Hopscotch Romper

Presenting... the Hopscotch Romper! Project Run and Play Week Two is all about sportswear. Not jerseys and gym shorts, but defined as: stylish but wearable, comfortable and interchangeable multi-purpose clothes that combine practicability with style. For children's sportswear I instantly thought of recess. As a former first grade teacher, I've had my share of recess duty and those kids need to be able to swing, slide, climb monkey bars, and play tag (or hopscotch) without worrying about their clothes. And if you can combine comfort with style, then that's even better!

I'm a sucker for a romper. They are so comfortable and wearable, and yet they still look dressed up. For example, she could comfortably wear this Hopscotch Romper to the park and then add a big beaded necklace and look all dressed up for a friend's birthday party (it is definitely multi-purpose!). I made the romper out of a Michael Miller interlock knit fabric. If we are talking sportswear for children, it has got to be knit! This knit specifically is incredibly soft and high quality. It is nice and stretchy, but it keeps it's shape (unlike those cheap t-shirts we all have that become short and wide after we wash them). High quality knits can be pricey, but so well worth it! There's nothing worse then spending time to make something just to have it unwearable after one wear or wash.



The romper itself features a peter pan collar, sleeve and leg cuffs, a button band, and two little pockets, all trimmed with a fun mini pom-pom trim. I added an encased drawstring waist that really gives the whole thing a perfectly comfortable fit. I love to mix vintage elements with modern style and fall somewhere in between. I could see this being worn by a little girl playing hopscotch back in the sixties just as well as I can see it being worn today.



*Stop photo shoot! The hopscotch queen has fallen and has seen a drop of blood! The entire neighborhood is hearing her piercing cry.*



Will she ever hopscotch again?

Only time will tell.

Here are a few more photos of it unworn and some inside out, so that you can see better all the pieces that came together to make this romper. I wish everyone could pick it up and inspect it and feel the softness, to really show it's craftsmanship, but these pictures are the best I can do. Notice from inside out the drawstring waist and the gathering in the back neck and sleeves. This thing came together like a dream... meaning, knits are not so scary to work with and they actually are easier in many ways than regular old quilting cotton!



Oh wait... she does hopscotch again!

Please head over to Project Run and Play and VOTE for my look! I am so excited for my outfit next week (and pretty much every single challenge) so I have got to stay in the running!