Judges

Judging Format: 

Designers on Project Run & Play have been judged in different ways through the years.  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.

Meet the celebrity judges for Season 26:

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

The panel of judges keep Project Run & Play consistent as they judge each week of Season26.  Each of them was a Designer themselves on a past Season of Project Run & Play.

Meet Jenn from Jennuine Design 

Jenn comes to us from Jennuine Design where she has a wide range of kid's patterns and even a few adult patterns. She competed on Season 8 of Project Run and Play and who could forget the iconic Moto Jacket she created for the Reuse Reduce Fashion challenge?!? We are so fortunate to have her join us on the judging panel for Season 26! 

Meet Susana from Suco by Susana

Susana's pattern shop Suco by Susana has patterns in both English and Portuguese. She shared her talents with us in Season 20 and she even tells her flat lay secrets on our blog! Susana is an expert on sewing swim and lingerie. We are so thankful to have her join our judging panel! 

Meet Delia from Delia Creates 

Delia wowed us with her makes in Season 5 of Project Run and Play. She is an incredibly talented maker of all sorts- including crocheting, sewing, and gardening! She blogs at Delia Creates where you can find a wide range of awesome tutorials. We love her minimalistic style and are so honored to have her on the judging panel for Season 26! 

It's such an honor to have these talented ladies giving their time and effort on the behalf of Project Run & Play.  Please thank them by following them on social media, and reading and commenting on their blogs!