First Project Of The Year Is Done

I did it! My first project of the year is done! I always like to start with something easy after the holiday season. Often I’ll make a t-shirt or something like that. This year I decided to make myself a pair of fun pajamas. I’ve had this fabric (bought at JoAnn Fabrics) for a few years now. The knit fabric for the top was also purchased at JoAnn’s but I don’t remember exactly what it is.

Pajama set donut fabric first project of the year

The Top

For the top, I used one of my tried-and-true patterns . The Angela Wolf Ruched-T pattern is one I have made many times. I’ve never used it for a pj top before. For this version of the top, I made it with long sleeves and the regular neckline.

The Pants

For the pj pants, I used the Sewing And The City Lexington pattern. I have made the night dress before and the short set, but this was the first time using the pattern for the long pants. The only thing I did differently on this pattern was to eliminate the elastic at the hem of the legs.

Angela Wolf ruched-t top
SATC Lexington pj pants

First Project Of The Year Is Done!

Both of these patterns are easy to sew and relatively quick to make. For me, the point of starting with something easy is to get my sew-jo going. Since I start with something easy, I believe it sets me up in the right way for the year.

Changing Up RTW and Wardrobe Planning

Lately I’ve been planning on (or at least thinking about) what I want for the upcoming Fall/Autumn season. summer sewing is now complete. Not all the things I wanted to make got done, but I’m ok with that. Several tops did get made this season. So this post is about how I’m changing up some RTW and how I’m wardrobe planning.

Plans

Now I want to focus on making some pants. One pattern that I’m about to start is this one from Seamwork (you can sign up for the online magazine using my link, if you like).

These are a tapered pant which is a little different style for me. But I’ve already gotten the PDF put together, so now it’s time to make the mock-up and take it from there.

I’ll decide on some other types/styles of pants as time goes on. And I really want to make a classic black dress.

Changing up RTW pjs

As for changing up some ready-to-wear (RTW), I made some changes to some short pjs I bought from the Nordstrom anniversary sale.

Here is the original I bought:

Because they were so short , but so comfortable, I wanted to keep them. I needed to make them a bit longer for my own comfort level. So, I added about a 4″ insert into the shorts. Here’s what I did:

I cut the bottom hem/band off of each leg with a bit of seam allowance (1/2″)
I cut 4-4″ strips of the fabric I wanted insert
Using a narrow seam allowance, I attached those to each leg
I had to “remake” the crotch because the shorts were so short, there wasn’t much room
Then I reattached the bottom hem

The original shorts are knit fabric. The insert is a woven fabric.

Here is the result:

Now I have a truly unique pair of pajamas! And they fit the way I want. Sometimes we have to use our sewing powers to make RTW fit the way we want! 😂 ✂️

You can keep this process in mind to change up something you might have in your own closets.

Until next time…

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A very old (but classic) pattern…

A couple of weeks ago, I decided I would make a gift for my husband for his birthday. I chose to make him a pair of pj (pajama) pants. I chose a reversible shirting fabric that I found a Jo-Ann’s.

It has a nice check pattern on one side, while the solid side is sort of a chambray-type look. This is a nice, light-weight fabric that I thought would be good for Springtime.

The pattern I used I’ve probably had since about 1990. The year on the pattern envelope says 1989. Anyway, I had never cut into it in all these years. I had actually bought this pattern because I liked the robes and I had always intended to make one for myself. I made the robes, but not with this pattern.

So, I decided to use this for the pants for my husband.

These have a fly front (which was easy to make). I used snaps for the closure.

So, while I am all about keeping organized and getting rid of things that I don’t use or need, occasionally I find it worthwhile to hang on to those classics that can’t be found anymore, like this pattern.

An easy project and a happy husband. It’s all good!

Happy sewing!