It's Been Fun! {PR&P: Signature Style} - Frances SuzanneFrances Suzanne

Oct

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It’s Been Fun! {PR&P: Signature Style}

Why, oh why, does “signature style” always give us fits?? This should be the easy one…the one to coast out of Project Run and Play’s Sew-Along Flickr Group. Still, it never is…but feel free to join us on our quest for our signature style.

How does one define a signature style? Answer: Go with what you are drawn to and/or like.

Trust us: this is still evolving, therefore, hard to nail down a distinct ‘signature style’ per se. At times, we find it humorous that we are trying to to define our ‘signature style.’

But, after much reflection, here are some common threads we see emerging in many of our garments:

We are drawn to solids and/or small prints.

We have a crush on vintage patterns and simple, clean lines within a pattern.

Vintage (or covered) buttons are always a bonus…and at times, make us squeal with delight!

Piping is a must! We try to incorporate some sort of piping in all of our garments sewn. It is our ‘go to’ detail….and one that we feel makes the outfit come together!! While it takes a bit more time, we feel the outcome outweighs the effort to incorporate this minor detail.

Multi-functioning outfits are wonderful….serving dual purposes! Even when one is feeling, let’s say: SNEAKY (*see above photo)! The clothes we make our nieces are ones that could (and should) be worn in a variety of settings, under various circumstances. Many are nice enough to wear to church, but casual enough to do errands around town.

Or jump around…take your pick!

Ultimately, we like for our creations to be simple…but with subtle details. We are not attention-seekers, and like to blend into a crowd in our day-to-day lives. Our ‘signature style’ lends itself to this: soft, muted colors; simplicity; sweet, but not “WOW!”

We enjoy simple, ‘conservative’ designs with a classic/vintage feel that allow us to incorporate subtle details such as: piping, tucks and pleats, covered and decorative buttons, and hand-embroidery (here and here).

Looking back through the past two seasons of the Project Run and Play Sew-Along, we have opted to choose an item from our sewing ‘to do’ list and make it work as our signature style.

This season was no different. We used the Emma Dress Pattern from Craftiness is Not Optional {CINO}. This is a FREE PATTERN that Jess has so willingly shared with the sewing / blogging world! WOW…Thank you, Jess, for your generosity! We look forward to sewing many more of your patterns in the future.

We felt as if this pattern had a vintage ‘feel,’ while allowing for subtle details that we love. Piping was incorporated around the peter pan collar {note to self: draft a slightly wider collar for the next version} and cuffs. We also added tea-dyed lace between the cream hem area and main skirt portion of the dress. This, too, gave the dress a little depth and classic styling.

An asymmetrical yoke was a new concept for us to attempt. Is it strange to try something for the first time on a ‘signature style?’ Hopefully not…because we did! Again, a subtle detail. One so subtle our mom tried unsuccessfully to straighten it on the hanger after its completion!

So, while this garment doesn’t include everything our signature style entails, we think it fits our general ‘look.’ And, better yet, it marks an item off our ‘Fall sewing’ to-do list….

It’s been fun, Project Run and Play friends!! We’ll miss our weekly communication with you…as well as seeing your fabulous creations that never disappoint.

Our sewing adventures will continue on until next time. During that lapse, we welcome you to follow along with us as we await sewing along with season 6 of Project Run and Play! Happy sewing one and all! Sniff, sniff…..it’s been fun….

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