House full of Pandas |PR&P9#1|

Season 9 of Project Run & Play has kicked yesterday with the first theme being Take me to the Zoo. Goal: create an outfit inspired on our/our kid's favourite animal, trying to stay away from costumes though. 

Ever since I saw the themes, I've spent a while thinking about it. I wanted to make something for the baby, then something for G. and just couldn't decide. I thought about the elephant shirt idea (maybe later, because it's really cute), then cats because we've got two, the shark hoddies and then I kept seeing teenagers wearing cute Panda hoodies... 

And it hit me! I want to make Panda inspired clothes for my kids too. They are just too cute and sweet, and they are black and white and G. loves Pandas because of Canal Panda. I only had to decide what to do. I wanted to do something quick and easy because, you know, I've been having lots to sew (with a couple pattern testing in the middle too). So, I didn't get to be that creative. I used other's creativity and just made my takes on some things I had seen online.

First thing on the list. I had to get that Panda hoodie done for one of my kids. Which one? Well, let's start with the baby, shall we?! Now, if you still don't know it... because I have mentioned it to some friends but haven't said it clear out here, the baby that's on the way is a... roll drum... baby BOY! And my first sewing project for him and him only was this hoodie. You can imagine how much I love it, right?!

Especially because I have used one of his sister's shirt that doesn't fit anymore and I wasn't going to put him on. It was all fury, with finishing details in pink, such as the ruffles in the sleeves and hem, the pink bias in the collar and the flower embroidery in the front. 

So, the first thing I did was to deconstruct everything. I used the back of the original one to make my hoodie's front. Lucky for me, instead of pink too, the snaps on it were white. I then used the sleeves to draft new, without the puffiness of the original ones (another girly feature I wanted to get rid of). Those original white sleeves were transformed into the Panda's head. For the black parts I used some velvet I had in my stash for years. And I used rib knit for the cuffs that I had saved from previously refashioned (men) hoodies. 

When I was done with it, I just knew I had to make something for my big girl. I had seen an online Panda look that I loved and wanted to re-create that too. I was running out of any refashionable item to make the mismatched striped leggings, but I had this t-shirt from dad in my pile, and the word fashion standing out caugh my attention. I still could make a mismatched pair of leggings for her. 

But before I made the leggings, I finally made an Izzy top (free PDF pattern). I've been wanting to try this pattern since the day I first saw it over Climbing the Willow. I've seen wonderful pieces created with it, but was always postponing it. No more. I finally tried it myself and am a fan. I didn't line mine though, I used a white t-shirt from my stash to refashion, and the black ribbon knit for the bias again. I also made mine about 2-3 inches longer than the pattern. So it looks more like a dress than a top. I still haven't tried it on my girl.

I followed instructions and used the button tab and everything. But I forgot I wasn't lining, I was using bias instead and the tab had to go over it. I don't dislike it though, looks different but in a good way. I should have made the button tab just a bit longer for it to look better. It almost didn't have enough lengh to actually close. I've used a metallic snap.

For the eyes and ears of the Panda, I used sequined fabric I had in my stash, I added interface to make it stiffer. I embroidered the muzzle in a light pink. Half way through it I thought I could use a slightly darker thread but was too lazy to undo and redo it all over.

And that's it from me. There's a lot more inspiration for kids animal inspired clothes at the link party over PR&P.