We can hardly believe it, but our FINAL week of Season 33 has arrived! This week scores are worth DOUBLE and public votes make up 1/3 of the scores, so make sure to cast your vote at the very end of this post!
Before we get to the final designs, here’s a few reminders…
Sewalong
This is your LAST CHANCE to enter the sewalong! We want to get more people involved and there’s some pretty great prizes up for grabs! All of the sewalong details are in our introductory post HERE.
Theme
Our final theme is always the same…
Signature Style
Design a look that best represents your own unique style, taste, and sewing skills.
This one is pretty wide open! 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 Karen Dolen!
Karen Dolen, know online as @intostitches, has been sewing for more than 60 years, beginning at age eight and turning a childhood passion into a lifelong creative journey. With an associate degree in Fashion Merchandising and Textiles, she started her career selling sewing machines and teaching sewing before owning a custom interior sewing
business serving interior designers throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Today, Karen balances a career in commercial finance with an active presence in the sewing community. She is known for her tailored garments, particularly coats and jackets, and has created more than 50 handmade outerwear pieces ranging from Chanel-inspired jackets to dramatic couture-inspired designs. Through social media, sewing retreats, and workshops, Karen shares her love of garment construction and encourages sewists to embrace creativity, craftsmanship, and style at every age.
As a guest judge, Karen brings decades of sewing experience, an eye for fit and construction, and a deep appreciation for thoughtful design and workmanship.
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 for the main event!!! Make sure you read the brief description of each one and cast your vote at the end!
Woodland Escape– Myriam Fournier
This last week is my “signature” week. Who am I? How does sewing define me? What do I love sewing the most? What is my style? Those are the questions I asked myself before putting together my sewing plan.
I’m a girl who loves to move, loves nature, loves being comfortable and cozy, in other words, I basically live in leggings and hoodies and, most importantly, I absolutely love having pockets everywhere! Coming up with my ideas didn’t take long, and I immediately knew I wanted to sew for my oldest daughter, who has a style very similar to mine. Luckily, she absolutely loved my ideas! We are both so, so happy with the result. In fact, for me, this is definitely my favorite project from the past few weeks.
For the leggings, I started with the Novello Leggings by Greenstyle Patterns, sewn in athletic fabric. On one side, I used both pocket options, while on the other, I used only the lower pocket option. I added a MotoPatch to the lower pockets, which gives them such an original and unique touch. I also modified the bottom of the leggings to add a mesh insert, something my daughter had been dreaming of for a long time!
For the top, I used the Romy by Petite Stitchery in jersey, adding a ribbon detail along one sleeve and my daughter’s name in cord across the front.
For the vest, I used the Mikal by Petite Stitchery as my base. I modified the front to create a half-snap opening, modified the form of the accent pocket on one side, and added a zippered pocket on the other. I also added an color insert to the left sleeve, an elasticized waistband, and adjustable cords. Everything was sewn in Artika fleece from Club Tissus, with a touch of quilted fabric from Les Tissus Minifra. The label is from 5flos.creations.
And of course, the outfit couldn’t be complete without a small sports bag! I used the Wanderlust Duffle Bag from Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop as my starting point and modified the exterior pockets to echo the mesh from the leggings and the cords from the vest. I also changed the straps and added several details to bring back the same colors and textures, making sure the entire set came together perfectly.
I’m truly proud of this project. It represents me so well and reflects everything I love about sewing.
Artisanal Fashion – Jennifer
We made it to week 4, signature style! Artisanal Fashion . . . The main reason I fell in love with fashion design was to be unique from everyone else and if you’ve been following along this month, you can see I lean toward trying new fabrication techniques that pull from my love for art and crafting. I like to make things that you can’t just go buy anywhere. This week was no different. I’ve had the idea for making a top like this for a couple of years now after discovering the technique of confetti quilting. I used fabric scraps from past sews (much of the fabric came from my Project Run and Play outfits – full circle moment), chopped them up, sandwiched them between tulle and fusible interfacing and quilted horizontal and vertical lines. I used the Vintage Little Lady pattern, Arabella, as the base design for the fabric I created. I hacked the back of the top with a double twist section and added strings of wool felt balls draped along the scoop back. The strings attach to one side with a button and hand crocheted button loop so that you can unhook it to fit over the head. The skirt waistband was also started with the Arabella pattern waistband, but I self-drafted a swooping, partially layered ruffled skirt then added ties to the waistband that end with puffs of pom poms that I made to mimic the felt balls on the shirt.
It’s really beautiful weather here right now, but within a month, the snow will be here, so I really wanted to make a coat for my daughter as well with some gorgeous wool that was gifted to me. We live in a pretty cold climate (down to -30F), so coats are some of my favorite things to make. I started with Violette Field Threads’ Molly pattern (love that pattern!), but added a gathered skirt portion. I also changed up the collar shape that I quilted and added ruffles to. Then to make it really fun and unique (not that the color isn’t already fun and unique) I essentially created 2 cosmetic type bags with a zipper, that I quilted, added ruffle trim and attached as pockets. Of course they needed a pom on the zipper too. They are going to be amazing for housing mittens this winter! The best thing about the coat is that you can reverse it and it becomes a cute little gingham number with ruffled pockets and a working secret heart pocket on the back as a special surprise detail for my little cutie.
As for the bag . . . apparently, I’ve become a bag maker as of recently. I just think they are so fun and easy to make, so I sewed up a shoulder-purse with a giant kitsch shoulder-bow. It just adds a little fun to the look, because as much as I love unique fashion, I also think your fashion should be fun and a little bit whimsical, especially if you are little 🙂! I will be posting closer up details of my pieces and techniques, especially for the confetti quilting I made on my instagram, @jpressgrove, this week if you are interested in checking out more or seeing some of the other things I’ve made.
Last Ride – Frédérique Morin
This week, I’m bringing you my 4th boy’s look.
I didn’t have to think long about my identity. To me, it’s obvious: taking boy’s fashion to another level, with a touch of streetwear, without ever losing sight of the details. But this time, I let my big boy be the designer… and Last Ride was born. The final part of this adventure, but most importantly, the Motorsport kit of his dreams.
For the sweater, I used the Wilder by Sustainable Cloth Co., which I customized with bias tape and DTF. For the pants, I chose the Wide Leg by Peekaboo, because with a good base, you can go anywhere. I completely transformed the pattern by giving each side its own identity, one side features white color blocking with piping and a horizontal black bias detail, the other has black color blocking with piping, a pocket and carabiners. To complete the look, I used the Rowan by Petite Stitchery, which I also modified with a new fit, a zipper, an elastic waistband, bias tape, piping, color blocking and carabiners.
To bring this universe to life, my big boy and I made this rosette together, because being a racing champion is one of his biggest dreams. I also created a collection of satin labels specifically designed to represent the Last Ride universe. The 08 is in reference to him recently turning 8, a small detail that makes this collection uniquely his. The look is completed with a keychain, a checkered scarf, a cap and his favorite accessory: the paddock pass. My goal isn’t simply to create an outfit, but a complete universe, where every piece works together to form a true collection and tell the same story.This creation combines sewing, sublimation, DTF, SVG print… and above all, limitless imagination.
Sponsors
We also want to thank our sponsors this season! They have generously contributed to the prize packages for the designers (and sewalong!) so we hope that you will consider supporting them when shopping for your sewing needs (or wants!)
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, 10/1 at 8pm EST and results will be announced on Friday morning.
