Hi Everyone! This week we have two fun things to talk about - Personalizing your project and a fun giveaway to enter! Sounds fun, right?
To kick things off, let's do the giveaway! (giveaway ended on 12/2019)
This past summer I had the opportunity to visit London. It was an amazing trip filled with site seeing, shopping and spreading the word about Sew Powerful at the Birmingham Quilt Festival! While I was there I visited the Liberty London flagship store! It was breathtaking, to say the least!
While I was there, I visited Liberty Fabrics up on the top floor! Wow! So many amazing fabrics! It was hard to pick just a few to bring back home with me!
This week, I'm going to share my splurge purchase with one of you! The giveaway for this week is for two 1/3 yard cuts of Liberty cotton lawn, and one adorable London theme print.
How To Enter:
Comment below by answering this question - "What course topics or specific techniques would you like to see us present in 2020?"
The giveaway will close on Monday, November 18th. I'll announce the winner on Tuesday, November 19th and kick off the next giveaway! The winner will be chosen at random from the comments posted under this blog post. One entry per person.
Good luck!
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Ok, now onto the topic for part 2 - Personalizing your project!
There are several ways to really make your item special! Now it's time to refer to your project planner worksheet and look for ways to integrate the information you've collected.
I'm going to share a few ideas below, gathered from some online inspiration. Then I'm going to pull some instructional content from our video library for the specific techniques to add those elements to your projects.
1. Create a look to match their favorite character, from a book, movie, fairytale, or even a drawing!
The examples posted below are from the Janie and Jack website. They just launched a campaign of fashions inspired by iconic women featured in a new children's book!
In this concept, they're selling the matching children's clothing. For our purposes, I'm using this example to illustrate matching a character for the doll clothes item. The key elements are color, special attention to design elements (like the ruffle bell sleeve on the black dress), and of course the props and accessories. We'll go into the accessories in greater detail next week - stay tuned for that!
The pattern selection for many of these types of ideas is usually pretty basic. The personalization comes from fabric choices and colors!
2. Add embellishments that highlight their love of a specific animal!
In these examples, you can see how simple applique shapes and stitching add to the charm of these basic designs.
Does she love kitties? ThesePJss would be perfect! Animal print knit and a few fabric shapes, create a cute kitty-themed set!
Maybe it's a polar bear or any other cuddly furry animal... In this example, a half-circle sewn on top of the bottom of the shirt with a few added details (eyes ears, and nose) and you have a darling personalized top! Take it one step further and use a fuzzy fleece for the face and glittery fabrics for the nose!
3. How about a favorite color?
In the example below, you can see how they took a classic item, the denim jacket, and created a super girly style! Adding pink sleeves and hood are an easy way to create something special for someone who loves pink. What about rainbows (or hearts, stars, and flowers)? The painted element on the back of the jacket is a super cute "surprise" design element! You can achieve this look with fabric paint, hand made applique or a prepurchased iron on.
4. Add a saying or quote that is special to the recipient!
The "Let it Snow" Piccadilly PJs show this example with the use of a design we created on an electronic cutting machine. Once it's designed int he software, it is cut from a purchased roll of heat transfer vinyl. This is super easy to do once you have a machine and learn to use it.
You can also do this with premade purchased designs, but they might be harder to find in the proper scale.
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- Read through the post and think of a way to add some personalization to your project! Share your progress with us in the facebook group - I'd love to see how things are progressing!
- Jump over the SWC Facebook Group here.
103 Comments
Hi, thanks so much for this giveaway! I would love to see a course on how to adjust the fit of patterns for different dolls as there is variation among the AG dolls in size. I would love to know how to accurately adjust a pattern to fit a doll better if it is too big or too small. This would be different from making your own patterns, like in the pattern academy. Thanks!!!
Ooh, I love Liberty of London! Thanks for the giveaway! I would like to know how to work with woven woolens and other fabrics that ravel, stretch out of shape and warp easily. I have tried so many things and nothing is working quite right!
Thanks so much for the giveaway. I bet you could be lost in that store for hours. As to a new topic, I also would love more info on the best way to use my serger, accessories such as backpacks, purses, jewelry and belt would also be great but what I would love to see is merging topics such as how to use overlays with embroidery (think adding 3D tulle to a ballerina, pockets w/ bows, etc. Cartoon character imprints on pants, things like that. It adds so much interests and personalization to an outfit but many of us don’t know how to do it without and additional machine. My two cents for a Christmas wish!
There are several things I would find helpful and interesting;
1. Ergonomics. How to pick a chair for sewing. How to set up your workspace to protect your back and neck. How to pick lighting to help avoid eyestrain. The best way to set up your space for ease of movement while in a sewing frenzy.
2. Serging for doll clothes. Tips and tricks
3. I would like to see a series on making some of the PVC furniture patterns. I know it’s not sewing but it is something that is doll related.
4. Hats! All kinds of hats.
5. Fabric. How to choose the right fabric for the right outfit. Also working with difficult fabrics like real velvet, furs, chiffon and plaids.
I would like to have courses on making accessories and jewelry for the dolls. I enjoy all of your classes and learn something from every one. Thanks to you and all of your colleagues who participate in these great learning opportunities.