Project Run and Play: Summer Hack-stravaganza

I have to confess: I have a hacking problem. It is a rare day when I will leave a pattern *completely* alone. Aside from pattern testing. And even then I push limits by using fabrics that juuuusst barely make the recommended fabric list. What can I say? I’m a rebel. 😎

I also happen to really love sewing collections. In case that is not painfully obvious. 😜 So it’s basically a given that I can’t sew just ONE hack for the Project Run and Play Summer HACK-stravaganza. I did limit myself to 8 pieces though. No need to go overboard. 🙃

The rules for this blog tour are super simple. Choose a pattern from the Project Run and Play shop, and hack it to resemble something from a RTW (ready to wear) line. I have been oogling Louise Misha for over a year now, and each collection they release is my new favorite!! One of my favorite feeds on Instagram, hands down.

As I started studying the pieces, I realized that a lot of them are already *very* similar to several of the patterns in the PRP shop! Aside from a few crazy things, most of the pieces I made can hardly be considered hacks, if they are at all. Can you pick out which patterns I used? 😏😏

My favorite thing to do when I start putting together a collection is shopping my stash and doing a fabric pull. It’s so inspiring to see pretty fabrics coming together and coordinating, and it always makes me itch to get started cutting (easily the worst part of sewing, am I right?) I was amazed that I only purchased ONE thing for this collection!! The yellow lace for the overalls. And that was actually a dress that I upcycled. Thanks Half of Half!

Let’s break down the looks! Today, I’ll be sharing the pattern and fabric info, and tomorrow you’ll get a juicy post loaded with step by step photos that will *hopefully* help you if you want to hack some of these patterns yourself!

We’ll start with the simple ones. For this look, I used the Tip Top Tunic, basically as is. I made a few adjustments to the main body pieces so i could use the edge of this pretty eyelet that I rescued from my mother-in-law’s long forgotten fabric box almost 5 years ago. Way at the beginning of my children’s sewing journey! I also lined it, because the eyelet is very sheer. I’m also a huge fan of trim! It takes any pattern to the next level. This pink mini pom pom trim is from JoAnn’s, in their “by the spool” section.

I sacrificed some of my clearance Hobby Lobby fabric for these cute yellow shorts. They are actually the Seed Jumpsuit, shorts version, with an elastic casing around the legs. Super easy, and super cute! The main fabric is a very lightweight poly…something. It is lined with cheap interlock, which I buy in bulk from Stylish Fabric. Their prices are unbeatable, and it comes in over 60 colors! My daughter loves the softness against her skin. I prefer lining drapey wovens like chiffon with the interlock rather than a more structured woven, because it keeps the drape of the light fabrics and is much more comfortable to wear.

There are several good basic tee patterns in the PRP shop, but the Lemon Tee is quickly becoming my go-to. I just love the finish on the back neckline, it looks so professional! I have a sacred stash of modal knit from Raspberry Creek Fabrics, and this collection called for something a little more special than just your average cotton lycra. It is soooo comfy, all three cousins wanted to take it home after the shoot! And you know I can’t let a t-shirt go naked, so I dressed this one up with some vinyl. Look for this graphic coming to the Made of Starlite digital shop soon!

I spent entirely too much time figuring out these shorts. Since researching for the Project Watercolor Beach lookbook, I have had a vision of pink chiffon culottes with a paper bag waist and satin ties that I could NOT get out of my head! Luckily, the Metro Shorts, from the Project Street Style collection have that paper bag waist and easy fit, so theoretically it should have been simple to just add a bit of width right??

My fatal flaw was making the lining and the chiffon two different widths. I added inches to the chiffon to get more of a culotte look, but cut the lining to the original pattern. Mostly because that’s all the fabric I had, and I didn’t want to drive to the store. I honestly still would have been OK had I not been determined to have pockets. If you want to try something similar, please take my advice: cut linings the same as the overlay!!! It will save you SO. MUCH. SEAM RIPPING. Good thing the girls (and moms!) were all gushing over those dreamy shorts. They almost broke me.

Here is that sweet Tip Top Tunic again, this time featured with my favorite: the lace overalls! I used the Flying Fox overalls, in gorgeous chunky lace, lined with my favorite interlock. I believe I’ve seen similar lace on the Stylish Fabric website. Maybe not in this buttery yellow, but for sure in ivory!

The change I made to the overalls was to add straps to the front bib as well, so that they could tie at the shoulders, rather than buckle. In the future, I will probably change out the ties for satin or ribbon, because I didn’t make the back straps long enough. Also, the lace is really too bulky to make a really pretty bow, so I think something smoother would lay better.

Probably the hack I am most proud of is this lemon dress! Can you guess which pattern it started as?? No!? The Soleil Skirt! Full details tomorrow, but it was super simple, and I am completely smitten. Don’t tell the chiffon shorts, but it’s probably my favorite piece!

I found the lemon fabric burried on the clearance shelf at Fabricland two summers ago. It’s a fantastic, light weight, mystery poly fabric, and 60″ wide! The reason most people probably passed it by, is that half the fabric is this hot mess. 😬😬

Well, at $3 CAD a yard, I figured I didn’t mind only 30″ of pretty fabric, so I bought the whole 4 yards, and prayed it would be enough for whatever pattern I landed on! Lucky me; even after this twirl-tastic beauty, I still have over a yard left!! The internet is a huge place, and I’m sure somewhere there is a person who could love the other half of this fabric. If you find them, or are them! You know where to find me. 😏😏

The tassels are just that something extra, you know? 😍😍😍 I need 10 yards of tassels in every color.

I bet you REALLY can’t guess which pattern this little pink dress is!! I’ll give you a hint: It’s designed for knits!

Give up?? Ok, ok, I’ll tell you. It’s the Easy Street Tee!! With a LOT of modifications. I literally could have made my life a million times easier starting with something like the Maria Blouse, but I decided the morning of the photoshoot that I needed one more pink piece, so I had to work with the patterns I had on hand. Although, now that I think of it, the Seed jumpsuit would probably have worked as well. But I think it turned out just fine!

There are definitely a few things I would tweak if I were to do it again, but overall, I’m super proud of how it all came together. And in only a few hours to boot! We are so excited that this little cousin moved to the midwest this summer, and couldn’t pass up the opportunity to include her in a photoshoot. 😍😍

I honestly have NO idea where this pink voile came from. It’s been in my stash forever. Probably Fabricland. That is where I’ve found so many awesome treasures! I know I say it a lot, but I sure miss shopping there, grumpy employees and all. 😥 The lace is vintage lace, from my late grandmother’s stash. I only took a few things, because I was not sewing as much when she passed, but my sister grabbed a few trims. She gifted them to me this past Christmas, along with some of her vintage patterns, which are on display in my sewing room! I love having family heirlooms to remind me that I come from a long line of seamstresses on both sides of my lineage. 🥰🥰

This last piece was the last thing we photographed, and the rest of the models were hot and tired, and we left the water bottles at the house (a whole half mile away 🙄), which translates to only two useable shots of the last model standing. Who is also my daughter. Who was more motivated to finish because if we photograph it, she can wear it on vacation Friday. Also gummy bears were involved. 😉

I ordered this lemon sport lycra from Spoonflower when I began sewing swimsuits, but have been too scared to cut into it until now! When you pay those crazy Spoonflower prices, it’s hard to make yourself go for it. But I am SO happy I did, because look how cute!! the white lazer cut “lace” was upcycled from a women’s swimsuit that I found at Half of Half (*best* “fabric” store ever) I didn’t cut it or anything, just painstakingly unpicked it from that suit and added it to mine.

This is the Viridian Swimsuit, with a pieced back hack so I could use the full ruffle. It is a relatively straightforward hack, just transfer the lines from the front pieces to the back pieces!

I hope you are sufficiently inspired. I LOVE this collection!! I will always love bold and bright colors, but putting this together, it was hard to choose a favorite piece because everything is SO pretty! I will definitely be doing more of this style in the future. Stay tuned for an even longer tutorial post tomorrow!!