And so it is done.
5 hours, 1 shirt and a ½ hour of sewing time.
I feel pretty good about it.
I think my biggest challenge was the lack of fabric I have at home to incorporate into the garment, so I only used the fabric that the shirt had to give, plus a small bias strip for the cute little ruffle.
All in all, I think I was successful, and I had a good time too.
I never felt pressed for time, only pressed for fabric. I used almost all of Manny’s old shirt, with a few small strips left over.
Sketching didn’t provide for much help either, for I was limited to what I had. The creative juices really got going once I started to hack up his dress shirt. I started by seam ripping out the collar, followed by the sleeves. Then I cut the shirt into the dark pattern striped strips and the lighter color.
By sewing these strips together I was able to create a whole new look and pattern for the fabric.
Fun!
Alright Project Runway, bring it ON!
The first challenge contestants were told they weren’t on the show yet, and that they had one final step in the interview process before they could move in to their sleeping quarters. They were to open their suitcases, grab one garment to incorporate into their next challenge. Things got really interesting when they had to hand that garment to the person on their right! YIKES!!! ½ hour of sketching time and 5 hours of sewing time, this is the shortest challenge Project Runway has served up to date, which will be a nice beginner challenge for me.
To modify this project to fit into my Home-Studio-Project-Runway challenge, I had my husband Manny grab a garment of his and put it into a paper bag, as seen here.
I will open the bag, inspect the garment, take 30 minutes to sketch and then 5 hours to sew. I will not stop the timer for pee breaks or lunch, it will continue to run until it chimes at the 5 hour mark, in which time I will stop sewing.
Ok.
I am going to open the bag… I hope it isn’t dirty underwear… or worse yet, something of mine!
Hmmm.
Kenneth Cole men’s dress shirt, complete with stain! I think I can handle this one.
Let the games begin!
I had an epiphany last night while watching the season premier of Project Runway: I can do this! As Tim Gunn was introducing the contestants, giving a little bio behind their design skills, I realized “my clothes are just as great” and in some instances “better” then some of the current contestants. I also realized how far my design skills have come in the past 4 years when I last tried out for Project Runway.
“I can do this.”
“I could totally do this.”
But I have to try out to be able to win the darn thing, so until next spring I will be taking the Project Runway Challenge, as a sort of way to train in sewing combat, boot camp style.
What is the Project Runway Challenge?
I will be taking each weeks challenge on at home, in my studio, following the shows guidelines to the best of my ability. Mind you, there are bound to be some challenges that won’t be easy to replicate, but I shall try my best. At the end of the season I too will create a scaled back line, if I make it that far!
The goal is to challenge myself and my creativity, sell each weeks garment on my website, and have the proceeds go towards my favorite animal shelter Family Dogs New Life.
I hope you join me. The challenge starts today!
