Season 26 Week 2: Pleats to Meet You

 Let's talk about one of our favorite things: PLEATS!  We're so delighted with each of the designer creations for this theme, so without further ado, here are their looks.

Please make sure to go all the way to the end of this post and support TWO of them with your vote.

Sewstory by Nele - Once in a Blue Moon 

So before I begin to tell you all about the items I created this week, I want to start by saying two things. First I want to sincerely thank everyone for the love I felt in week 1 and the kind and warm words I received, thank you all so much!! And secondly (as you will see in the pictures) my little girl currently has chicken pox… Hence my title for this week because I feel like having the opportunity to be in this competition is a one in a million chance and then her getting chicken pox at the exact same time…Well that’s just ridiculously coincidental and feels like once in a blue moon 😉 Luckily her fever broke before Sunday so I felt comfortable taking some pictures… Blue is also the colour I chose to work with for this second week. And because it’s the second challenge, I thought it would be fun to make something for my second boy. And you can’t really say pleats, pintucks & gathers without thinking of a girls’ dress, right?! So my little girl also got a new outfit!

So onto the actual things I made and first my boy’s outfit. The last couple of weeks I have been racking my brain on how I could make this theme match for boys and the idea for his shorts came pretty quickly, I added a singular pintuck at the middle of the front and another one at the bottom hem. I used the TinTin shorts from Iris May Patterns as a starting point, added the mentioned details and added length so it would hit at his knees. The fabric I used also has some structure, which I thought matches this week’s theme too.

I love flowers and I love fabric with flowers even more. I know not everyone is convinced to use flower-fabric for boys, but I definitely am! And luckily, so is my little boy 😊 I used Alder from Sunflower Seams as a starting point and then I changed the front panels so I could add a single pintuck left & right from the button plackets. I also added some pintucks to the pockets & added trim (using the same fabric I did for Marilou her jacket) to that pocket. I did the same thing with the sleeves: added a pintuck & trim. At the back of his shirt there’s a pleat. Because of my choice of fabric I changed the shape of the collar to a more wingtip shape so it would fit the floral-vintage-vibe more.

For his sweater I got inspired by a post I saw on Instagram a while back. I couldn’t find it anymore, but a google search learned me that honeycomb smocking was what I was looking for. I thought it would be fun to try it on French terry and turn it into a sweater for my boy. I just made a simple sweater so the focus would go the extra dimension created in the front panel, but I did move the side seam towards the front so the excess fabric wouldn’t be uncomfortable under the arm when wearing.

For my girl I wanted to create a dress that has all the details I love and fits this pleats, pintucks & gathers theme. I used Lane from Little Lizard King as a starting point because I wanted a basic dress I knew would fit well and I could make the changes to I had in my mind. First I turned the neckline into a boatneck because I think this looks so feminine and cute. Secondly I changed the bodice to add a waistband. For the waistband I added plain pintucks at the back and pintucks with a twist to the front. I wanted a really full skirt for this dress so I started at the top of it with a gathered full circle skirt, then I added a gathered skirt underneath with a hemband. And between the gathered skirt & the hemband I put a ruffle. I’m one of those people who actually finds it really fun and calming to gather fabric 😊 And in this one I definitely had my fun: I gathered more than 15 metres of fabric and seeing it finished I’m in love with it and I couldn’t be happier!

For her little jacket I chose to use the same type of fabric as the shorts of my boy. It’s a soft and lightweight cotton with a linen look and felt perfect for this week’s challenge (creating texture to your design). With this little jacket I didn’t want to take any attention away from the skirt of her dress, so I turned it into a crop. For this one I added two pleats at the front and gathers at the back. I made the sleeves to hit at ¾ length of her arms and added some elastic gathers (smocking) 5cm from the bottom of the sleeve so it would stay nice up at her arm. I wanted both front sides of this jacket just to touch each other without overlapping, so I added two buttons & button loops to both front panels.  And off course some extra ruffles never hurt so I added those to the neckline 😉

If you want to read more details and see more pictures, you can by following me on Instagram and/or by reading my blog.

Southern Magnolia Designs - Heirloom Pintucks

Here we are, already in week 2! And with a theme that was asking for tucks and gathers, I once again decided to draw on some vintage style.

I have always loved the look of heirloom sewing. There are so many techniques and details that add beauty and value to whatever is sewn. So for this outfit, I decided to put all the knowledge I have gleaned from old sewing books and magazines to create my own vintage-inspired design.

After sketching up a couple ideas, I drafted a pattern for a blousy summer dress that featured pintucks, hand embroidery, full gathered skirts, deep hems, and a built-in pettiskirt. And of course, no vintage dress is complete without matching ruffled bloomers.

The best fabrics for heirloom sewing and pintucks are lightweight with a soft drape. And this gorgeous silver-blue designer linen from Cali Fabrics was perfect for my needs. I was able to make delicate tucks that did not add bulk or stiffness to the bodice, skirt, or bloomers.

Although the pettiskirt underneath is only seen when the wind blows (or when my daughter wants to show everyone how the bloomers match the dress), I still wanted to add something extra special. Digging through my late Grandmother's box of antique sewing supplies, I found a lovely floral lace that I knew would look beautiful with this style, then used lace insertion techniques to place it right above the gathered ruffle of the pettiskirt.

I had so much fun designing and creating this look from scratch, and love how well it photographed in the fresh blooming bluebonnets!

To see more photos, behind the scenes on how I created this outfit, and even a peek at how I made the sun hat, check out my post here.

Sewing 4 Em - Pastel Princess

I remember when my daughter was born, I was one of those moms who was like, I refuse to force gender norms on her. I won't make her only wear pink. I'll teach her to play sports. We'll get dirty and play with cars. I didn't want her to be forced to be a girly girl. Noemi had other plans, though. This kid came out of the womb loving glitter and tutus and rainbows and unicorns. She has always been a princess and because of that, I've also learned to embrace my inner princess (it wasn't easy, let me tell you). So for this week's theme, I decided to make Noemi two princess themed looks. 

The first look, we went with a princess party dress. I made it using Cerise from Wild Seeds Patterns as a base. I altered the sleeves and created a bubble skirt out of the gathered circle skirt for ultimate poof. I wanted to use a really thick, structured fabric too, so I went with some scuba. 

For the second look, we went with a more casual, every day princess look. I self-drafted the skirt, with pleats in the front and a gathered, elastic waist in the back. I wanted the length to be a little on the longer side, so it was more appropriate for all those princess press conferences. The shirt was kept simple, with some soft rib knit for a close-fitting look. 

For more photos, check out my Instagram at or my blog.

Posh Pilar - Adagio

I’m thrilled to introduce you to my designs for week two. I’ve danced basically my entire life, and now my daughters are dancers and I also teach dance. I’ve named this collection after a ballet term, Adagio. Adagio refers to slow movement- full of grace and fluidity. These self drafted dresses I’ve created feature slow sewing and techniques that take time. It’s the kind of designing and sewing where I try to really enjoy both the process and end results. I used lightweight organza fabrics to create fluidity and movement and I’ve manipulated the fabric with various techniques.

My first design is for my youngest daughter. Her favorite color is pink so I chose a pale pink organza. It’s lined with a lightweight cotton lawn from Califabrics. I played with the sheerness and incorporated ruffles, pleats, and tucks.  I’m constantly inspired by vintage dress designs and wanted to create a timeless dress with a twist. I sewed lots of small diagonal pintucks along the bodice for textural interest and major fabric manipulation. I wanted this dress to show how using just one simple solid fabric can result in an interesting and stunning look. The bodice has a V shape pieced front and a ruffle down the center for even more dimension. The adorable puff sleeves feature a pleat at the bottom and gather at the top. The skirt is of course gathered for a classic silhouette. The dress has a V back and organza covered closures.

My second design is for my middle daughter. I used a pastel yellow burnout gingham organza and the same lightweight cotton lawn for the lining. I shirred the bodice of the dress in a pattern of three sections to create volume and gathers. I drafted long puff sleeves with shirring at the wrist. Keeping the sleeves sheer really shows off the fabric design and keeps this dress nice and light for the warm (and hot) weather we have here in Las Vegas. This dress is finished with a gathered bottom tier on the skirt for an extra feminine silhouette. Both dresses are constructed with French seams and small rolled hems. The inside bodice seams are all enclosed. With pretty finishes inside and out, my daughters happily wear these dresses and hopefully feel just how special they are. To see more photos and read more about these designs please visit my blog www.poshpilar.blogspot.com.

Emily Sews Stuff - Here Comes the Sun(dress)

 

A couple of weeks ago, we had the most beautiful, sunny, 70-degree spring weather. I just knew I needed to make some sundresses. I fall for this cruel trick every year; Mother Nature turned winter back on this week. At least it gave me inspiration for the “Pleats to Meet You” week 2 theme! 

For Juliet’s dress, I wanted to make a vintage-inspired dress with lots of pintucks, and Kaufman Sunshine poplin was perfect for that. I started with the Violette Field Threads Oaklyn bodice and moved the placket to the front and lowered the neckline just a little. To keep the tucks the center of attention, I did a lightly gathered skirt. I added cross tucks at the bottom, belt loops and a tie belt—and of course I couldn’t forget the inseam pockets.  The headband is the Charlie knot headband, minus the knot, with some decorative crosstucks there as well. 

Pleats tend to be structured and preppy, but for Scarlett’s dress, I wanted a more relaxed look. I made some modifications to the front bodice piece from the free VFT Lola pattern to make both the front and back bodice.  I used box pleats to add fullness to the skirt, but to keep the whole look more relaxed, I used a chambray Kaufman double gauze from Cali fabrics. I dressed up the bodice a little bit with some special embroidery, and added pinch pleats to the shoulder ties. And you know I couldn't skip the big scoop pockets. She’s topped off with a Valerie bow in gingham. 

Visit my blog for more details, the story behind the embroidery, and more pictures from week two! 

This week's celebrity guest judge, Abby from Sew Much Ado, does NOT have an easy job here!  

The designer scores are determined as follows:

1/3 of the designers score is determined by the celebrity guest judge(s)

1/3 of the designers score is determined by the panel of judges

1/3 of the designers score is determined by YOU, the audience!

So the designers need your support too!  Be sure to use the voting form below to support TWO of the designers.

If you're inspired to sew along, link up here.

Seson 26 Week 1 Results!

 Weren't the Week 1 Pocketful of Sunshine makes amazing?  

The results have been tallied and the winner is:

Too Cool for School by Nele of Sewstory by Nele

This is what Michelle of That Black Chic had to say about Nele's makes:

Nele of Sewstory by Nele - Too Cool for School

Michelle:  Man, oh man, the title is so fitting, they are TOO cool!!! Nele’s mini collection is amazing. Each piece can hold its own but having the option to mix and match these new pieces into an existing wardrobe creates endless possibilities.

The green was a great choice for this his and her collection. For the little miss, I love the print mixing action going on in the dress and the not-so-obvious choice of the pink cardigan.

For the little Mr., I love all the yellow details; they were done expertly. The green plaid jacket is my favorite piece, it just looks expensive. Some of these garments look to have a high degree of difficulty which was executed very well. 

*Best construction 

*Best details

*The only Mini collection

*Fabric choices for the collection were excellent

*Best photographs

Since one of our designers had to "go home" due to family constraints, all 5 of the remaining designers get to advance to Week 2!  

See you tomorrow for their fantastic takes on the Pleats to Meet You theme.  If you're inspired to sew along...link up here!

Season 26 Week 1: Pocketful of Sunshine

It's here! IT'S HERE!!!  (Thank YOU for your patience!)  We're so excited to share the designers amazing creations for the Pocketful of Sunshine theme!  

Here was their prompt:

Pocketful of Sunshine : Life is better with pockets! This week you will use pockets to add function and style to your look.

If you're ready to be inspired, just take a look at their creations...and be sure to vote for TWO of them at the end of this post.

Emily Sews Stuff - Girls Just Wanna Have fun Pockets!

 The first thing my girls do when they try on new clothes is check for pockets. I am not sure what they need to carry, but it’s very important to them. For this week’s theme, Pocket Full of Sunshine, I went very literal. These girls look like little rays of sunshine—the result of bright colors and pockets, no doubt! 

For Juliet’s outfit, I used this diagonal print and rotated each panel to create a chevron pattern. I used them then to make a flat front skirt with curved slash pockets—with a little surprise sunshine appliqué in each one. For her top, I started with the DIBY club ABB tee, which I love for hacking because it’s a great free tee pattern that fits my girls well. I scooped out the neck a little more and added a center gather. I added a slight puff to the sleeves, along with a keyhole and tie band. Her hair accessory is a self-drafted wire ponytail wrap.

Scarlett is equally cheery with a self-drafted boatneck tunic in Cali Fabrics rayon/poly French terry. I added a pieced rainbow kangaroo pocket that perfectly matched this dbp from So Sew English. I used the Maid for Mermaids Bonny leggings swapped did a lettuce hem for the regular hem. I topped her off with a faux tie headband from the same fabric. 

I hope these outfits make you smile as much as the girls do when they wear them!  Please head over to Emily Sews Stuff for lots more information and photos!

Sewstory by Nele - Too Cool For School

I’m soooo excited week 1 is here and I can finally share what I have made! And I’m also equally nervous, anxious and stressed about it 😉 

When I first heard the theme of week 1 being pocketful of sunshine and when I saw the original dates I noticed that it coincided with the first day of school for my little girl. So I thought it would be fun to dedicate this first week challenge to this special occasion. I chose the colour green as a central colour because to me it represents new beginnings, growth, spring, change, hope… And that seemed perfect for the start of a school career and the start of this competition. I wanted their outfits to be simple and stylish so they could play around in them at school without having to worry. And because of the challenge & theme of this week I obviously wanted to incorporate pockets on every item I made 😉

For my girl I wanted a basic dress with long sleeves, because the mornings are still cold here. I used Iluka from Little Lizard King as a starting point. I changed the neckline to a true sweetheart neckline and added elastic to the bottom of the sleeves so they would stay nice at her wrist. For the pockets I wanted to create this kind of origami-like folded effect with different fabrics and I added them to the skirt of the dress as patch pockets. Next I made a cardigan to match the dress and chose a bright pink French terry so it would have some warmth and softness. I wanted the cardigan to be short enough to show off the skirt of the dress and used Aura from Sofilantjes as a starting point. I added inseam pockets and I used the same fabric for the pockets as I did for the patch pockets on her dress.

I have made all my kids their schoolbags for kindergarten so off course I was going to make hers too. Truth be told: I bought fabric and a pattern for her schoolbag more than a year ago, but I hadn't gotten around the making it. So when the theme was announced and since a schoolbag basically is a large, external pocket I figured it would be a shame not to include her schoolbag in my design of this week. The fabric I used on the inside is called Hilltop Sunrise which seemed perfect to match this 'pocketful of sunshine - challenge 😊

For her schoolbag I wanted the shape of a classic schoolbag but I couldn’t find a pattern I liked… So I actually started from scratch for this one. She’s still so little so I didn’t want to add a whole lot of small and/or extra pockets because she just can’t use those yet. But I did add two pockets: one in the front of the bag which is divided in the middle and one zipper pocket in the interior of the bag so there’s room for storing important papers or documents if necessary. For the closure I chose two tuck locks because that’s something she knows how to use and I wanted to make sure she’s capable of opening and closing her own schoolbag. And lastly I added some glitter piping to the front of the schoolbag to make it a little more girly and just because I liked how that looked 😉

On to the outfit for my sweet boy. I started with a simple and very basic T-shirt to which I just added two breast pockets in different colours and sizes. For his pants I chose the Bacca Bootcuts from Designs by Call Ajaire as a starting point. I changed quite a few things to the original pattern: I shortened the height of the waistband to make it look a little more boyish. I changed the back and left out the back yoke to make it look more like regular pants instead of classic jeans and then added the welt pockets with a twist. I really like the shape of that yellow line going from one corner to the other but I don’t really want to admit how long it took me to figure out how to make them and have them be functional as well 🙈. Lastly I changed the front to add patch pockets and played with the yellow contrast colour.

And for his sweater I got inspired by the Posie dress from Peony Patterns and wanted to create a similar view, but on a sweater. So I chose the Fortuna sweater from Sofilantjes as a starting point and began with drawing a kangaroo pocket in which both his hands could fit. When I had the measurements of the pockets I changed the front of the sweater so there would be cutlines meeting up with the sides of the kangaroo pockets and all the way up to the shoulder seam.

To finish off their going to school outfits they both needed spring jackets and for both I used the Pacifica Jacket from Little Lizard King as a starting point. On her jacket I added a puffed, elastic pocket between the front panels. For his jacket I changed the curve of the side seam to make the waist and hips more aligned and more boyish. Next I changed all the cutlines on the front & back to rectangular to give it a more classic denim jacket look. This jacket has two different kinds of pockets: welt pockets that are functional and also fake breast pockets (because I hadn’t made fake pockets yet 😉).

And lastly I also made her doll a new outfit: the dress matches exactly the one of my little girl and I used the Iluka doll dress from Little Lizard King as well and made the same changes to the neckline, sleeves and pockets. And lastly I also made the doll a teeny tiny schoolbag with one tuck lock, I started from scratch for this one as well. My daughter is always so excited to see she's matching her doll and this time was no exception. I scored some serious mom-points 😉

If you would like to read a more detailed overview of my sew, you can find it on my blog and you can also follow along my Instagram to see more 😊

Posh Pilar - Desert Blooms

Here in the desert where its dry and rocky, we get some of the prettiest spring blooms. My collection for this pocket themed week is inspired by my children. They are blooming and growing and bring me so much joy. I’ve created a look for each of my four children this week, all are self drafted designs featuring lots of pockets.

For my oldest I created a modern shirt dress using a vintage floral denim fabric. It has box pleated pockets at the chest, a collar, and slightly oversized puffed sleeves. The shirt dress is completed with vintage buttons. My second daughter is wearing a boiler suit inspired jumpsuit with mandarin collar. It has inverted box pleat pockets at the chest, front hip pockets, inverted box pleat flap pockets at the leg, a back welt pocket, and back patch pocket. I used a sturdy cotton twill that will endure even the toughest play time. To make dressing easier I used heavy duty snaps at the pockets and front closure. Most of the seams and pockets are topstitched for security and a beautiful finish.

My third daughter is wearing a similar jumpsuit, but with a collar stand and collar. I used a linen cotton blend and accented it with the floral denim pockets at the chest and back. It has side seam pockets and is finished with vintage buttons. The oversized sleeves give it a relaxed feel, while using back darts at the pant waist give more shape and tailoring. I gathered the top part of the jumpsuits for a design twist. It gives a cinched look without the need of a belt or tie, making dressing easy and stylish. 

Last but not least is my son. He is wearing a comfy knit outfit, perfect for his fun, always on the move, personality. I drafted a pair of loose cargo style joggers and sewed them up out of a heavy weight cotton french terry. They have front hip pockets and side flap patch pockets. His sweatshirt is also perfect for everyday. It’s made from a soft organic knit french terry with contrasting rib knit cuffs, waistband, and neckband. I made it extra special by appliquéing a flower from the vintage denim fabric onto the pocket. All four looks come together in a modern collection perfect for my blooming kids. For more details and photos please visit my blog www.poshpilar.blogspot.com. Happy sewing!

Southern Magnolia Design - For Real Life

I am so excited to share my first design with you all! When I heard that this week's theme would be all about pockets, I knew that I needed to create something fun and functional. My daughter uses her pockets for carrying around all her treasures. And right now, nothing is more loved by her than Bluey. She loves watching the show, reading the books, and playing all the pretend from her favorite episodes.

Living in the USA means that I don't have an easy way to access Bluey fabrics or designs, but I wasn't going to let that stop me from making her an extra special outfit that showcased all her favorite characters while giving her pockets for storing her own Bluey toys. I'm sure many of you who also watch the show will recognize all the easter eggs in this outfit.

For the dress, I pulled inspiration from vintage patterns of full-skirted summer dresses with large unique shaped pockets. The pale blue of the dress with the rainbow design was made to match the bedding of Bingo Heeler, Bluey's little sister, and my daughter's favorite character in the show. I hand embroidered the bodice in the sketchy style of "Escape". A touch of lace was added to the layered patch pockets to match the lace from the sewn-in pettiskirt. But then I began to think that two pockets were just not enough. And after conferring with my daughter about what she would like, she told me many, MANY more ideas about items and episodes that needed to be added.

And so began the adventures in creating my very first jean jacket. Would you be surprised to know that it took over a week to make this? Based on a modified version of Little Lizard King's "Detroit" pattern, I upcycled a pair of my husband's old pants then added a Bingo hoodie, touches of embroidery, and handmade patches for this fun look. I reused the back pockets of the pants to make the front jacket pockets easy, but then made the inseam pockets from the famous kiwi and watermelon rugs.

I enjoyed staying up late watching Bluey with my daughter for "research", then brainstorming all the things she wanted for this design. To see more details of this outfit and some behind the scenes photos, check out my blog post at https://southernmagnolia.design.blog/.

Sewing 4 Em - Dog Mom

Remember that scene in 101 Dalmatians (the cartoon one) where they show the owners walking their dogs and all of them look alike? That was my inspiration for this look. When I think of kids and pockets, I think of kids putting random stuff in their pockets for fun. While there's nothing wrong with that at all, I really wanted to think of a way a kid might actually NEED some pockets. Then I thought...dog poop bags! I'm always asking Noemi to carry the dog poop bags in her pockets when we go on walks, because my running shorts don't really have convenient pockets. That led to my second thought...active wear! So I decided to create an activewear look that is both comfortable and has some functional pockets.

I used Sofiona Designs for this look, with a few little tweaks here and there. I used the Clover Hoodie, with a minor change to the sleeves and I left off the bottom band. Then I added the pocket and the adorable puppy patch. For the bra, I used the Wildberries Bralette, but I made the straps thicker, got rid of the ruching on the front, and change the back a smidge to better suit the wider straps. And finally, for the skort, I use the Tamarack Tights for the shorts, and added a little side panel with pocket, and then made an extra wide waistband, with a pinecone skirt over.

Be sure to head over to Sewing 4 Em and my Instagram for lots more photos and details!

This week's guest judge, Michelle of That Black Chic, really has a big task in front of her!

The designer scores are determined as follows:

1/3 of the designers score is determined by the celebrity guest judge(s)

1/3 of the designers score is determined by the panel of judges

1/3 of the designers score is determined by YOU, the audience!

Unfortunately, one of our designers had to "go home" due to some family constraints.  We ALWAYS encourage our designers to put their family first, and wish her the very best of success in the future.  This means that all 5 designers will go on to Week 2!!!

And the designers need your support too!  Use the voting widget below to vote for TWO of the designers.

If you're totally inspired to sew along, head over here to get the details and link up your creations!

It's Time...to Wait!

 You're probably here to see the Week 1 designs for the Pocketful of Sunshine challenge, but we have to offer you this apology instead:  

Due to unforeseen circumstances,  the voting post will go up tomorrow morning and run through Friday at 8pm Eastern time, this week only.

We're sorry for being so mean as to make you wait, but we promise it's going to be worth the wait!

See you tomorrow...

Season 26 Sew A Long

 Today we get to get Season 26 started off right with YOUR sewing!

Here's how the sew along works this Season:

The sew along will last the whole Season 
3 winners will be chosen
You can enter once or up to 4 times, for each/any/all of the themes.

The 3 winners will be chosen as follows:

1 random winner

1 "people's choice" winner chosen by popular vote

1 winner chosen by the Season 26 designers

To enter, use either the hashtag #prp26sewalong on Instagram or Facebook or the link up widget below.  Choose any or all of the themes and sew along!  (The entry with the most likes will be the "people's choice" winner.) 

Here are the themes for Season 26: 

Pocketful of Sunshine : Life is better with pockets! This week you will use pockets to add function and style to your look.

Pleats to Meet You : Pleats, tucks, & gathers, oh my! These techniques have been around for ages but are currently making a comeback in fashion. How will you manipulate your fabric for some added dimension?

 Turnip the Beet: Lucky for us, seasonal produce isn’t just for eating- it’s also a fashion trend. This week you will create a ‘one in a melon’ look with the sweet pairing of food and fashion.

 

Signature Style : Design a look that best represents your own unique style, taste, and best showcases your skill set.

Each winner of the sew along will receive: 

$40 gift certificate from Raspberry Creek Fabrics

2 patterns from Coffee + Thread

2 patterns from the Project Run & Play shop

Okay that's it!  We want to see YOUR take on these themes!

The linkup closes April 15 @ midnight EST 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Season 26 Celebrity Guest Judges

We are so lucky to have an incredible group of creators joining us as Celebrity Guest Judges. 

The current judging format is as follows:

1/3 score = public voting
1/3 score = panel of past Project Run & Play designers
1/3 score = celebrity guest judge of the week

The hope is for this new scenario to cast light on the quality of the designer's work rather than their popularity.  This will hopefully ensure a positive experience for everyone, and the prizes awarded fairly on merit, rather than following size.

Judging week 1, we have the amazing Michelle Morris! 

Michelle Morris is the Editor-in-chief of the colorful fashion, sewing and DIY blog That Black Chic. This is a platform on which she shares her own fashions, sewing tips, reviews, and tutorials. She is a sewing influencer on the scene who has become known for her loud and unusual prints and her ability to mix and match. She is also known for working with her fabric of choice, denim and making show stopping pieces of clothing. In 2017 Michelle took this same idea to the pages of a new sewing publication called Sewn Magazine. This multicultural magazine is a space to showcase makers and artists of all colors.

Follow her : That Black Chic, Sewn Magazine

For week 2, Abby the talent behind Sew Much Ado will be judging. 

Abby joins us from Sew Much Ado where she has an incredible offering of tutorials! She has Canadian roots but calls Seattle home with her husband and 4 kids. She has been sewing since she was little but her love of sewing really grew after having her own kids. If you hop over to her blog, you will find endless how-tos from bags and dresses to lego tables as well as adorable PDF patterns. 

Follow her: Sew Much Ado

Megan Gorman from Made for Mermaids is our brilliant Celebrity Guest Judge for week 3!

 Megan is the owner and powerhouse behind Made for Mermaids. She is a loving fire wife and work at home mom to two. Most days you’ll find her in her sewing office with a cup of coffee and an old sitcom playing for background noise. She's  a lover of all things creative and on a constant quest to learn more techniques and skills including photography. Megan comes from a large Texas family, full of out-of-the-box thinkers and she loves to spread her love of sewing, learning and creating.

Follow her: Made for Mermaids

And for week 4, the phenomenal Brittany J Jones will be our Celebrity Guest Judge!

In 2013 Brittany was in need of a major hobby! Being a military spouse, and mother of 3 (at that time) she had lost herself in being everything to everybody and became really depressed! She didn’t think sewing was the magic answer but she decided to give it a try after she had her third child and needed more clothes. She figured maxi skirts would be easy to make and she could make a few in different colors! So she watched a couple of Youtube videos for maxi skirts and purchased her own sewing machine in February 2014. The gratifying feeling she got from finishing her first maxi skirt hooked her! She went from maxi skirts to pajamas, to robes, and pillows. Some projects were a success, some not so much! With the help of YouTube videos, online classes, and sewing books, she got better and fell completely in love with sewing!

 

In 2016, she launched her blog and Youtube channel, and since she's been able to create a wardrobe that’s 90% custom made! Brittany has also been an editor for a digital sewing magazine, Sew Sew Def, collaborated with amazing online fabric stores, worked with commercial and indie pattern companies, been featured in published magazines, became an ambassador for Husqvarna Viking, and currently is an Instructor in the Sew It Academy. Most recently Brittany co-founded Melanated Fabrics.

 Follow her : Brittany J Jones, Melanated Fabrics