Love Is In the Air {part I}

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

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.