Project Run and Play Week 4 // Totally Turquoise

Wow! I am so excited to be back for the final week of Project Run and Play! I never imagined making it to Signature Style week. It has been an amazing experience and I have enjoyed every minute! It is truly a dream come true to just be a part of this competition! Thank you so much for reading my blog posts, commenting, voting, and supporting me these past few weeks! A huge thank you to my family and friends who have put up with my nonstop talk about Project Run and Play too! 

Signature style was not an easy challenge for me. I mostly sew for myself and my siblings and my style can be different depending on who I am sewing for and my style also depends on the season. I drew up six different designs before scrapping them all and coming up with this look. Turquoise is my favorite color ever and I knew it had to be part of my design, so when I found this wool turquoise in my stash it was perfect! 

I am a skirt girl, so I knew I had to make a skirt as part of my design. I love the classic look of circle skirts too, so I used the circle skirt from the Janie dress pattern to make my sister's skirt. I lined it in a bright pink floral because my sister's favorite color is pink. All of the seams are enclosed, so the skirt is reversible if my sister wants to wear it with the pink side facing out. 

The big floral design inspired me to do some embroidery on the wool side. I like adding details to my designs, and the solid turquoise was the perfect canvas for some embroidery. I chose to embroider some of the big pink flowers along the hem of the skirt. I didn't have any embroidery thread, so I used grey topstitching thread and it worked just as well! 

Here's some up close pictures of the embroidery. I chose to use a chain stitch for most of the flowers. I used a stem stitch on a few as well. This took the most time, but I am happy with the final result!

 The grey shirt also started with the Janie dress. I used the bodice and lengthened it a few inches to make it shirt length. I also widened the neckline by five inches so I could add in some gathering.  I love the subtle detail it adds and it really takes the shirt above t-shirt level. I used turquoise knit for the neckband to tie it in with the rest of the outfit. 

Her poor little nose was getting red from the cold, but she did so great putting up with all my pictures!

I love wearing scarfs, so I made my sister a simple infinity scarf using this turquoise and orange floral rayon challis. This fabric was going to be the skirt when I first started. However, it was so off grain that no matter what I did there was no hope. Fortunately, it makes a cute scarf!

My signature style look was going to end with just the shirt, skirt, and scarf. However, the Minnesota weather suddenly turned colder and I decided my sister needed something to keep warm! 

I started with an old sweater of mine, that I have been holding onto for a few years. The buttons were falling off and it had a missing snap. It also didn't fit me right, which is why I never wore it, but I loved the details so I kept it hoping for the perfect project.

I decided to use the Friday dress bodice to make a jacket. I cut the bodice in half, close to the armscye. Then I cut the bottom of the sweater to add the length back in. I wanted to use the collar and the sleeve cuffs from the sweater because I loved the details. I used the long sleeve pattern from the Friday dress pattern, but I cut them shorter so as to add the cuffs. I like how the cuffs add almost a bell like sleeve to the jacket. For the collar, I pinned it on to determine how much I needed to take off and then sewed it on. 

I added some decorative topstitching to the shoulder seams and I double topstitched around the collar. I also sewed both buttons from the sweater onto the collar. I decided on snaps for a closure so it will be easy for my sister to dress herself. 

This jacket was not planned at all when I started sewing my signature style. However, it is now my favorite piece of the whole outfit! My only regret is that it is not my size!

Finally, the earwarmer completes the look and will be perfect for keeping my little sister warm on these brisk and cool winter days. I was inspired by a similar one that I made for myself a few years ago. I used the same pattern from Kay Whitt's book, but I resized it for my sister. I used pink fleece for the bottom layer and the turquoise wool for the top. I love the little flower and it goes great with my overall floral theme. 

Here are a few more pictures we took indoors at the library! 

I hope you enjoyed seeing my signature style! It's totally turquoise, and totally my style. I love how versatile these pieces are and my sister will be able to mix and match with the other outfits I made! Thank you again for joining me on this journey!

 Don't forget to head over the the Project Run and Play blog and vote!

~Elizabeth

Little Color Swap - What I Sent & Received

Hello Everyone! Recently I participated in a Little Color Swap, hosted by Lisa of Sweet Little Pretties. The swap was based on your favorite color and you had to send your partner 1 fat quarter, 1 spool of thread or embroidery floss, 1 sweet/chocolate and 1 surprise.

I forgot to take pictures of the items I sent to my partner, but her favorite color was green. I sent her a green fat quarter with different words on it, green embroidery floss, green buttons for the surprise, and green peppermint candies. I'm not sure if she has received it yet, but I hope she enjoys all her treats!

Lisa, from Sweet Little Pretties had my name and she did a wonderful job of picking out items in my favorite color...turquoise! I love the pretty wrapping she packaged every thing in...

 

And here is what she sent:

 

The fabric is so pretty and I love the little scissors! The thread is very pretty and shiny. I was able to use it already in a turquoise project I was working on. The match was perfect! Also, the chocolate she sent is very delicious!! Thank you Lisa!

 

~Elizabeth

Fall, Headbands, & Sewing

 Happy October! Fall is definetely my favorite season, especially around this time of year when all the leaves start changing colors and the weather is cooler. It makes me happy! I enjoy morning runs around the lakes near my college and everything is so pretty right now. The leaves are starting to change to red and orange, but there is still some green left and you can also hear the crunch beneath your feet.

Fall also means everything pumpkin and apple! I can't decide which I like better...I love pumpkin bars, pumpkin spice lattes, and pumpkin pie but apple crisp and apple pie are great too!

School is keeping me busy, with midterms right around the corner! I have found some time for sewing and it is such a huge stress reliever. I made this headband out of leftover fabric from a project I made last weekend (which I'll be showing you soon - for now you get a sneak peak of the fabric). It is a textured knit in my favorite color...turquoise!

 

The headband is really comfortable and was so quick to sew. I just happened to have a long narrow rectangle left over from my other project and it inspired me to make a headband! I just straightened the edges, hemmed each long end by 1/2" and then sewed the short ends together adjusting until I had a good fit. I also made it a little narrower in the back so it fits better around my ears. Quick sewing projects can be so satisfying!

 

What's your favorite part of fall? Do you prefer pumpkin or apple?

~Elizabeth

Wallets and Cute Little Brothers!

A few weeks ago, I went to visit my aunt and uncle. It has been a tradition every summer for the past five years now. Every year we do something a little different, but we always have a lot of fun!! My uncle cooks the best food when I'm there too. This year, we sewed some cute little wallets.

Here's mine:

I have been using my wallet a lot! It is just the right size for your phone, keys, money, credit cards, a pen and small notepad, and whatever else you want to bring for quick trips to the grocery store.

The above picture shows the best part of the wallet! The back pocket snaps shut. Do you know how? A metal tape measure! I think it is such a neat idea!

The pattern is called "Keep the Change," by the Stitchin' Sisters. It is a quick project too. It took my aunt and I about 4 hours. I have made more now, and each time I make one it is faster.

I came home from my visit, and my almost 4 year old brother saw my wallet. "I want one!" he said. His cuteness was too hard to resist and he kept asking for one. I had the perfect fabric in mind - Thomas the Train. He got his wallet and he is one happy little boy!

Although the wallet is small, it is very durable. Each piece, except the handle has interfacing in it.

The wallet is made using two fabrics - outside and lining. The lining is also used for the back pocket.

Isn't he adorable? Look how happy and cute he is! I even got a hug for making a wallet for him.

~Elizabeth