cascading down the red tulle. Together, these elements create a harmonious yet striking contrast, balancing fiery passion with icy tranquility. To complete the look, I added blue satin to a headband and covered it with hand-placed gems of red and orange flames that fade into blues and silvers.

This creation is a love letter to my daughter’s multifaceted personality. Last week, we celebrated her sweet and gentle side, but this week, the fire and ice dress unveils her sassy and bold spirit. It’s a reminder that she, like all of us, contains multitudes – capable of both warmth and intensity, as well as a cool, composed strength. More than just a fashion statement, this dress is a testament to the beautiful complexity of her character, capturing the essence of fire and ice in a way that’s both visually stunning and deeply personal.

Angel – A Vibrant Cascade: A Playful Take on Asymmetry

Week two’s theme is asymmetry, and I couldn’t be more excited to bring my vision to life! I wanted to create a high-low dress that feels sweet yet stylish–something that can be worn all year round. To capture this whimsical charm, I mixed playful triangles with bold and thin stripes, creating a vibrant, eye-catching design that’s both fun and unique. Every fabric choice was intentional, blending colors and patterns in a way that feels effortlessly playful yet refined.

For the bodice, I used the Mauve Pinafore from Bebekins Patterns as my base, giving it a twist by turning the stripes into a striking chevron pattern. To make it even sweeter, I added scalloped trims to the fixed strap flutter sleeves–because who doesn’t love a little extra charm?The skirt is where the magic really happens! I designed a high-low, three-layered beauty, accentuating it with delicate trims for that perfect finishing touch. The combination of colorful triangles and two different stripes made this piece a true labor of love, bringing together structure and flow in a way that makes the dress feel alive.

The final result? A vibrant cascade of colors, patterns, and movement that captures the essence of playful elegance! I love how this dress twirls and drapes with every step, making it a dream to wear. Whether paired with sandals in the summer or layered with tights and a sweatshirt in cooler months, this dress is truly a year-round delight. Asymmetry never looked so sweet, and I can’t wait to create more whimsical designs like this one!

Marie – Summer Dreams

If the weather has not been cooperating for our participation we can’t stop thinking of summer to come.

And when I asked my daughter what she wants me to make for her, she right away told me : no dress, no buttons. Then added, a swim and a skirt please!

For someone with sensory issues I will right away think knit. Which is also the best for swim of course.

So I got my plans for this week.

And I hope to please both my daughter and you voters.

My kids have a lot of do’s and don’t’s, and for her, showing her belly button is a big no.

I knew Sofiona patterns has the best asymmetrical pattern for kid swimwear. So I modified the pattern to have a tankini that offers more coverage but also finish at the waist were my skirt should hit.

The real challenge was to grade a size 8 length with a 3 chest and 2 waist to get a perfect fit.

This is the reason I’m happy to sew. It always fit my kids properly.

The skirt was self-drafted to be high low, which is quite unusual for me, who always think symmetrical. To make it flowing and graceful I added a ruffle edge over the hem.

I like the combination of the delicate floral print, the white and blue striped swim and the red base, it gives a fun and youthful touch. The knit skirt completes the outfit nicely, giving it a sophisticated and modern touch.

This will be the perfect outfit to go to the beach or leave still being dressy. Perfect to stop at the ice-cream shop on our way home during our summer holidays.

Marci – Everyday Asymmetry

When I was asked to join this season of Project Run and Play, one of my biggest deciding factors was the challenge for myself. I wanted to do something out of my comfort zone and push myself. I didn’t realize one of the biggest challenges would be creating interesting outfits for my daughter who only wants to wear simple, basic clothes. My little girl is growing up! For this week, All About Asymmetry, I tried not to overthink it. I thought about how I use it in my everyday work, with hair. There are the fun shorter cuts with one side longer, but I was having a hard time imagining something cute with that, for her current style. Then I thought of all the asymmetrical color that I do! So I ran with that. The other challenge with that was keeping it asymmetrical, and not just a color blocked look.

For my top I used Heartleaf from Boo and Lu Patterns as my base. I cut out the neckline to make it off the shoulder, added a waistband, and hemmed the sleeves instead of adding elastic. I made a cropped undershirt using Olive, also from Boo and Lu. I sized down, for more tight fitting. I also cut into one of the shoulders, so that the straps are asymmetrical. My fabrics are from Nature’s Fabrics, (I used up the blue from last week’s look) and Natural Roots. Both are comfy bamboo spandex! My labels are from Shine Bright Label Co.

Now, for the pants, I used Calloway Cargo Pants from Petite Stitchery as a base. I have never made jeans before, so this was another big challenge for me. Figuring out how to adjust the fly and exactly how I wanted it to be, and not knowing what I was really doing. But I had a lot of fun putting it all together, and really love how they turned out. I used two different colors of denim, completely redid the fly and wasitband, to make it cross over and snap. I also added the tiniest flare to the legs, and just one pocket on the back. This will definitely be an over all look that she will wear again and again, so it’s a win in my book!

E Lan – A-cute Angle

Like most people, I associate symmetry with beauty. Things that are more symmetrical are oftentimes more pleasing to our eyes, so this week’s theme of asymmetry was a challenge. My goal was to create an outfit that was asymmetrical yet harmonious, angled but still cute and wearable. To accomplish this, the angles I added to make the shirt and dress asymmetrical are opposite, thereby complementing each other.

I love to dress my daughter in clothes that I want to wear myself, so again, using the projector, I was able to shrink an adult shirt pattern, the Elizabeth Suzann Georgia top, to fit my daughter. This is a personal favorite woven pattern that I actually use for myself. It is loose and flowy, and is simply easy to wear. Instead of hemming the shirt, I added a facing, which allowed sewing the angles more easily. As for the dress, it is the Peekaboo Pattern Shop’s Cassidy. This pattern comes with the option of doing two tiers or three, but I changed it by elongating the main skirt tier. Then, I angled the skirt and added a gathered ruffle. I used a jersey slub from Isee Fabrics, which makes the dress even more comfortable and flowy, lessening the harsh angles of the asymmetry.

As for the accessories, I made Sofiona’s Balsam bag. I did not modify this pattern as it was precisely what I needed; it has a perfectly angled shape and a complementary pocket. My daughter was very quick to add her Labubu friend, so I decided to make a quick outfit for him as well using scrap pieces of fabric.

Didn’t they all do an amazing job? Try your best to pick a favorite from the poll below. It will close at 8:00pm EST on Thursday, 3/20/25.