We are thrilled to kick off our first round of Season 32! Since this is a SUPER season we’ve got 10 amazing looks! Nobody will be eliminated just yet – the top 6 will advance to Week 3 based on the combined total public votes from the first two weeks. So your vote matters even MORE for the first two rounds!
The Criteria
As a reminder, our judging criteria (to be scored by a panel and celebrity judge in the final two weeks) are as follows:
Overall Look
*Is it a cohesive look? Do the pieces go together?
*Does it have a good overall design aesthetic?
*Styling (accessories, photo shoot, etc)
Creativity
*Did they think outside the box within the confines of the theme?
*Creative use of materials:color combos, different fabrics, techniques, notions, etc
Craftsmanship
*Attention to detail: seams match, no puckers, drag lines, buttons evenly spaced, etc.
*Degree of difficulty in sewing
Wear-ability
*How’s the fit? Any issues—too big, too small, too loose, too tight
*Is it age appropriate for the intended activity?
*Can the child wear it without being uncomfortable?
Keeping these criteria in mind, make sure that you take some time to read about each one and choose your favorite in the poll at the end of this post.
The Theme
Each week our designers are challenged to sew for a different theme. We encourage creativity and figuring out a way to put their own “spin” on the theme so that their design style and sewing skills can truly shine! Here’s the theme for Week 1:
Back to the Future:
Recreate an older fashion style with a modern twist!
The Designs
Now, without further ado… the Week 1 designs…
✨REVIVAL IN RUST ✨ – Sophie Magico
This 1970s-inspired ensemble explores bold proportion, texture, and youthful self-expression through a cohesive three-piece design. Inspired by the era’s dramatic silhouettes, I reinterpreted them with intentional shaping and balanced contrast. The structured rust corduroy anchors the look, while the soft floral peasant blouse introduces movement and lightness beneath the tailored layers.
The trousers began with the Riley pants from Vintage Little Lady and were extensively modified to create a more dramatic silhouette. I redesigned the leg into an exaggerated flare while maintaining hip shaping for proportion control and fit. I drafted a functional zippered fly, incorporated patch pockets and belt loops, and refined the waistband structure for clean finishing. The vest was adapted from the Benton vest by Little Lizard King, cropped further, reshaped through the side seams, and finished with a curved hem to visually balance the volume of the trousers. Braided trim was added to both the vest and trouser pocket edges, introducing texture and reinforcing the vintage influence.
The peasant blouse is self-drafted and features an elasticated neckline with a tie-front opening and elastic sleeve hems to create softness and ease of movement. The same braided trim was incorporated at the blouse tie opening to unify the three garments through a consistent design detail.
Throughout this project, I focused on drafting precision, thoughtful modification, and cohesive embellishment to ensure the final look feels intentional, expressive, and technically refined.
Spring Daze – Shelby of @noworries.sewhappy
When I saw the theme for week one of this season, I did a google search that morphed into an intense all encompassing deep dive into past fashion trends. I was especially enamored with the beautiful coats worn by children from the 1920’s and into the 60’s. My inspiration was pulled directly from sewing patterns and catalog ads that I came across. I loved the a-line coats worn in the 60’s paired with beautiful dresses. The challenge was turning that into pieces that my daughter would wear to school today.
For the jacket, I wanted to modernize the beautiful coats I saw. I started with Little Lizard King Tribeca, but I knew I wanted to simplify the shape. I removed the princess seams and straightened out the side seams. I also slightly modified the shape of the collar to be rounded. I wanted the coat to be more of a jacket so I left it unlined, but I sewed it up in a very sturdy canvas (from Carriage House Printery). I also added patch pockets like many of my inspiration pictures had.
Instead of a dress that my daughter would rarely reach for, I chose to make a skirt and shirt that could be worn together or with other pieces she already has in her closet. I opted to make the skirt and shirt from soft knit fabrics (from Carriage House Fabric) that my daughter would love to wear. For the shirt, I started with Little Lizard King Bloomington. I extended the bodice to make it top length and added the bow between the collar pieces. I also extended the sleeves and used elastic to cinch them at the wrist. The skirt is a very slightly modified Rosewood from Sunflower Seams. I added a ruffle between the two tiers to tie in the shirt fabric. I also decided to use a wider elastic for my skirt. To finish off my look, I sewed up a little bag perfect for all my daughter’s treasures. I used the Daisy Bag from Vintage Little Lady and personalized it with my daughter’s name.
I really love how my outfit came together. It made my day when my daughter put it all on and immediately told me that she loved it. Her smile lit up the whole house.
Extra! Extra! – Angie of @andsewshesings
When my daughter and I learned the themes for this season, our minds turned to musical theatre (where they are most of the time already anyway!). For Week 1, we were inspired by Newsies, taking the pieces of a turn-of-the-century look and making them a little “extra” to suit my 11-year-old fashionista today.
First off, instead of pants or knickers, I used Riley from Vintage Little Lady to create some chic houndstooth shorts. I modified the pocket construction and added faux piping, and adjusted the placket so I could hide snaps inside. I also added pleats to the front, welt pockets to the back, and modest slits to the hem at the side seams.
With limited fabric, we went for a matching cropped vest, starting with Vintage Little Lady’s Jett pattern. Along with reducing length, I incorporated princess seams and more welt pockets. I used our black lining for the back, creating a nice contrast for the bow ties. To accompany the vest, rather than a collared shirt or undershirt, we chose a classy puff sleeve turtleneck based on Heather from And Sew She Sings. I shortened the neckband, lengthened and flared the sleeves, modified the front bodice to include gathers at the neckline, and finished everything with a trendy lettuce hem.
Finally, the accessories! I just squeezed a Vintage Little Lady Cooper hat from my houndstooth leftovers. I added faux piping to the bow and covered a button to finish off the top, giving the whole set a cohesive look. A newspaper bag was also a necessity, with the vision being a bag made of “newspapers”. I free-handed this little hobo bag from a cotton newsprint, playing with bits of various tutorials to get the look we wanted, and sewing my scraps into a bow for the front. My daughter strung up some beads and helped me with the proper preppy placement on her bag – the finishing touch. Our modern tweenage Newsies-inspired look was complete!
Enchanted Garden – Becky Rigby
When I was approached to take part in this season’s Project Run and Play, I felt both elated and terrified. I’ve eagerly followed far more experienced and talented designers compete in previous seasons, so being invited myself felt surreal. But sewing brings me so much joy, and when I saw that the first week’s theme was Back to the Future, I knew it was the perfect starting point for me.
The English countryside and my heritage have a huge influence on my sewing, so this theme felt completely natural. Springtime in England has been slow to appear this year, but almost as if it knew, the sun finally peeked out this weekend and the apple blossom began to bloom.
When I received the brief for Week One, I immediately thought of the beautiful Liberty fabric waiting in my sewing room and how perfectly it would suit ruffles, petticoats, and the charm of a proper English garden. We’re lucky to have many historic country houses near where we live, and their gardens and timeless elegance often inspire my sewing.
I had a clear vision for the look I wanted to create. For the bodice, I incorporated the Monet flutters from Little Lizard King, paired with the sleeves and sash from the beautiful Lund pattern. To achieve the perfect skirt silhouette, I used the Lund split skirt layered over the Preson Petticoat. The fabric I chose was Liberty Kimberley & Sarah Lasenby, which is an absolute delight to sew with. The floral design is so delicate and dainty that I knew it would be perfect for this dress. As it’s still quite chilly in England at this time of year, I lined the sleeves with a soft pink cotton and finished them with an overlay of modern embroidered tulle.
Cherry Sweet – Angelina
When I first saw the theme of Back to the Future, I was quite nervous. I immediately thought of the movie lol. I thought a bit more about it and thought about my love for rompers and ruffles. I found the sweetest cherry fabric at A &A Textiles, a local to me shop and knew it would be perfect for a jumpsuit. Creating a Cherry Sweet-themed outfit for my niece was all about blending playfulness with retro vibes. I wanted something that felt youthful, bright, and full of personality—just like her. The goal was to design an outfit that felt fun and expressive, but also comfortable enough for her to move around and be herself in.
I decided to use the Forever Favorite Jumpsuit from Dear Billy with some minor alterations. I added a double ruffle accenting with a cute lace trim. I wanted to incorporate more of the solid red so I added a double pocket on the bib. My nieces favorite part of the outfit was the modified hidden bell bottom. When closed you can see a pop of red or open it up for a mini bell bottom.
For the tee I kept it pretty basic using the Lowland Kids Dolman tee, only altering by shortening the sleeve length and sizing down for a slimmer fit. I used the “You Matter” label from More Me Know and covered the neck band seam for a cleaner finish. I used a solid white ribbed fabric from Fabric Fabulouss. Of course after seeing the outfit my niece determined that she needed a bow. To keep with the retro vibes I created a tied head band, which definitely was the perfect accent.
Tiki Craze – Haley Bolton
In the early 1940’s Carmen Miranda is a national sensation. A clothing designer turned cultural icon, “the Chiquita banana lady” is known worldwide. Post WW2, American servicemen are coming home from the South Pacific….souvenirs in hand. In 1951, Thor Heyerdahl”s “Kon-Tiki” expedition is brought to the US masses on the big screen. With the term “tiki” now a part of the American vernacular, the “tiki craze” begins.
Initially inspired by post WW2 tropical style, I set out to design an outfit for the Modern Carmen Miranda. Her fashion is characterized by lots of flamboyance, platform sandals, ruffles, bright colors. With “modern” being at the forefront of the design, I removed all ruffles in the pants and top to create a very clean silhouette. I used Violette Field Threads’ Anastasia pattern for the base of the top adding a button loop closure as well as a fold-down top panel that ties closed and a bottom accent panel. The fabric is a mid-weight polyester blend in a bright tropical print. The pants are self-drafted using a mid-weight polyester blend fabric in banana yellow. They have a 3” hem and zipper closure along with darts at the waist. The look is completed with a ruffle bag with bead accent and platform sandals. The bag, made from the same fabric as the pant, gives the visual of ruffle at the lower half of the outfit without choosing to sew a more expected ruffle skirt. She’s polished and clean, still bright and festive…she’s ready for a backyard luau in 2026!
Little Miss Sunshine – BJ Benson
Sewing has always been my creative outlet and a form of therapy for me, and most of what I make is inspired by my daughter. She truly is my “Little Miss Sunshine,” bringing so much joy and light into my life. For this challenge, I wanted to create something that captured that bright, playful spirit while also drawing inspiration from vintage children’s fashion.
I love the silhouettes of 1950’s bib-front dresses. Those styles were designed for comfort and movement while still feeling sweet and timeless. To bring that vintage inspiration into the present, I reimagined the classic dress in a bold sunshine yellow, adding a colorful rainbow design and a playful strappy back to give it a modern twist.
For the bodice, I started with the Violet pattern from Sunflower Seams Pattern Company as my base. Instead of the ruffle the pattern calls for, I added pom-pom trim to the bib for a bit of texture and whimsy, and used my embroidery machine to stitch a rainbow detail on the front. The skirt was self-drafted to create the gathered, swingy feel often seen in vintage dresses without too much volume and finished with a deep 2.5-inch hem for added depth. I also drafted the strappy back, using rainbow bias tape to carry the rainbow theme throughout the design. Detailed backs are very popular right now, and I love the look of intersecting straps. To finish the look, I added coordinating accessories. I sewed a purse using the Hibiscus Purse pattern in a red, faux fur because my daughter currently loves soft textures, and red just happens to be her favorite color this week. I finished up with a set of bows using the Dahlia Bow pattern, both from Sunflower Seams Pattern Company. My little one loved twirling around the park in her “Sunshine Rainbow” dress!
Flashdance 2.0 – Julie-Michèle from 5Flos
When I find out the first theme of the contest, immediately I looked for a sporty, streetwear style which would represent me very well. That’s how I thought of the iconic Flashdance style!
Because I’ve seen the movie? Not even. Because my daughter dances? Not at all! Hahaha!
This style came to my mind simply because it’s memorable and timeless, no matter what ! Of course, I couldn’t ignore the neon colors of the 80s! You know… me and colors!
My goal was to revisit this style for today’s youth. So I took inspiration from current fashion: the jogging pants and camisole combo, with a touch of hip-hop inspiration.
For this first stage of the contest, I also wanted to highlight a Quebec/Canadian pattern company and contest sponsor: Jalie.
The French terry pants were redesigned from pattern #3355, a simple jogger. I transformed them by creating an asymmetrical color block on the front and back, with neon accents reminiscent of the boldness of the 80s. As they say, why keep it simple when you can make it complicated! I also slightly widened the cut to achieve a baggy effect, which is very popular in current fashion.
For the sweater, I’ve used the same two panels from the Elle #4015 pattern. I widened and cut the collar on one side to bare one shoulder, reminiscent of the iconic Flashdance style. I also shortened the torso to create a crop top, allowing the layering with the camisole to stand out. The sleeves were lengthened and tightened with elastic to achieve a sweatshirt effect, while still using French terry fabric.
The jersey camisole was an essential element to complete this contemporary fashion-inspired look. I cut it straight to highlight the color blocking of the pants.
The addition of gloves adds a sporty touch that represents me well, while recalling popular accessories from the 80s. A small matching scrunchie and personalized labels complete the outfit.
So here is the outfit I’ve named Flash Dance 2.0!
My daughter was consulted throughout the project. I wanted to create an outfit that truly represented her, but also something she could wear proudly every day. And I can confirm… she looooves it! Mission accomplished! A colorful, comfortable, and energetic outfit, perfect for moving around in style.
All my fabrics come from a wonderful Quebec/Canada company that I love: Les tissus Minifra.
Timeless Prairie – Jackie of @countryseams
For the first week’s theme, Back to the Future, I was inspired by 1970s prairie dresses, specifically the tiered skirt. After 14+ feet of hemming and gathering an exposed ruffle, I was questioning this decision, but the final result was worth it. The twirl factor doesn’t disappoint!
The soft square neckline, elasticated back, and delicate tie add a modern twist. Initially, I planned to make the dress sleeveless, but decided feminine ruffled sleeves created a cohesive look. To create this dress, I combined elements of three Sunflower Seams patterns: Ivy, Florentina, and Yarrow.
Because spring in Minnesota brings unpredictable weather, layering is a must. I modified Peekaboo Patterns Saturday Sweatshirt to design a cozy cardigan using an upcycled sweater. To finish off the look, a classic Peony Patterns Bluebell bow is just what we needed. This whole outfit made my little girl feel like a princess, and that makes my heart so happy!
Modern Sailor Suit – Cassandra Pierce
Sailor suits were extremely popular in children’s clothing in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and could even be seen mid-late 20th century. For my “Back to the Future” outfit, I wanted to recreate the classic sailor suit, but with a more modern twist.
I hoped to create a timeless outfit that was suitable for church, but yet functional and playful. I started with a traditional fabric, a blue and white seersucker from Farmhouse Fabrics. For the blouse, I used Sunflower Seam’s Lily as a starting point and kept the tulip sleeves. I added an adapted collar from Sunflower Seam’s Ren.
I used a modified Bramble skirt from Sunflower Seams to create the bottoms. The “skort” is actually shorts with a skirt that is easily removed (or attached) by buttons on the waistband. I added some whimsical details like the madeira applique hem and small scallops on the tulip sleeves and hem of shorts. I used the scraps to make a matching Freesia bow, also from Sunflower Seams
The Sponsors
Before we get to the voting, we just wanted to thank our Season 32 sponsors! The designers were given many preseason offers and will be awarded generous prize packages thanks to these companies. We really appreciate their support in rewarding the hard work of our PRP designers and hope that you will support them too!
The Voting
This week’s looks are all so amazing that we really don’t know how you will choose! If it helps, keep in mind that the criteria the designers were given are creativity, wearability, craftsmanship, and overall look.
The total number of votes from the first two weeks will determine who advances to the next round. This week’s poll closes on Thursday, 3/12/26 at 8:00pm EST. The results will be announced on Friday at 8:00am EST.