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Jan
26
When challenges for PR&P are announced, do you immediately have a favorite? Well, we always do! During Season 4, it was the “Earth Day Challenge” and then in Season 5, the “White Sheet Challenge” {here and here} took the cake. That one actually continues to take the cake. . .did you know a king sized sheet is never-ending when making children’s clothing!
This season was no different: “Love is in the Air” Challenge became our immediate favorite! And, when playing favorites, we often find that both nieces ‘need’ to participate. Which also means it is the best time to do embroidery, right? More like INSANITY! Anyway….
We chose our underlying ‘theme’ for both girls’ outfits to be I Corinthians 13, and thoroughly enjoyed passing along a few ‘teasers’ to our Facebook followers over the past week.
For EA’s blouse we used the Oliver + S Music Class Blouse (view A). This was our first time to sew this pattern, and to say we loved it, would be an understatement! Maybe it was the tucks and peter pan collar (#9 of our sewing reSEWlutions). The only modification we made to the blouse was adding piping at the yoke and around the collar.
We stayed with the Oliver + S theme and chose to use the Swingset Skirt to complete the look. Confession: when we purchased this pattern we bought it soley for the top and hadn’t even traced the skirt pattern when doing some OCD pattern organization.
It was bought early in our sewing ‘career’ and quite frankly, in our minds, skirts and two year olds didn’t mix…but we’ve grown, and we are already scheming more ways to put this adorable pattern to good use!
Our primary modification to the pattern was creating an interfaced, lined band around the base of the dress attached with piping. We incorporated a little bit of color blocking on the band to coordinate it with the blouse. Then the real fun began. . .
On her skirt, we went with a twist. . . embroidered subway art. Oxymoron, perhaps?
To create the art, we scanned our skirt band and traced it in Adobe Illustrator. Then, we began putting together the jigsaw-puzzle of a definition of love, per I Corinthians 13. Which fonts and words to highlight, where to place them and how large to make them were just a few of the things we worked through. Placing the words on the curve was also rather quirky at times.
After all the manipulation was completed, we printed out the finished piece and traced it onto the band using a washable fabric marker.
The focal point of the skirt was to be the word, love….completely done in, you guessed it, French knots. About a gazillion of them. Seriously. Emily {suzanne}’s body knotted up from doing so many knots. If workman’s comp had been available, she would have been first in line.
In hindsight, the subway art didn’t contrast enough to really ‘pop’, but we liked the subtly and the low risk nature of doing it in a neutral color rather than a bold one.
We’d like to think it makes one take a second look…
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Outfit / Fabric Specifications:
Patterns: Oliver + S, Music Class Blouse {size: 18-24 month, lengthened to a 2T and piping added};
Oliver + S, Swingset Skirt {size: 18-24 month, lengthened to a 2T, modified}
Fabrics: Cream Broadcloth and Grayish/Khaki Broadcloth {Hobby Lobby};
Moda Vintage Modern Geo Circles Pebble
Moda Vintage Modern Geo Circles Pebble
Buttons: Joann’s Button Box find {again}
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Stay tuned for “Love Is In the Air” Part II, where we will be getting down to the nitty-gritty of the “In the Air” part of this challenge! And, just between us…..little sister’s outfit is our favorite of the two!
**UPDATED! Little sister’s blog post is up! You can see {and read about} all the details here.
30 Comments
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Oh wow!!! Definitely makes you take a second look! The subway art is simply amazing like all of your embroidery! 😉
Good heavens,I need a cup of tea just thinking about all that embroidery.
Well done.
What a beautiful, special outfit. That embroidery is so intricate and heirloom and I’m sure a great-niece will be wearing it some day.
I bought this blouse pattern today! This is absolutely gorgeous. That Bible verse is among my favorites, and this is a simply stunning depiction of it. Wow.
Seriously beautiful. I love the subway art embroidery.
My word, what an amazing skirt! I hope your sister and nieces feel the love you put into your work!
Oh, our sister is THE BEST!! She gives us the liberty to choose and design the girls’ outfits, and then puts up with the photoshoot to follow !!! Always complimentary – no matter the imperfections :)….
It is so darling and beautiful!
You outfits are getting better every time! This skirt is truely amazing! Love, Love it!
Oh my!! I was in love with this outfit from the first few pics alone and then I got to the embroidered verse….WOW!!!! AMAZING!!!! When are you going to be invited to compete on PR&P already!?!?
Sweet as always, Heidi!! Well….you KNOW there is to be a ‘big announcement’ forthcoming on PR&P. We’re banking on 1 of 2 things for next season: a) celebrity PR&P – taking the top 2 competitors of each season for a matchup OR b) doing a rematch of the first few to go home each season….Wouldn’t that be cool?!?!??!
Totally!! I’ve always thought a PR&P All-Stars would be super fun!! Except that I want you guys to compete!!! 😀
Beautiful!!! I love the subway art embroidery! Such a wonderful detail. I can’t wait to see outfit number two. I agree with Heidi….you would make great contestants!
Absolutely gorgeous!
Wonderful outfit. I love the embroidery. It must have taken a LONG time! Your outfits always have such polish and are great inspiration!
French knots are the answer to giving Emily {Suzanne} a job to do while Ashley {frances} runs the sewing machine….:)
First off, I love the piping! But that embroidery…Wow!! I can’t even begin to imagine how long that must have took. Another absolutely stunning outfit! Can’t wait to see lil’ sister’s.:)
The subway art is truly amazing – love it
So I’m catching up and saw part 2 first. If that one wasn’t amazing enough, this one is out of this world stunning. I can’t believe all of the embroidery done! You gals certainly made this a work of ‘love’! Just beautiful!
Ha! Definitely a LABOR of LOVE….. You see why we didn’t have sewing withdrawals on boys’ week??
Oh, I really love this! That embroidery is incredible! And I love the colors you chose for this outfit. =) It’s just beautiful.
Thanks everyone for such sweet comments! We are definitely feeling the LOVE from you regarding these outfits!!
wow. what more can I say?? the embroidery is amazing! Nice work yet again…just FYI your link from PR&P is not working…or at least it didn’t work for me
Love both dresses! The embroidery is stunning!
Congrats on being the sew-along winners!
You deserve to be the sew along winners. Your thought process is incredible! I love the softness of your designs, and so enjoy reading your posts.
Deborah
http://www.sewmuchtogive.blogspot.com
I absolutely love this outfit. The verse, the craftsmanship, the embroidery as well as the colors.beautiful job.
http://www.needleandthreadjourney.blogspot.com
This is awesome….love the embroidery and the fabric choice is perfect!
Simply beautiful!
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