Let's Play the "Glad Game!"

"Let's Go to the Movies!" was one of the challenges of Project Run and Play, Season 4. Our initial thoughts: a BIG belly laugh followed by a 'x' on our to-do list. You see, we're not big movie-goers. Not because we don't like movies, but because we just don't make time to go to them! 

Then, we started thinking....and the emails/texts started flying back and forth. Emily {suzanne} mentioned, "What about Pollyanna? Sailor-style, drop-waist outfits are making a comeback!" Unbeknownst to her, Ashley {frances} was doing a little research of her own, on you guessed it, Pollyanna. She had downloaded various web images of Pollyanna's sailor styles throughout the movie, and was in the process of sending them. Sometimes it's scary how much we think alike!!

Pollyanna was a childhood favorite of ours! Our mom even called Emily {suzanne} her little "Pollyanna" during her younger years... Check out these timeless Pollyanna sailor styles that we discovered on our walk down memory lane:

We began with the vintage pattern, Butterick 2760, found on etsy, and a grainy Pollyanna image (more on that fiasco later). Vintage patterns have always been intriguing to us...and what better time to try one than during Project Run and Play, right??

Modifications were needed. These included:

1. Make the outfit one-piece, instead of two separate ones.

2. Add a drop-waist sash with unique button tabs. While the button tabs on Pollyanna's original outfit sold us on making this outfit, we felt as if the vertical button sash tabs would dwarf our niece in comparison to her body and build. So, we made the sash tab buttons horizontal instead.

3. Lengthen the sleeves and add a faux cuff.

4. Double the ribbon trim around the collar area.

We've heard that vintage pattern directions are different, and not for the faint of heart. After reading and re-reading the dickey instructions, we realized there was LOTS of truth to that adage. In fact, we almost didn't complete the project because of that stinking dickey! The unfinished project laid untouched for at least 48 hours. And for those of you that sew-along with Project Run and Play, you know you don't have 48 hours to waste!!

Then, there was this little problem....playing our 25+ year old VHS version of the movie and pausing it for a picture. An unraveling tape, awful picture quality, and a pending deadline were not exactly how we envisioned an outfit based on "positive thoughts!" We have since bought a DVD, and had to include a VHS "flashback" for your viewing pleasure.

At the end of the week's competition, we were still able to play the "Glad Game"...something we tend to make a habit of in our sewing projects! It lightens the struggles we often face in our sewing process.

So, what exactly were we glad about in this round of the Project Run and Play sew-along?

* We were glad we were able to pick out our fabric, notions, etc. in approximately 25 minutes one evening before Joann's closed (a RECORD for us in any fabric store!)

* We finished by the deadline (and had an attached dickey in the outfit)

* We sewed from a vintage pattern with little hair loss and/or graying in the process

* The VHS tape was not permanently stuck in the VHS player

* We were wrong about our predicted sew-along winner for the week (another 'game' we play)

* Because...we walked away with $25 to spend on fabric at the end of the day!!