Summer Pajamas

 Hello Readers. It is warming up so that means light weight clothes and light weight pajamas. I wanted a simple light weight night shirt and I thought this upcycled sheet would make a great one. (Spoiler- It wasn't great!)

Before and after.

 

The sheet was divided in half using 2 patterns. I decided to use one half for my night shirt. 

 

I cut out the front and back of the night shirt.
 

I sewed the side seams to connect the front and back.

 

I used my serger on the neck and arm holes then I turned the edges under and stitched them down with my sewing machine.

 

I added the button at the neck just for decoration. 

 

And.... I don't love it. It looks like a hospital gown. Ugh! This was not the vision! I shortened it and it still looked like I was a runway from the Emergency Unit. If I make a coordinating robe from the rest of this sheet, will it improve the hospital vibe??? Check back tomorrow and you'll see the robe and decide if this was a whole thing was a good idea.
 

 

 

 

 

 

Bassinet Sheets to Pajamas

 Hello Readers. I was given a big pile of the cutest bassinet sheets. They were soft cotton knit, like t-shirt material.  I don't have a bassinet or a baby so I could do something else with these sheets. I decided to make pajamas.

 Who needed new pajamas? Me!

A sweet wonderful on-line sewing friend @brightpracticalfabricart sent me a collection of cotton knit bassinet sheets made by Poppi & Max

These are a soft knit cotton, like a t-shirt. I first noticed the giraffe and it really caught my eye. (My mom loved giraffes and they make me think of her.) This is a really pretty giraffe. I cut the elastic from the outer edge of each bassinet sheet and then I thought about what to make. 

 

I realized I needed summer pajamas and since I am a hot sleeper, tank tops would be great. And they don't use a large amount of fabric. I had smallish pieces of fabric to work with here so this seemed like a good plan. I used the Luna Pattern by Helen's Closet Patterns. You can download it online and it is such an easy sewing pattern to use.

 

  I extended the length of the body as far as I could with the length of the bassinet sheets. I wanted a longish shirt.

 

 I could get one tank top from 2 sheets. One sheet for the front of the shirt and one for the back. 

 

I made matching shorts to go with each shirt. 

 

 I used other shorts as a pattern. And I kind of made it up as I went along. That wasn't  perfect because the fabric was different in stretch.

 

I added a center piece to make the shorts wider. That worked really well. The next pair I cut bigger and wider so I did not need to do this.

 

I used elastic for the waistband that I had it on hand. I wanted to use items I had. I used blue thread in my serger for the edges of the shirt and legs of the shorts. I liked the contrast of colors.

I made 4 sets of pajamas, but these giraffes are definitely my favorite. I used pink elastic and white thread for this set. The giraffe is the star of the show. Thanks for reading along, now go make something fun for yourself.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

House Dress to Pajamas

 Hello Readers. It is spring and that means it is getting warmer and we don't need to bundle up like we live in the arctic. This blue plaid fabric just says spring. Let's make some light weight spring pajamas.

Grandmom's house dress to fun pajamas. (This is not really my Grandmom's dress. I wish it was.)

I used a pattern for boxer style pajama shorts. I cut the shorts out from the bottom of the dress. The hem of the dress will be the hem of the shorts. That will save me a lot of time. 

I sewed the 2 pieces of the shorts together. 

I folded the waist down and made a casing for elastic, put in the elastic and sewed the casing shut. 

I used the top of the dress for the pajama top. I cut most of the skirt off the top. I kept some of the skirt so the pajama top would be long enough. I hemmed the bottom of the new shirt and used my hair straightener to iron the hem. It works so well. 

My new pajamas were ready. I love them! I might wear these out and about. If you see me out there, don't say anything, just pretend that these are really clothes. Thanks for reading along, Now go make something fun for yourself. 

***Year End Update***- It is too cold to wear these now but they are great summer jammies.

Valentine's Day Nightshirt

 Hello Readers. Valentine's Day is next week. I found this Valentine's Day theme fabric a month or 2 ago. It has super cute vintage looking Valentines all over it. It was a thin light weight fleece and I thought fleece would make a great night shirt. 

Before and after.

I like to hunt for fabric at Goodwill and that was where I found this fabric. It was pinned to some black fleece. I think someone was going to make a blanket. 

As with anything I buy, I washed it right away. 

 

 I got my pattern. I used Very Easy Very Vogue 8062. This shirt was very oversized and I thought it would make a great night shirt if I added to the length.

I played with the pattern pieces a little to see if I could fit my night shirt and a small pair of pajama pants. I thought I could. 

I cut out the pieces. 

I cut out the neck facing pieces. 

 

I started sewing, and it was a very simple project.

 

I put the right sides together and sewed the side seams and shoulders.

 

I added some decorative stitches at the neckline.

 

It looked kind of like this. 

 

It going to look like this when I am sleeping.

 

And the little pajama pants turned out great too. (This child model was paid with candy and extra TV time.) Thanks for reading along, now go make something fun for yourselves. 

 

***Year End Update***- This light weight fleece was a great choice for winter. It's soft and warm. The kiddo pajama pants are still getting worn a lot too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depressing to Candy Colored

 Hello Readers. I love soft cozy clothes and I love color. These pajamas were soft and cozy flannel and they fit well. But why was the original striped pattern so depressing?

Before and after.

These looked good until I put them on and then I was overwhelmed. I felt like I was in a prison uniform or something similar. I would not sleep well in these. (And I am getting older, I need some sleep.) Why did the red stripes seem so depressing? Whatever the reason, I needed to fix it.

I decided that I would use some Rit dye to brighten up these pajamas. They were 100% cotton so I knew they would dye well. I picked pink because it is almost Valentine's Day. Pink and red would be more cheerful. I put the pajamas in the washer with the dye and let them work together.

I checked on them during the rinse cycle and I liked what I saw.

When they were done in the washer, I put them into the dryer.

I turned the cuffs up on the pants and the shirt and stitched them in place. I am short so this will help me not trip and fall. I do that often.

 

I loved the new color. It was so much more fun. It made me think of old fashioned ribbon candy.

Thanks for reading along, and sweet dreams to you.

***Year End Update***- These are so soft and warm and cheerful too. Fun jammies are the best!

Not Tonight Honey

 Hello Readers. I found some great vintage flannel at a thrift store a while back. (A "while" could be a week or many months. It's vague.) It was very pretty but also had a fun vintage color scheme. I made it into a fabulous night gown, not a sexy nightgown, a very comfy granny nightgown.

Sexy? No. Stylish? No. Enticing? No. Comfy as heck? YES!!

To make this nightie I needed a pattern that would work with the small piece I had. I used the Luna Tank pattern from Helen's Closet Patterns. It's free online to download. 

I cut out the tank top but I just made it really long. My fabric was limited so I just made it fit the best I could.

I used my serger to connect the front and back pieces. 

 

The pattern called for using bias tape to finish the neckline and armholes. I decided to use some lace trim.
 

 

To finish the neckline and armholes I used the lace trim from this green dress I refashioned 2 years ago. This lace has been sitting in a bin waiting to be used because I save everything. 

 

This was probably the most comfortable thing I have ever made. 5 stars. Would recommend. Thanks for reading along, now go make something super cozy for yourself.

***Year End Update- This flannel isn't sexy but I am cozy at night when I wear it.