Thursday, May 17, 2012

Subway Art Dresses


So this week is the final week for Project Run & Play, I am participating in the Sew Along group. This week's theme is "Signature Look". So here is mine!
I based the idea off of Subway Art that I have been seeing all over the Internet this last year. 


Not familiar with Subway Art? Here are some of my favorites: Lil Blue Boo did hers for New Year Resolutions and I Am Momma Hear Me Roar did hers on a huge piece of plywood for under $7! (I am going to be making one of these next for this very empty space on my stair well).  I thought that this would be a cool concept to use on apparel so I thought I would applique the words on to dresses for my girls.


I took look at the clothing I have created for my kids this last year I decided that my Signature Look would be that I like to add an element of flare, something to stand out, something artistic, and place it on a simple, basic well designed, dress, shirt, skirt, etc.


For my littlest, Julia's dress I used Simplicity Pattern 1949. The same pattern I used for my Hand painted Earth Day dress.  (It is my new favorite pattern!) This time I did the one with short sleeves and rounded neckline. I paired it with just an a-line skirt for the bottom so that the words are more readable. 


For my elder daughter, Jaden's dress I made up the pattern. I really like the way it turned out and how well it fits I wish I would of made a more detailed pattern that I could use again. I wanted it to have a kimono like feel with a high waist and again a simple a-line skirt, which I feel I accomplished.


Now for the words...
I choose to do phrases about each one of my girls, little saying that I thought pertanded to them, nicknames I use for them, etc. So these dresses are as original as they are!

First I designed out the words on Adobe Illustrator- size, kerning, etc.
Then fit all the words on to the 12"by 12" mat in my Sure Cuts Alot program for my cricut.
Then after watching a nice video on youTube I figured out how to cut fabric with my cricut & it worked!! All you have to do is set the blade on 4, slowest speed, and highest pressure.
You iron the interfacing on to a piece of 12" by12" fabric, pull off the paper and stick taht side, the glossy side on to the cricut mat.

And it worked! I have had some problems with getting my cricut to do want I want it to do. But this worked great and so after I pulled all the little letters off the mat I arranged them on to each skirt, leaving room for the hem on the side, top and bottom.



I little chalk helped me keep everything straight. Then I ironed everything down. The most time consuing part was to zig-zag stitching around the letters. But atually it wasn't too bad since for the little letters I just zig-zaged around the entire letter instead of outlining them.


After I finished the dresses I added a pop of color, I chose lime green.


I used a damask ribbon and made a pleated belt on one of the dresses and a ribbon belt and pleated ruffle on the bottom of the other.


So there it is my signature look!



Two special little dresses for my special little girls.


I made their little white legging from old t-shirts last year in this post: Refashioning Is New To Me!


Project Run & Play has been so fun for me this year. I have grown so much in my sewing skills as well as in my designs. I stuggled to meet the deadlines, come up with ideas and even had to relize that some ideas just don't come out as you thought! Being in a contest has really challanged me and I loved every minute of it. So I am off to make a couple skirts for Skirt Week over at Crafterhours blog!!!
Have a great weekend!

11 comments:

  1. Those are freaking awesome!! What special dresses!! Love love love!

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  2. Those are so adorable. One-of-a-kind, but very professional too! I love the high contrast colors you chose. I got a Silhouette Cameo for Mother's Day and am hoping to put it to use cutting out fabric. This might inspire me to try sooner rather than later!

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    1. Thanks! I was really surprised how great the circuit cut fabric, I thought there would be tearing and bunching up, but no, it really worked great! Good luck on your project!

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  3. Absolutely amazing, as is everything you've made throughout pr&p. You've been my Friday treat every week, I'm so sad it's all over. Your children are so lucky, I would LOVE somebody to be able to make those dresses for me... And all the others you've made. Congratulations Jessica, You've absolutely rocked all the way through

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    1. THANKS! This comment alone made these 6 weeks totally worth it! Thanks for stopping by all these weeks!!

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  4. I wish I could think of something as eloquent as Joanna above said- but really and truly YOU ROCK!

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    1. Ahhhh, for your nice comment I am going to make you a really nice baby gift :)

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  5. You are beyond talented and I love each and every post you make! Those are beyond darling!!

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  6. Have loved seeing what you've made each week. My little one is just 3 months old and you inspire me to want to design clothes for her. I just wish the fabric here in the UK wasnt so hard to come by or so expensive! But I've enjoyed using up quilting fabric to make shoes to match her outfits.

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  7. Cute, cute, cute! So much love poured into your work and girls.

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