Making Sleepwear

It’s been a while since I blogged, but I’ve definitely been busy sewing. Most recently, I have been busy making sleepwear. I used a few different patterns that I had in my pattern stash in order to make these garments. Robes for cooler weather and summertime are an essential item for me. And then there’s the new pair of short pjs I made.

Long Robe

The first item in this round of projects is this pink polka dot robe. I was supposed to have made this in the winter, but didn’t get around to it until spring.

The fabric on this one just seems to get softer every time it’s washed. I used a very old, but tried-and-true pattern for this. It’s McCall’s 4320. I have used this pattern many times for pjs and robes.

Short Pajama Set

The next sleepwear project is this short pajama set using the Lexington Pajama pattern from Sewing and the City patterns.

I used rayon challis for this project. The pajamas are very soft and the challis fabric definitely has a nice drape to it. It’s so nice to have some matching pajama sets that look good and make you feel good when you wear them! The pattern for this is a PDF download that has other options as well.

Short Summer Robe

Last, is this short summer robe I made using an old pattern I found in my pattern stash. I didn’t want to use the pattern for the longer robe (the pink) because that’s my TNT for a longer robe. I needed a pattern that I could just cut up and change as needed. So I found Simplicity 9330.

This one is made from a lightweight cotton that I bought locally. It’s a cool and comfortable option for those of us who like to be covered but not overheat in the summer.

If you haven’t tried making sleepwear for yourself, I highly recommend it! It can be a fun project that doesn’t take a lot of fabric (depending on what you’re making), and can also be quickly done. I made that short pj set in a weekend.

Until next time…

Making The Ogden Cami

This is one of those patterns I’ve heard about since it was released. I know of so many people that love this pattern. But I never got around to making it until now. So, this post is about my experience making the Ogden cami.

This is picture above is the modified version that I made that I really like. Changes were made for me to get the look and fit I want.

The unaltered version of the top:

Above you’ll see the original version of the cami as it’s to be sewn.The front and back are lower than what I wanted for this. I also wanted to make sure that the straps would be bra-friendly. You can also see in this picture that the lining of the top is short.

Here’s how I achieved a look I really like:

shortened the straps in order to raise the neckline (probably about 3″)
widened the straps to make sure it would cover my bra straps
lengthened the lining about 3″
lengthened the top about 4″
widened the part of the cami where the straps attach

Here is a picture to show what the Ogden cami looks like with raising the straps, but keeping the lining and length of the top the same.

Ogden cami with Colette patterns Iris shorts

The top looks much better with the new length. I also love how the neckline looks with the shorter straps. Now I can see myself making more of these in different colors and patterns. This would be a useful top to have even as the seasons transition. I can wear these under a blazer.

This final version is made from a yellow and white checked lightweight cotton blend. I used the same fabric for the lining as well. It has become the perfect summer top!

If you’re unfamiliar with the pattern, you can take a look here. I bought the PDF version. It’s only a few pieces of paper to put together. I’ve been making a lot of summer tops lately.

So far this summer is becoming quite productive!

The Rivington T-shirt

This post is going to have a lot of photos show I can show you some of the many ways I made this top. The Rivington T-shirt is one of the latest pattens from Sewing and the City patterns. As soon as I saw it, I wanted it! I am a sucker for a great T-shirt and have taken to making my own.

If you aren’t familiar, this is a PDF pattern that is both V-neck and crew neck (I do love having both in one pattern).

The first one I made was this golden yellow V-neck. I used an interlock knit I had in my stash for this one.

This one I consider a wearable muslin. I made changes to the pattern to get the perfect fit for me. I added a full bust adjustment. That really gives me the room I need.

This greenish gray T is one of my favorites. The V is made correctly, the FBA works, and the fabric is another stash fabric that’s a lightweight knit. I also raised the neckline on this shirt which makes me much more comfortable wearing it.

*Note: if you make a V-neck top, take your time with the V. It can really make a difference (in a good way).

I also made the crewneck version of The Rivington T-shirt. I did an FBA on this one, of course, since it’s the same size as the other version. But the this one is pretty much the “perfect” crew neck top.

I bought this fabric locally on sale. It’s a lightweight knit. And I just loved the daisy print!

I definitely need to make more of these in solid colors.

The Pattern Hack

The Rivington T-shirt crew neck hacked front with lace

This one is a “hack” of the pattern that I did on the crew neck version. Both of these fabrics I had in my stash. In fact, I’ve had this stretch lace for years! But it matched perfectly with the green interlock knit I had. Instead of using the neckband, I measured around the neckline to determine how long I needed to make this collar. I think the width is about 6 inches (approximately 3″ folded in half). Then I just attached it to the neckline. I wanted the sleeves to have the lace as well.

This one was just a fun project to do.

Conclusion

These shirts can be put together is a couple of hours. While I did use my serger for these, I have made plenty of knit tops without using one. So, don’t let NOT having a serger stop you! I urge you to give this a try. If you want to learn how to sew with knit fabrics but have some apprehension about it, a T-shirt is something I think is a great first project.