This week for Project Run and Play, we are supposed to show our signature style.  This has evolved for me over time as my kids have outgrown the dressy, special occasion clothes.  If I were to make a lovely dress, it would sit in the closet unworn and unloved. 🙁

Right now my signature style for the kids is:

• something that is fun and comfy
• matchy, matchy outfit
• use of embellishments (iron-on rhinestones, vinyl iron-ons, ribbon, trims, etc.)

This outfit doesn’t really have embellishments, but it does use a mixture of different fabrics.   It is a bit of a collaboration with the girl.  I told her what I planned and she agreed. 😉  Then she picked out a bunch of other fabrics for me to make her clothes.  She keeps me busy, I tell ya!

The shorts are a modified Ottobre pants pattern from a few years ago.

I increased the size, made them shorter, added to the rise and added elastic to the back.  I also did the waist band differently.  This was inspired by pinning these shorts from Zulily:

I had some black fabric that was similar to the coral fabric, so I thought it would make a great pair of shorts for Anya.

I wanted it to be contrasty, though, so I put cream underneath it.

It looks so nice inside, too!  I am getting better at doing these fly zippers.  I also really like doing snaps, as it is much easier than a button and buttonhole.

I made two shirts to go with the shorts.  Both are self-drafted.

This first is a very soft tank top, and I used up the last of this fabric on this shirt.  I had to piece together the front, and the top is part is lined, enclosing the seam across the middle.  She is a bit particular about clothes being itchy at all, and I figured the seam would be itchy.  This is a very lycra heavy shirt, so I used clear elastic at the neckline and arms to keep it from stretching out of shape.

Normal picture of Anya…in the midst of a cartwheel.

The circle shirt is from this tutorial.  For Anya I made it 32″ wide, and cut 18″ on the fold for the length.  As the fabric is lace-like, I serged the edges twice.  I then did a straight stitch and a zig zag stitch for the folded over hem.  It shouldn’t fray…I should hope!

She was very happy with this outfit.  She was so happy with it that she wore it to Catechism class, and it was 40 degrees.  I made her wear boots and a hoodie, as I was tired trying to explain to her that she might actually get cold.  She wasn’t having any of that.

Sometimes you just have to let it go, and let them learn!