It’s time for another exciting season of Project Run and Play!!! Since we only have three designers competing, there will be no eliminations, but we still need YOU to vote! Public voting accounts for 1/3 of the total scores each week to help us determine the final placements at the end. The voting poll is at the very end of this post.
We are so excited to kick things off but first, a few reminders…
Sewalong
We brought back the sewalong this season! Project Run and Play is supposed to be all about the kids clothes sewing community and we want to welcome even more participation! All of the sewalong details are in our introductory post HERE.
Theme
Whimsy to the Max
Childhood magic in fashion form. Make it playful, imaginative, unexpected and joyful!
This is such a fun theme! What would YOU sew to add a little whimsy to your sewing? Give it a try and enter our sewalong!!!
Celebrity Guest Judge
1/3 of the scores will be determined by our weekly celebrity guest judge. This week’s expertise is provided by Kimbo of A Girl and a Glue Gun!
Kimbo is the girl behind A Girl and a Glue Gun, a popular creative website featuring DIY crafts, kids’ activities, sewing projects, printables, and creative ideas for the whole family. With a passion for making and creating, she loves sharing projects that are easy and encourage others to get creative. Her goal is to show that crafting doesn’t have to be perfect or expensive—it just has to be fun. Kimbo participated in Project Run and Play in 2012!
Panel of Judges
The remaining 1/3 of the scores comes from a panel of judges comprised of past designers. They know the ins and outs of this competition, so they lend unique perspectives.
Designs
Now it is FINALLY time to reveal this week’s designs! Read the brief description of each one and cast your vote at the end!
Bloom Where You Wander – Jennifer
This week’s theme, whimsical, immediately had me thinking tulle and ruffles and fairies and butterflies, but I’ve already made dresses like that before and I want to try something different. This week, my youngest daughter was my muse. The word whimsical means playful, imaginative, lighthearted; I tried to lean into that. My first job out of college was as an illustrator, so I also wanted to highlight that skill with a whimsical fabric painting of flowers and houses, almost something you might see in a storybook. I did my fabric painting on an overlay dress made of organza. I drafted a trapeze style dress and added a playful wavy hemline highlighted by a ruffle. I finished the neckline using bias tape that ties in the back and dangles cutouts of painted organza flowers. Underneath is a simple sheath dress I created out of linen with fun flounce sleeves that gather and are stitched on top of the armholes.
I also created a cute little jacket, using Violette Field Threads Molly jacket as my base. I flared it and cropped it and added a little gather to the top of the sleeve and some elastic bands to the arms. I wanted the jacket to mimic the clouds floating on the painted dress, so I appliqued clouds that even become the pockets and of course it needed a pop of rainbow! Not going to lie, I love how it turned out.
To top it off, I made a playful purse shaped like a little house. I know my daughter will be stashing her little dolls I’ve made for her in it, along with a bit of lip gloss. I really wanted my girl to feel like she could play and imagine in this outfit and that it would inspire her to bloom and wander the paths in front of her as the main character in her own personal storybook. I’ll be posting more details this week on my instagram @jpressgrove.
Autumn Vibes – Myriam Fournier
This week was definitely the one that gave me the most trouble. Finding the meaning behind the theme, making it practical for everyday life, making it unique, and adding a fun twist… In short, it took hours of thinking and brainstorming before I finally managed to create this truly joyful outfit in beautiful autumn colors.
I used the Autumn top by Simple Life Pattern, adding a decorative band to the ruffle and a little terra-cotta detail on the back. But the real star of this outfit is the overall! I used the Darcy overall by Peekaboo Pattern Shop and made quite a few modifications to make it truly fun and unique. The pockets on the bib and the legs, the decorative bands, the ankle cuffs, and even the placement of the straps, I absolutely love every detail of this project! And with the little scrunchie in her hair, I think it’s the perfect finishing girly touch.
I made the overalls using jegging fabric from Tissus Minifra, a blend of denim and stretchy cotton that makes these overalls especially comfortable to wear. My labels are from 5flo.creations.
Out of Line РFr̩d̩rique Morin
For this week’s whimsy theme, I spent a lot of time reflecting on my own interpretation of it. To me, whimsy is the art of making the unexpected cool. It’s about taking something familiar and putting your own twist on it, adding a playful and surprising touch without losing balance or style.I didn’t want to create something extravagant. I wanted to create something unexpected. For this creation, I designed several DTF paint-splatter prints and placed them randomly throughout the look, along with different asymmetrical color-blocking elements and various little details here and there. Just when you think you’ve seen it all, there’s always one more little something to discover. Because sometimes, being OUT OF LINE simply means finding your own way to stay within the lines.
To start, I chose Detroit by Little Lizard King to create a cropped jacket. I played with the contrast by placing the DTF paint splatters on one side and color blocking on the other. I also added a sleeve panel with a deliberately random pattern. Next, I chose the Wide Leg by Peekaboo. I transformed it by adding cargo pockets, a detachable belt, a strap, paint splatters, and various little details.
I continued this creation with a fairly neutral sweatshirt, the Saturday by Peekaboo. I modified the hood to create a crossover at the front and also added OUT OF LINE to the drawstring. Other than that, I kept it very simple to let the overall look breathe. To finish, I sewed the Street Kred Trucker Cap, adding paint splatters and a round OUT OF LINE sticker. And most importantly, this one is my little boy’s favorite. And that, to me, makes it even more special.
Sponsors
All of the designs are incredible!!! Before we get to the voting, we want to thank our sponsors!
Judging Criteria
As a reminder, here is the criteria we ask our judges to consider when scoring each look…
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?
*Were patterns significantly altered or self drafted?
*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?
Voting
Please vote only once per person. Voting is limited by IP address. The poll closes on Thursday, 9/10 at 8pm EST and results will be announced on Friday morning.
