One thing that we did this season of Project Run and Play-that is my 9 year old daughter and I- was to come up with an idea and sketch it out using her fashion creator by Klutz. We have the whole season planned out already. Kind of nice knowing what I am sewing for the next 6 weeks. The only problem is I have told myself that I can't jump ahead. I have to finish them in order, but some I'm a little more excited about than others.
Now on to this week.
This is my creation that was inspired by this skirt.
A Little Biased Country
This project kind of took on a life of it's own from the planning stages. When I saw the challenge, I knew I wanted to use this fabric I've had sitting around for years...I mean years...just waiting for the right time. One thing I like about biased tape is that it looks really neat when it is a plaid, so I went with it.
After cutting a ton of bias strips and crossing my fingers that it was enough, I created this dress.
I knew that I didn't want to just run it around in a circle horizontally, so I tried several different angles. I even changed my mind after cutting out the actual form out of muslin and split the back for added effect.
In the front I did the 2 inch strips at the bottom and then added one inch strips, alternately up the sides. The bottom, sleeves and neck are the leftover bias strips.
The hat was an added accessory, after Sophia tried on something similar at Target and looked cute in it. After I finished it she said, "I didn't know you could make hats!" I'm cool like that:)
The hat and the belt are made of some soft wool that I had laying around, which I had inherited from my mom's stash. It has moth eaten holes throughout it, so I haven't been sure what to use it for. Perfect for cutting up into small pieces. The belt is just 2 inch bias strips braided together.
Now to the photo shoot. We had fun out in the field. I thought the cowboy boots just made the outfit. The boys of the household weren't quite sure about the look.
This is by far the most 'different' outfit that I've ever made. Different in that it is out of my realm of comfort. I'm a jeans and plain t-shirt kind of gal, with the occasional button up shirt. Nothing loud or unusual and I find that's what I lean towards when I'm sewing as well. This is just different, in the eye catching, how-is-that-made kind of way.
The other thing I really like about this dress (it really has grown on me...I initially thought I wouldn't like it) is that it moves. You know those flapper dresses made with the long fringe? I love those, because they move and seem to be alive. Well because the bias tape is running at angles, it moves as well. I wish I could capture it in picture, but I can't. It looks neat.
This is so not my standard look, but I love it!!!
This is Sophia figuring out a way to keep the sun out of her eyes. She was fun to photograph tonight.
What a cool dress! I love the plaid and the different directions and the I-didn't-know-you-could-make-hat(s)!! Gorgeous pictures too. :)
ReplyDeleteSuch an interesting take on the pattern. I love the fabric you used and the effect of the strips going up the side of the dress. A lot of details and a lot of work, I'm sure!
ReplyDeleteI love it that you & your daughter used the fashion creator & that you used bias strips to make the belt !
ReplyDeleteThanks! This has ended up being such a fun outfit to pull together. I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that my daughter is involved as well. She's really getting into "designing" fashion and it's fun to have her input as well.
ReplyDeleteWell done! The plaid looks fantastic in bias strips, and the placement of the strips adds tons of interest!
ReplyDeleteA really lovely dress - perfect for a girl who is out of pretty little girls clothes but is still very much a girl. I loved the use of plaid.
ReplyDeleteWould love one in my own size too!!