Mademoiselle muscle tee flip

Project Run & Play is one of those events in the sewing blogosphere that I like to watch but rarely join in on. This time it worked out to sew along because Stella is rapidly growing out of her tee shirts! Also, it fit well with the flip this pattern challenge over at Frances Suzanne because the challenge this month is to use a free pattern (although I didn't end up using the pattern, so I'm not sure how well it fits).

This month the Project Run & Play challenge was to use the Mademoiselle Muscle Tee from Living with Punks as inspiration. I loved the version she made with the striped neck and arm bands cut on the bias. The pattern is a size 5, so rather than size it down, I used it as inspiration and drafted my own. This is what I came up with.

 

It's far from perfect and barely long enough to be functional, but I'm proud of it anyway. It's the first clothing item I've drafted from scratch! I could have used a bodice pattern I already had, but I wanted it to be free, and I've wanted to try my hand at drafting a pattern for awhile anyway. I grabbed one of Stella's knit dresses to trace for the bodice and then I freehanded the sleeves and peplum. It's an awful lot like several patterns I've made, but after awhile they all are. And it turned out okay! (The arm bands could have been a couple inches shorter.)

Stella hated it. As in, even though I told her it was just a shirt before putting it on her, she ran around screaming that it wasn't a twirly dress! Sometimes she makes sewing a little less fun. Also, I think I probably need to start letting her have a little input into the design for it to be fun for her.

One last totally unrelated thing. I ran across something awesome on my facebook feed last night. It's the non-profit organization Days for Girls, that delivers handmade (by folks like you and me) reusable pads to girls in developing nations that don't have access to tampax and always. Without them, they end up staying home from work or school when it's their time of the month. I have a bunch of leftover PUL from making diapers and I'm adding this to my sewing resolutions this year. A way to make a difference using my sewing skills? Awesome! If you have leftover PUL or are just curious, go check it out!