Project Run and Play: Signature Style

This one completely missed the boat, and I'm way late here. The last weekly theme of Project Run and Play was Signature Style. I've been considering this theme for the last couple of PRNP seasons, trying to figure out what my signature style is in kid sewing, but it's a tough one for me. My projects always feel like they're a bit all over the place, so I started perusing what I've made over the past year since I've started sewing more again. Eventually I concluded that pretty much everything I planned for weeks 2 and 3 could have worked for this as well! So here's what I actually made for this week.

Ellie's signature style is "princess". She loves pretty dresses, twirly dresses, and tutus. I don't really do tutus right now, so I make her fancy looking dresses in easily washable materials - she gets her princess dresses, and mom doesn't freak out about them getting dirty. What's the point of a dress you don't actually get to wear? Going over the things I've made, I also noticed that this style of gathered straps, simple bodice, and a gathered skirt has featured in multiple patterns and dresses. This time I used the Emory Dress by Izzy and Ivy, since Ellie is just getting the idea that pockets are awesome. She chose the fabric, pink with "birds and words", and the heart buttons for the back.

I love letting my kids choose their own fabric. Usually it has a better chance of becoming an item of clothing they really like than if I choose, although I sometimes do a good job, too. For example, this time around I chose the fabric for Cy's pieces and made them as a surprise. It was well received.

Similarly to many 6 year old boys, a fair number of Cyrus' clothing items have superheroes on them, including things I've made. I was feeling a bit at a loss when he shot down my original plan, so I just started going through my fabric. Originally I bought this Marvel fabric to line a messenger bag for him that I never made, along with enough extra to make pajamas or something. Well, this is something, right? I'd already traced the pab cargos, so I just added the shorts line and folded the pieces while I cut. The pattern is so busy that I skipped the cargo pockets. He never uses back pockets, and complains when I straighten them, so I skipped those too. You really don't ever see the waistband when he's wearing it, but I liked the way the green made the hulk pop, and it balances all of the red/yellow/orange in the print.

I did also make him a tonal orange raglan, but he kept wearing it and it was in the wash the day we finally got pictures taken. So he chose a tank I bought last year. Perhaps not the most perfect pairing, but if it makes him happy, that's what counts/