Kwik Sew workout wear - K690

I need ideas...I need to add something to the back...I can deal with straps,  just not the whole back of my bra.

Tie-dyed cheer outfit

Gracie's new uniform for Cheer Extreme was the inspiration for this design. Because of a rule change with USASF (the governing body for all-star cheer), athletes competing in age divisions below senior level have to have their midriffs covered (yes, the power mesh counts). Her uniform is a bodysuit with off-the-shoulder long sleeves, a solid portion under the sports bra, and an open back power mesh body suit. These things are a bit of a pain because they snap at the crotch (under the skirt with its attached boy shorts), but they look cute. The girls on the senior teams (and those that cross-over between younger teams and senior teams) can roll the mesh bodysuit up and tuck it under the sports bra.

Since sometimes Gracie likes sleeves on her practice wear in the winter, I used this design as inspiration for a three piece set.

I didn't want to do a bodysuit, but I did want sleeves that she could wear when it's cold or remove when it's warmer. Jalie 2913 is a figure skating dress that worked perfectly for this. I cropped it, and added 1/4 inch elastic at the bottom so it would stay put without being bulky to layer (which is also why the bodice is white spandex while the sleeves are white stretch velvet).

The crop top is a version of Jalie 3354, a leotard, cropped into a sports bra (view A). It is finished at the top with white FOE and a green and blue tie-dye FOE that complements the tie-dye spandex really well. I added a band of white stretch velvet (with elastic inside) at the bottom.

The two pieces layer well to make one look, while the tie-dye piece can also work on its own. (I wouldn't do the long sleeve piece separately without added the straps from the pattern.)

For the skirt, I used boy shorts from Jalie 3247 - one of my go-to patterns with the A-line skirt from Jalie 3025. Again I mixed the stretch velvet and the tie-dye spandex. (Gracie and I both are in love with this fabric combo. I love the look, and she loves the feel!)

 She did some modeling tonight while she stretched.

 The cat was not super-impressed with her outfit or her handstand, but I think she looks great.

 Sometimes she gives me attitude when I start the modeling photos - lol.

 Here's the outfit minus the long sleeve piece.

Here's the other piece of sewing inspired by the CEA uniforms - crotch snap extenders...I have made a TON of these! Otherwise, thanks to some so-so fitting on Varsity's part, many of the girls are in wedgie-land without some extra room. (They fitted the girls on a different style bodysuit with fabric that clearly had more stretch and recovery...)

After all, if you are going to do all this - whether on the competition mat or in practice, you'd better have the right outfit!

 (These pictures are from the Cheer Extreme Allstars Showcase, UCA regionals in Winston-Salem, and Cheer Extreme's X-evolution event.)

70's vintage inspired Simplicity

 The colors, the styles, the prints...so 70's! I found these fabrics at Joann's and had a good time making some bold vintage looks I can wear now (and one for this summer).

The dress is a vintage Simplicity pattern that has recently been reprinted as Simplicity 8013. You ONLY need 6 yards of the fashion fabric and a few more yards to line it with.

The plaid skirt is super simple to make from Simplicity 2184, but a bit nerve-wracking to cut and have the plaid look good on the bias.

I picked up Simplicity 1100 ( a reprint of a Super Jiffy Simplicity pattern) and saw this great fabric - all of these fabrics came from Hancock's, by the way. They have had some good stuff lately. It's a swimsuit cover-up that just wraps and ties. Can't you picture it on a California beach next summer (or by the pool here in North Carolina)?