Here’s a sneak peek at boring project week projects #2 and #3. A new set of P.J.’s for me! I just finished them a bit ago so no boudoir shots (bad late night light)! In fact, there may not be any boudoir shots if I can’t figure out a reasonable way to model the very snug shirt for internet distribution. I love seeing finished projects on real, live people and usually feel cheated when the finished projects are on hangers or dress forms. So I’ll see what I can do tomorrow. In the meantime…
[new pink and polka dot jammies!]
For this project I wanted some good flannel-backed satin PJ bottoms. Score! Hot pink! No freezing when the basset hound makes me go outside at 5 in the morning! I also am trying to re-create my favorite type of shirt for sleeping – a super supportive, very stretchy camisole.
I found the pink and white cami material at Joann’s. The print is swimwear material, but it’s the perfect fabric – sort of slippery, thick and stretchy. I checked out the fiber content of the pink and white material and compared to my Target (as in purchased at a Target store) camis. They’re both around 85% nylon and the rest spandex. Which doesn’t seem like it should be a comfy mix of fibers to sleep in.
So about knits. I haven’t sewed much with knits. A few tank tops this summer and the birthday jammies for Dan had a shirt that was made of sweatshirt fleece. I picked up New Look 6950 along with the hot pink satin and the swimwear material – the cami looked promising, and the raglan shirt is exactly what I was looking for last week**. Once I got home I started examining the measurements on the pattern envelope, comparing to my measurements and to the flat measurements of one of my Target cami’s. I googled a variety of disjointed phrases (i.e. “negative ease sleepwear elastic”) and found a pretty interesting (although oddly toned) site, Pattern School, with a load of technical information on sewing swimwear and dancewear.
**The raglan shirt looks perfect, but the reviews on pattern review aren’t so promising. And my experience with knits won’t provide a lot of help. Grr.
I ultimately decided that it wasn’t worth it to cut the New Look pattern. The photos I looked at on patternreview.com showed the fit of the shirt as pretty generous – not what I needed for my sleeping cami! I thought a lot about the percentage of stretch my fabric had. About my bust size. About what 12% of my bust size is. Whether or not my wimpy shoulders would matter in a cami. I finally just laid my Target-cami over my PJ material and used a clear ruler to cut around the sides, then I tucked in the straps, followed the line of the front pattern piece and then did the same for the back piece. Of course, I forgot to add seam allowances.
I also picked up some stretch 3/8” elastic lace (meant for lingerie and underoos!) and used that to finish the top edges and make little spaghetti straps. It worked amazingly well! I sewed on with hot-pink contrast thread and a zig zag stitch (2.5mm wide, 2.0mm long). I went off track a bit and had to start over which is why there’s the little ribbon and flower decoration to cover the stitching mess. Well, that and I like ribbons and flowers! The flowers are from a vintage snood! I left the bottom hem unfinished. I like how it’s smooth and comfy, so I’ll see how it wears. I might pick up some more of the elastic lace to add to the bottom – I only bought 2 yards and used that up on the top edge and the spaghetti straps.
So I’ll see how it feels in the morning, sleeping in a swimsuit! Three boring-week projects down!
Boring project week!
ApronPJ bottomsPJ cami- PJ bottoms
- Winter coat reline
4 [comments]:
It looks lovely. If your machine will use a double needle, I'd use that to finish the bottom---I think elastic would be unnecessary/uncomfortable there. Tracing an existing tank-top is how I got my favourite pattern, too! :) You could try putting in a shelf-bra in the next one if you want extra support... just an extra layer over the bust on the inside, with elastic along the bottom (not sure if you need that sleeping/find them comfy or not). It looks gorgeous---hope they're super comfy to sleep in!
They may not seem exciting, but the "boring" projects are probably the ones you'll get the most use out of. Besides, you have un-borified the pajamas!
Cute! I love the colours you chose. That pants fabric looks divine!
I've yet to get a good fit using a knit pattern. It always turns out too big and then I need to take in the sides a lot. In one knit shirt I made, I originally cut a size 12 (when I normally do a size 14 or 16), and still had to take in each side by 3/8", and it's now a comfortably loose fit. I think having a RTW piece to compare to is really helpful.
H- I know! Especially with PJs like this - I bet what I cut is comparable to the patterns size 8 or 10, and by my high bust measurements, I'd have started with an 18! I have SIGNIFICANT negative ease built in - almost 10" from my actual bust measurement!
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