Project run and play week 2 – Holiday fashion

Holiday fashion - Festive,forage and glow

So I made it through to the next round of run and play and this weeks theme is Holiday Fashion!

If you would like to vote for my project or any other designers project in this season, please go to Project run and play.

Autumn/winter is such a busy time for us with foraging for the last of the berries/hips etc and taking part in various events such as lighting up the town lantern parade, making decorations and visiting Santa in his workshop.

When I saw this Lillestoff fabric with the lanterns,, from Splashings of fabric. I knew it would be perfect for the seasons activities, especially the lantern making and Light up the town parade which finishes in the switching on of the towns lights and Christmas tree. 

Unfortunately this event doesn’t take place for another couple of weeks (and it’s in the dark, so there are no photos of the event – yet!). So we had our own light parade in the woods as practice. 

I wanted to make the boys a new top based on some wishes and wants that have been mentioned time and time again- so with a tight deadline, it was perfect idea to try and fulfil those desires. Nothing like giving yourself a challenge.

 They always want to take a toy (or two) on their adventures but the side pockets are never big enough for hands and toys. And the problem with backpacks, is that the toy is on the back – which means they don’t get to hold or see the toy.

 I had the brainwave of a pouch type pocket from my baby wearing days – this mean they could still use the side pockets for warm hands and  have another pocket to hold the toy safely (sticks, stones, feathers…..). Dad is very pleased to stop being the cart horse for everything. And the toys are very happy to get out and about safely.

The other big want was – thumbhole cuffs! They are forever losing their gloves and after me wear a top with such cuffs, they decided that this was the absolute biggest want for a new top ever. 

As you can see they got a big thumbs up.

they also could use them quite easily for foraging and other activities. I have a feeling I’ll be making many more.

I decided to also have a bit of fun with the design and include chunky buttons (my favourite) and an open faced hood and top half to give a traditional look with a medieval feel. 

I added a flap for over the pouch pocket so it can be closed to prevent any loss of valuables (there is an inner popper closure as well as the outer button tabs. The pouches made it much easier to forage as well for the last of the rose hips and hawthorns as the toys could hide inside the pockets. 

We will have fun in the next few weeks making more hawthorne ketchup for gifts and rosehip syrup to help ward off colds and sneezes.

(N.B.please do not pick wild produce unless you have a clear ID and always leave  2/3 thirds for the birds etc. I have been doing this for some time and the boys are slowly learning what can and can’t be picked).

Please note for decent photos, the toys were removed. The tops are made from organic French Terry. I will be looking at developing this pattern for sale in the near future as I was quite pleased with it.

 

As well as foraging and lantern parades, we also go to visit Santa in his workshop – a portal opens up at the local silver lead mine so Santa can expand his storage area for presents and exercise the reindeer on the hills.

You can visit the reindeer, see elves working and get to meet Santa after a guided tour of the workshop and stables! Sadly as you can see, despite peeking in the window, it still hasn’t opened up yet. 

However we spent some time helping make Christmas decorations with Messy Church (and those thumbholes were still being used inside as well as out!)

As the hoodies are button up necks, I needed to create a top to go underneath to keep them toasty warm in the colder months.

 I hit on the idea of drafting a long sleeved turtleneck top as it will keep the neck warm and provide a nice pop of colour when the tops are unbuttoned and hoods down. Again, I think I’ll develop it for future release one day.

These are made from an organic cl and have a lovely drape and cosy feel. To also pair with the under tops, and for times when they will be wearing tops without hoods, 

I also made them a pair of Pixie  Coifs from my own pattern which are great for staying on the head in strong winds and keeping necks, ears and heads toasty warm. They also give a little festive feel and pair nicely with the turtle tops.

For trousers, I wanted something fairly smart looking but comfortable so I used MBJM’s Twist and Shout pattern. This is a great skinny trousers patterns and fits my slender boys so well. I used a gifted mustard needlecord from Minerva fabrics (many thanks) and a grey from my stash. 

One of the things I like about this patterns, is the top stitching elements on the pockets, legs and waistline. I decided to have a bit of fun and use a contrasting colour from the hoodies to top stitch and embroider.

One thing I love to do with matching but not matching items for the boys, is to pick out the different colours in the main printed fabric to give completely different feels and colours choices. The trousers and hood lining colours were matched as closely as possible in both outfits to give a cohesive feeling and the contrast thread used in the trousers picked out the main solids used in both tops. 

For the undertops, I went for complimentary colours to the trousers and main solids – but were still included in the printed fabrics colour palette. The Coifs are in a similar colour palette and pair with the turtle neck tops but have a slight textured pattern to allow them to stand alone as headwear.

We wish you a cool Yule! And this is how we like to spend our season – how do you like to spend yours?

 

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MotherGrimm
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