Thursday, January 16, 2014

Winter Wonderland: Project Run and Play Season Eight








Project Run and Play's eighth season has begun with a wonderful line up of themes.  The first is "Winter Wonderland".  Perfect for the weather for most of the country right now.  Even Florida is having nippy weather!  I live in sunny Florida but we do have some cold (lower than 65 degrees F) days in January, February, and March.  We do bundle up and wear jackets, hats, gloves, and scarves because to us, It is winter and it is cold outside! Today the temperature in Palm Harbor, where I teach, was a very wintry 54 degrees F!

When I think of Winter, I think of these things:  cold, snow, blue skies, rosy cheeks, snowmen, layers of clothing, mittens, warm capes, and pretty hats. I think this outfit embodies it all!  


I had already decided to make little Miss Emma a snow-lady dress when Emma's grandmother and I were discussing what to make for Emma this winter. (Emma and her grandmother took care of my shih tzu puppy girls last summer in exchange for a special outfit. I love 'bartering' with her because I get to indulge in something I love:  making pretty things for an adorable little girl!)  When I saw the themes for this season's challenges the week after Christmas I couldn't believe that the first theme would be perfect for something I was already planning on making!  Two of the fabrics arrived from Farmhouse Fabrics on Friday, January 3 and I immediately put them in the wash.  Saturday saw me sketching ideas, ironing fabric, and choosing patterns.  That Sunday I cut all the pieces out except for the French beret.  Then it was a mad dash to sew the outfit to enter on time (8:00 PM tonight) between teaching full time and the normal family routines.  I am not a fast seamstress.  I am very careful and try to be precise when I sew so it can be rather slow going.  

The underdress is a pink pima cotton one eighth gingham with an attached white cotton slip.  I used McCalls 6062 and made changes only to the sleeves.  I omitted the elastic in the sleeves and added a band of Swiss beading and hand whipped French lace edging to the bottom.  Pretty pink ribbon is woven through the holes in the beading.



                                             

                                            
For the pinafore I used white cotton sateen, and pink and blue pima cotton gingham.  The skirt, apron, and ties are just rectangles cut to Emma's size and my vision.  The petal knot ties are from the Petal Knot Dress in "Claire" by Portabellopixie.  The bodice was drafted by me to accommodate the snow-lady face and Emma's size.  The cheeks and nose are yo-yos, the eyes are large buttons, and the mouth is wide rick rack.  All the facial features except the eyes were sewn on before sewing the lining to the bodice. 






The lined cape is one I just fell in love with!  I just love those mitten pockets and so does Emma!  The pattern is a PDF design purchased on Etsy:  "Gwendolyn's Cape" by Ruby Jean's Closet.  I love everything about this pattern except how the side seams are sewn.  I followed the pattern this time but will sew it like a man's lined vest next time to give it a prettier finished look on the inside.



  
                                 
The hat was added to the line up after the hood I drafted to fit the pattern just didn't look quite right.  I then thought a little French beret would be the way to go.  Now I am so glad the hood didn't work out!  I love the beret and I think it is the perfect accent for this outfit.  I used a pattern by SewBaby called the Hat Shoppe.  I added lining and the bow and button details.




I am linking this post to the sew-along at Project Run and Play HERE.  Go check out all the wonderful designs by the contestants and the sew-along 'sewists'.  This was FUN!

15 comments:

  1. So nice to "see" you again! The outfit is just as adorable as the young lady modeling it. I love the beret and the cape with mitten pockets. They are the perfect accompaniment to the dress!

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    1. Thank you, Cindy! I was sad at first that my hood idea wasn't going to work but everything happens for a reason. I ended up loving the beret with it. It is the first one that I have made and it was easy!

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  2. Oh, Wow! I love it! Those layers! That hat! Love all the careful details you included.

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    1. Thank you, Jenny Jo. I really enjoyed making this outfit. With the exception of the hat, it matches my original sketches exactly and that made me very happy!

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  3. This is such a great winter wonderland look. Great Job!!
    with love,
    -Jo

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    1. Thank you, Jo! Our winters almost never have snow (twice in the last 25 years we had flurries) but snowmen items are still worn here in the winter! LOL

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  4. I'm so happy you are back!
    I love the layers of the pinafore and under-dress on this sweet outfit... it reminds me of the outfits I always pined after when I was young, but that were always just out of my parent's budget.
    The beret is darling! I love the ribbon, bow, and heart button on it.
    I also love the mitten pockets... I think that would be my daughters' favorite detail. =)

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    1. Thank you, Charity! I got bogged down with school and projects but I did keep sewing. I have lots to share and lots to catch up on. I, too, would have loved this outfit as a child. I had my share of pinafore and dress sets but nothing this elaborate. I would have adored the cape! The pockets were Emma's absolute favorite, too! She giggled the whole time she when she tried on the dress. It just warmed my heart!!!

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  5. I love the detail on the sleeves. I have just finished my dress for week 2 and wished i had something like that on the sleeves. I thought of trying something more than I did but was out of time.

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  6. That you Elissa! I am fancying up the sleeves for this week's challenge, too, but have only begun sewing. Yikes!

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  7. What a lovely outfit! I love all of the details!

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  8. Thank you, Karly! I enjoy adding little details to everything that I make.

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  9. This outfit is beyond adorable! I love the mitten pockets! So clever! I'm pinning this!

    Navy Wifey Peters @ Submarine Sunday Link Party

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    1. Thank you! Those pockets are what made me purchase that pattern. You will find it easy to make if you decide to get it!

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  10. Isn't it funny how a mistake can actually end up being a good thing. I think the beret is perfect to go with this adorable dress.

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