Hazy Shade of Winter

Outfit 75 - 2013-14 School Year

So Project Run and Play is back again for a new season. If you aren't familiar, Project Run and Play is a kids version of Project Runway put on by several popular childrens sewing bloggers. Every 'season' they select bloggers to participate and each week one gets knocked off based on votes. They also have a sewalong for the general blogging public to submit entries and one of them gets selected as well. Each week has a theme. This week's theme was Winter Wonderland. So, of course, my glittery veins start thinking of these amazing silvery, glittery gowns I could make. But, then I started thinking more practical. So, I decided to design something that fit with my Handmade School Year challenge AND the Project Run and Play theme. So, here is what I came up with. And after you check out mine, go see (and VOTE) for the amazing talented seamstresses representing this season.

The dress general design came from the Mouse House's new Caroline Party Dress https://www.etsy.com/listing/173126642/the-caroline-party-dress-pattern-pdf?ref=shop_home_active_1

The Caroline in general is designed for wovens, but I decided to redraft it for knit. I used a super soft but not lightweight knit in cream and taupe. I reduced the width of the skirt to make gathering easier (and I didn't want it to be super full). I also made a colorblock fabric by taking the length measurement of the original skirt and dividing it in 4. On the bodice, I added the military plackets with the soft cream buttons. I had to redraft the collar to be one full piece. I also cut the faux cap sleeve off to a more traditional shoulder and dropped the underarm .5". Then, I drafted a long sleeve for it. 

For the cape, I used the tutorial I wrote for The Cottage Mama. I used a beautiful plaid cream and taupe coating in a cream and taupe plaid and a golden china silk for the lining and ribbon ties. You can find the tutorial here http://thecottagemama.com/2013/10/free-cape-pattern-tutorial/

I am so happy with how this turned out. It looks just like it looked in my head. You may ask why this is my interpretation of a Winter Wonderland. Unlike a lot of the country, snow is basically unheard of. We get a few cold days but for the most part, it's really only a dormant season. I wanted to show how the neutral colors of Winter could also be beautiful. That Winter doesn't have the blast of the color of the other seasons, but sometimes quiet beauty is the most beautiful of all. This is pic heavy because we had a great time with this photo shoot. The hat is from a local junk store as is the suitcase. She reminded me of an English girl in her travelling clothes. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did making it.

These pictures were taken at the end of the shoot. I had gone over to take the cape off of her and she held it up around her waist. I said - you know that's really cute. So, see - here is another way to use the cape pattern as a tie on peplum!

Many thanks to the hubs for getting these amazing pics (https://www.facebook.com/BFJPhotography - you can hire him too ;) but my jobs come first.) And for my beautiful daughter for making these pictures so beautiful even though it was about 47 degrees. 

For our Project Run and Play guests, welcome and thank you for stopping by. Take a moment to read my general info and find out more about my sewing her wardrobe this whole school year to promote tween sewing!

I hope everyone has a great weekend. The boy has his first school archery tournament tomorrow. Cross your fingers for him! I'll let you know how it goes Monday!