*EDIT: The tutorial for this top is now available HERE!*
Project Run & Play Season 4 officially begins today! I’m pretty excited because participating in the sew along last season was SO MUCH FUN. I didn’t really know what to expect last time or what I was getting myself into, but now that I know just how involved I let myself get, I decided to set some goals for myself. I’m just posting them here so I can keep myself accountable and reflect on these each week or at the end.
1. Keep it simple and wearable. As much fun as it is to go all out and do something crazy and fabulous, I can’t invest the time it takes to make 5 pieces of clothing in 5 days. And as much as I loved Yuki’s Blossom by Blossom dress, it really bums me out that she will probably never wear it again. I want to make clothes that Yuki can wear over and over again and not drive myself crazy trying to do over the top or extremely time consuming ensembles. I have to remember that I’m not an actual contestant, just sewing along for fun.
2. Use as much from my current fabric and notions stash as possible. My sewing supply is growing rapidly, much faster than I am sewing, so I’d like to try and use what I have first before buying more stuff. Looking at the challenges for this season, it looks like this goal is right in line with the Earth Day Challenge, but some of the other weeks will be harder (like Sportswear).
3. Work on things other than PR&P and don’t lose track of my priorities. Last season the only projects I worked on each week was my outfits for PR&P. I’ve got tons of other projects that I want to work on, so I’m going to have to find time for a little of both. I also have to be careful not to forfeit time with my family or let my work, house work or sleep schedule suffer. At least not too much 😛 Keeping it simple (goal #1) will help with this.
4. Let myself skip a week if I need to. It probably seems weird that skipping a week is part of a goal when usually your goal should be to participate as much as possible. But for me, I get SUPER involved, so it’s waaay harder to skip a week. I don’t know if I’ll need to, but I want to be able to let it go, if one or two weeks end up being way busier than I expected.
I think that’s it! I know it’s pretty nerdy of me to get so obsessed and write out goals, but what can I say? I’m a nerd.
So with that all said, I’m super excited to be done with my first entry!! This week’s challenge is to remix Dana’s Circle Skirt Tutorial. I recently used this tutorial for the first time to make my Reversible Circle Skirt. It’s a very classic style and can be used for lots of variations on skirts and dresses. But I decided to use the circle skirt idea to make an asymmetrical flowy spring top.
I had a vision and then it kind of morphed as I started sewing (as most of my ideas do). I like the way it came out though and can imagine Yuki wearing this quite a bit this spring and summer.
I whipped up some super simple jeggings to go with the top. I know, jeggings!? I hate them and love them, but in the end, I couldn’t resist.
She had a blast on our private little Easter egg hunt.
We put a strawberry in one of her eggs! Haha!
So looking back at my goals, I kept it very simple and wearable. CHECK! I only used materials I had on hand. CHECK! Since I was able to start this early, I didn’t feel pressured to cram in any late night sewing sessions or sacrifice anything else. CHECK!
It really helps if I can stay ahead of the weekly challenges which is something I didn’t do at all last time. I’m not sure if I can keep it up though. Next week’s challenge is sportswear, and while I have something in mind already, I think it might break the “keep it simple” goal.
I’m going to drop some of these photos into the flickr pool now, so head over there and see the other fun circle skirt remixes!
Oh, and I might try to do a tutorial for this top later this week! Let me know if you’re interested (otherwise I’ll probably just forget about it :))!
you and mie 
SO interested! Such an adorable, versatile little outfit!
Cherie, you kill me.
a. This is an awesome way to remix the circle skirt and you picked perfect fabric. So simple yet soooooo adorable.
b. I love reading your goals. It’s really funny to me that you let yourself get too involved, but I totally understand it.
c. “I have to remember I’m not an actual contestant” Dude, you totally could be, and WHEN they ask you to for next season (if they haven’t already) please say yes!!
(p.s. I am crazy person. I need to be sewing for PR&P right now!!)
You’re hilarious. Thanks for your support, Jessica! 🙂
Oh yes – please post a tutorial!! What a perfect summer top for all the little girls out there!:) And your daughter is too cute!
Love this top:) Ditto to Jessica’s reply- you definetly should be a contestant next season! I would love a tutorial !!
Oh good lord, Cherie, this is adorable. I LOVE it, and your little Yuki is just so squeezable, seriously. She is the cutest. Love that you really remixed the pattern, and I’d love a tutorial too (but don’t stress if you’re moving on to week #2 – haha!). I think it’s great you set goals for yourself. It takes a certain type of creative/competitive person to do PR&P and I think you’d be awesome at it if/when you get the call, since you’ll have great practice! Keep up the good work, girl!
This top is adorable! I have been debating whether or not to sew along this season too (well part of it, I can’t do the whole season since I won’t be in country for all of it) and I have decided that IF I do, I need to scale back too, and only use things from my stash (which will help with our move this summer.) I think my kids are too old looking really for me to ever be competitive, but it’s fun to push myself to play along and set goals; I have been looking around my sewing room trying to decide if I am feeling this weeks theme or not so I guess we’ll see what happens!
Hey! I’ve been wondering if you were going to sewalong again – you had ridiculously amazing entries last time. I don’t think your kids are too old looking (they are both very cute and you made it in the top 6 with your signature look!). But it’s probably good not to be in it for competitive reasons, and just for the fun of it and improving your skills (not that yours needs any improving), making connections and being inspired. I really hope to see more of your amazing work!! Good luck with your move!
Awesome top!!!
Oh my!! I am so interested in a tutorial on this adorable top. Your daughter is so cute, how do you get such great pics of her??
I follow her around and take a gazillion pictures hoping that a handful will come out cute 🙂 She’s not one for taking directions . . .
Adorable top! I can’t wait to see what you come up with the remaining weeks of Project Run and Play that you ‘CHOOSE’ to participate in :)! And, I would definitely enjoy a tutorial!
Yes please, that top look like it would be great for summer fun.
Love it!
I can’t decide what I love more—the plaid, or the assymetricalness (totally not a word, sorry!)….but it is so adorable!
Wow, so stinkin’ cute!
i’d like to know how you made the jeggings
I got some stretchy denim-looking knit (it is meant for jeggings) at Joann’s. It was a bit pricey, so I’d use a coupon or maybe you could even repurpose some jeggings from a thrift store or something! Anyways, I just used some of Yuki’s leggings to cut the pattern and I didn’t add any pockets or detailing since I figured she’d always wear it under a tunic or dress. If you want a good tutorial there’s one here: http://projectsbyjess.blogspot.com/2011/11/free-pattern-and-tutorial-baby-jeggings.html She even has a free pattern, but you’d have to increase the size for Ani. Hope that helps!! Have you been sewing? I need to see some pictures!
Hey everyone! Thanks so much for all the feedback, I’ll try and get the tutorial up later this week!
Great goals! 🙂 I’m excited to see more stuff for you. 🙂
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