Theme
It’s a new week so we have a brand new theme to challenge our designers’ creativity!
Preppy Prints:
Herringbone, Tweed, Plaid, Argyle. Fall is here, and these classic prints are always in style!
This couldn’t be more perfect for kids’ fall fashion! We hope this week will inspire you in sewing new fall looks for your own children.
Week 2 Sponsor
NEW this season, we are awarding special bonus prizes for the winners of the first three weeks! It’s just a little something extra to reward them for their hard work.
Our second weekly bonus prize sponsor is:
Fabric LA offers a wide variety of fabric for apparel sewists and crafters, fast shipping, and wholesale prices! You will find something you love, and we hope you check out their online store to get to know them!
Celebrity Guest Judge
1/3 of the designer’s scores comes from a weekly celebrity guest judge. This week we are thrilled to welcome Ron Cooney in that role. Let’s meet him!
Ron Cooney grew up surrounded by bolts of fabric, so it’s no surprise he launched Cali Fabrics at just 20 years old. A third-generation fabric shop owner with a love for texture, color, and a good story, Ron is almost as likely to be buried in a book as he is in a new fabric shipment. When he’s not reading or running the shop, he is spending time with his two young kids and his wife, fueled by equal parts caffeine and creativity.
Week 2 Designs
Remember, on Friday we will announce the weekly winner and a DOUBLE ELIMINATION based on the combined scores for the first two rounds. We need YOU to help us decide who will advance to week 3! The voting poll is at the end of this post and only takes two simple clicks!
Without further ado, here are the designers’ creations for the second week of Season 31!
Kimberly – Preppin’ for School
When I saw the Preppy Prints challenge, I thought of young college girls wearing white shirts, plaid skirts, and varsity jackets in school colors. I was excited to try a similar look for my little girl but I modified it a bit since my girl just started 1st grade and has a hard time wearing skirts. I first wanted to make a pinafore dress set, but my daughter currently dislikes wearing layers so I made a faux pinafore dress instead. I learned from last week that some of the best fabrics are refashioned, so an old dress shirt from my husband became the white bodice, collar, and sleeves using the Edelweiss pattern from Peony Patterns. I added pintucks for an extra vintage flair. I then modified the front bodice of the Olearia pattern (also from Peony Patterns) by scooping the front neckline and making it look more like a pinafore. Since my plaid fabric is a thinner shirting fabric, I sewed up a built-in petticoat to give the skirt more volume.
For the varsity jacket, I started with the Emerson pattern from Violet Field Threads and modified the front to have a vintage snap closure. I revamped the lining of the jacket, adding facings so that the lining wouldn’t show from the outside. I also added welt pockets. Lastly, I personalized the jacket by making a varsity letter (her initial) using stiff felt and hundreds of hand embroidered French knots. The matching hair bow is a very modified Alexandra bow from Violet Field Threads.
No back-to-school outfit is complete without a backpack. I hadn’t made a backpack before, but I had seen some cute faux leather mini backpacks recently and wanted to challenge myself to sew one up. I started with the Marigold backpack from Violet Field Threads, but altered it to get the dimensions I wanted. I made faux leather piping and added piping to both the front and the back of the backpack. I altered the back of the backpack, changing how the straps were attached to avoid bulky seams. I also altered the straps themselves but kept them adjustable (because I might borrow it to use as a purse if she’ll let me). My girls’ favorite part is the little pom-pom I added as a zipper pull for the front pocket!
Brittnie – Retro Prep
Week 2 is here, and the theme is Preppy Prints. The moment I saw it, my mind went straight to Lilly. She has such a natural 70s flower power vibe, and I thought, why not mix that energy with a polished, preppy twist? That is how RetroPrep was born.
I started with a piece of vintage corduroy I snagged at an estate sale over five years ago. It had been waiting for the perfect project, and this was it. Using Little Lizard King’s retired Willow Pants as my base, I slimmed them down at the knee, then added two extra inches at the bottom for that groovy, flared silhouette that screams 70s cool.
Next up was the top. For this, I used Family Fabrics and the Ellie Dress bodice from Lowland Kids. I gave the sleeves extra flare to keep the retro-inspired look while still giving it a playful preppy edge.
The vest was my wildcard. My first attempt, using the last scrap of that vintage corduroy, was not a success. I could not even turn it right side out. Sometimes failure is a gift. I pivoted to an upcycled suede curtain I had tucked away, and the whole look clicked. I lined the vest with flannel for comfort and made it reversible for versatility.
Of course, Lilly had her say, too. She wanted the vest to stay open with no buttons. I had envisioned a more polished closure, but she is my muse, so I rolled with it. On draft three, I added a lace tie closure, and thankfully, the Boss approved.So there you have it, RetroPrep. Preppy prints, vintage vibes, and a whole lot of 70s swagger brought to life by one very opinionated and very inspiring kid.
Amanda – Pretty in Plaids
This week’s sewing challenge pushed me out of my comfort zone in the best way. The theme was Preppy Prints, a style I don’t usually gravitate toward, which made it all the more exciting. Sewing is all about growth, and this project reminded me how much fun it can be to step outside your comfort zone and try something new. Instead of focusing solely on the prints aspect, I decided to lean into the preppy side of the prompt as well. I also chose to mix two prints – a mini herringbone & large plaid.
I started with a classic staple: a crisp button-down shirt. Using the Sunflower Seams Alder pattern as my base, I made a few modifications to soften the look and add a feminine twist. I removed the traditional collar and replaced it with a sweet neckline bow. I also altered the sleeves to feature knotted cuffs for a bit of playful detail and removed the back yoke & pleat. The next piece (and star of the show) is a plaid blazer crafted from Petite Stitchery’s Kirby pattern. I took several inches off the original length to give it a more cropped silhouette, perfect for busy little ones. The structured lines and sweet plaid (from Stash Fabrics) give it that unmistakable preppy vibe while still feeling girlish and fun.
For the pants, I wanted something that felt both tailored and comfortable. I used the Vintage Little Lady Riley pattern as my starting point. I both widened & lengthened the leg for a slightly more relaxed feel and to allow for a deeper hem. The herringbone flannel fabric (from Raspberry Creek) was a dream to sew and brought that cozy, polished look I was aiming for. To tie everything together, I added a matching headband in the same plaid as the blazer. It’s a small accessory, but it pulls the whole look together and adds a final pop of charm. As any millennial girl knows, Blair Waldorf, queen of all things preppy, would never forget her headband.
Although preppy prints aren’t my usual style, I really enjoyed this creative challenge. I was very pleased to end up with an outfit that feels polished, playful, and unique.
Shyra – Prep School Rebel
Plaid gets a modern remix this week, cut with attitude, layered with intrigue. Inspired by our summer in Japan, where fashion is bold, individuality celebrated, and expression endless, I wanted to channel the spirit of Tokyo street style: personal, playful, and unapologetically fresh. That same energy defines my brand, fresh yet playful, rooted in versatility and self-expression.
For the look, I reimagined Petite Stitchery’s Junie Wide Leg Pants and Arlo Top/Dress. The pants transform into chic culottes, instantly preppy in plaid yet elevated with an overlay and garter detail that add a flirty, unexpected edge. And of course, hidden pockets, because function should never be an afterthought.
The Arlo top takes a modern prep turn with its daring cut-out back and tie accents, softening structured plaid with playful ease. Finishing the story is the Shyra Backpack from Ellie & Mac, equal parts statement and staple, and a design especially close to my heart.
Kayla – Thistleberry Glen
For this week’s theme of Preppy Prints I decided to go with this gorgeous plaid and sage green floral print from Carriage House Printery. I first decided that I wanted this dress to have a good twirl so I chose Rayon Challis as my fabric base for its light weight and drape. Then I chose to make a gathered skirt and sewed the top of the ruffled edge to the top side of the skirt piece to add detail to the skirt. Of course every dress needs pockets so I added some in the seams. For the bodice I decided to make, what I’m calling, a bow collar sleeve which gathers at the shoulder for added detail. I normally do buttons for the back but decided to do a zipper for variety and looks. When my daughter tried it on, the first thing she did was do a twirl test and it passed with flying colors.
I thought it would be fun to design a coat and wanted something with a vintage style. I found this 100% wool fabric with a basket weave design at the Walmart Value bin a couple of years ago and knew that this was what I needed it for! I first decided that I wanted the coat to have a collar and then decided on a triangular waist line in the front and back of the bodice. This was a little trick for me to accomplish with the button placket in the front but finally I was able to manage the points to meet up properly. For the sleeve I decided to go further with the vintage look and made a leg of mutton sleeve. This allows the puffy sleeved dresses more ease when worn underneath. This was the first for me and I was so excited when it worked out! For the skirt of the coat I could have placed buttons going down the full length of the front but chose not to so it could accommodate the fuller skirt that would be worn underneath it. For the back skirt I decided to add a pleated panel to also further accommodate for a fuller skirt. This piece laid beautifully until I hemmed it and was something that I had to trouble shoot. The coat is fully lined, has inseam pockets and finished off with cotton lace trim.
For the final outfit details, I made a double skirt, reversible, petite coat to wear under the dress. The petite coat is a two tier skirt with the longer tier on the bottom and elastic in the waistband. I made a matching bow out of the sage green floral fabric. To finish off the look I used scrap fabric I had from the dress and in my scrap pile to make this cute bag, that my girls call the fairy bag. The outside of the bag is made from linen and features two drawstrings to open and close the bag. I had so much fun putting this whole outfit together and learned much in the process!
Jennifer – Autumn Argyle
Argyle is an iconic frontrunner of all-things nineties preppy (as my girls remind me–not to be confused with neon, new-age prep). And with the crunch and crisp of fall upon us, I wanted to pay homage to the classic ivy league prep school look, envisioning tall socks, a turtleneck, a high-waisted skirt–and of course–a lettered sweater. But, I couldn’t forget one essential component: a little pizzazz that would make Cher (cue the Clueless montage) proud.
Because many of the pieces within my design were basics, I knew I wanted to incorporate really unique shirring to add an extra feminine touch. I designed the skirt solely based on measurements, after searching image-inspiration online and listening to tutorials from around the world. I veered away from general sizing methodology (1.5 width the waist measurement) and made the width wider, allowing for more gathers–and I constructed the tiers together to get the look I desired. I used both a sparkly French terry and stretch velvet from my fabric stash to add dimension that would bring out the bold blue from the argyle pattern. The skirt fabrics were likely from the OG online knit fabric groups like Pretty Posh Prints, Boho Fabrics, Sly Fox, or Knitpop. And the headliner, the brushed poly argyle, was a new purchase from Sincerely Rylee Fabrics. I knew this fabric type would have the best stretch and drape for both socks and the top.
And finally, the lettered oversized pullover. This was one of my favorite designs, fully self-drafted with inspiration from some of my store-bought drop-shoulder women’s sweatshirts. Made with Millie & Dot Organic French Terry, I used the loopy-side of the fabric for the waistband and sleeve cuffs to compliment the design. And, of course, the letter “W”–with many symbolic meanings and a little sparkle–on the upper chest of the pullover.
Shirring a dramatic skirt waistband was a must for this design. And both the tall socks and turtleneck also needed a “totally awesome” touch; so I added this feature to the top band of the socks and decided to fully shirr a turtleneck neckline and cuff bands for the sleeves. All of the shirred pieces were fully self-drafted; and I used Abby’s Trailblazing Socks (The Wolf and the Tree) as a loose backbone for shape and sizing on the socks, as well as Made for Mermaids Audrey Turtleneck for general bodice shape on the turtleneck, albeit with modified sizing and my own neck/cuff pieces.
Shirring isn’t a technique I usually use in my everyday sewing; and I have to admit, it was extremely satisfying–for both the look and wearability it adds–and an element I’ll now be adding to my sewing rotation.
With four pieces, this one, complete look would hopefully keep the 90s valley girls nice, and turn their old-school “Whatever” into modern-day “Winning.”
Voting
This is another TOUGH decision! Please choose your favorite look from the poll below before Thursday, 9/11/25 at 8:00pm EST.