SWAP what is that?

SWAP what is that?

I’m planning another fun sewing challenge for our sewing group, a SWAP using Doll Days! Sew an Everyday Wardrobe for 18″ dolls. A SWAP= sewing with a purpose.

Sewing with a purpose of creating a mix and match wardrobe.

I entered an Ottobre Magazine SWAP contest several years ago, 2012. I chose to sew for my daughter, who was 10 at the time and wore a lot of handmade, mama-made clothes up until middle school, when she began making some of her own clothes.

When I announced what the next sewing challenge would be, I got many questions about what a SWAP is. In order to help explain for particpants, I thought I would share my own SWAP.

I searched and found my old photos from the contest I entered. It started with a storyboard. Unfortunately, they have the photo bucket thing on them, but hopefully it gives everyone a good enough representation of the SWAP.

A storyboard is just a visual representation of what my plan was. The patterns and fabrics I planned to use to create a mix and match wardrobe.

Then I sewed. And sewed and sewed.

Ottobre SWAP Contest 2012

It is a larger collection than the Doll Days SWAP sewing challenge in my group. I made 2 pairs of skinny jeans, a 5 pocket denim skirt, several t-shirts, a dress shirt, some casula yoga pants, leggings, and a hoodie. My daughter helped choose the fabrics and the patterns. I surprised her with some little extras: like the cat embroidery pocket detail, appliqué tee and the belts.

I entered photos of the separates in action to create different outfits and looks 🙂

Corduroy skinny jeans with T-shirt and hoodie (velour)– casual school day.

Jeans mini skirt with leggings and long sleeve tee with double layered hem
Inside detail photo showing techniques and button-hole elastic
Pocket embroidery
Stretch Corduroy skinny jeans with pintucked dress shirt and Peace appliqué Tee
Pintucks!
Originally, I had planned to use the plaid shown in my storyboard, but changed to this poplin floral instead.
Here my daughter is wearing the moose t-shirt with cut out detail at the shoulders– yes, she was wearing those way before the trend because I made them for her
Here is her wearing another tee from the swap. It was so rewarding to see her day after day actually wearing her mama-made clothes

She loved those cut out shoulder tees so much. She requested them for a couple years after this.

Of course, once the stores started selling them and the trend started, she lost interest…she is funny that way.

It was such fun creating my SWAP entry and even more fun watching my daughter wear all her clothes she helped design throughout the year. I can’t believe it’s been 8 years now.

~Erin