Today I'm sharing with you a quick, cute, scrap-busting project I made recently for my daughter.
I was sent this absolutely adorable Zarafa Collection Cotton Fabric{affiliate link} by Minerva, and I knew immediately it would become pajama pants for my daughter. But every cute pair of pj pants needs a cute top to go with them!
I used the Gathered Top from the All You Need Jammies pattern last year for her, and since it was a TNT pattern, I immediately thought of it for this project!
I've been trying to use up scraps and leftovers from projects as much as possible lately, so I was very pleased to pull these two french terry fabrics from the scrap pile and be able to make this cute color-blocked top that coordinates perfectly with the pants!
The pink fabric I used for the bodice and sleeves is leftover from this project HERE, and the cream fabric I used for the "skirt" is leftover from my Toaster Sweater #1, blogged HERE.
This top pattern is really adorable, I love the girly-ness the gathered skirt portion adds to the top. Having made this pattern a few times now, and in different types of knits, I've discovered the sleeves are drafted to be quite snug. In fact, I had originally cut the sleeves from the cream colored knit, which does not have a lot of stretch and the sleeves were definitely too tight! So I took them off and thankfully had enough of the pink fabric (which had a lot more stretch) left to cut them from that.
My conclusion to the snug sleeves is that it is very dependent on the type of knits that are used. Using cotton/spandex or interlock knit requires no adjustments, but fabrics with better recovery will need some adjustments to the pattern.
I've made a note to myself and will widen the sleeves according to the fabric I choose. The pattern includes a ton of options for different pajama tops and bottoms, so you can mix and match to create a combo for both boys and girls! However, all the tops have the same sleeve pattern piece, so it's a change I'll need to make universally for my kids.
The pants pattern is the same pattern I used for my Sew Family Jammies project (blogged HERE), and the blog post with all of the details about them and the fabric will be able to be found on Minerva in a few months. I'll be sure to let you know on my IG (@heidi_handmadefrenzy) when it goes live, so feel free to follow me there if you don't already so you don't miss it!
This post contains affiliate links. All opinions expressed are honest and my own. If you make a purchase using the links, I make a small commission which helps support this blog. So, thank you!!
Hi Friends!
It's week two of the Sew Family Jammies blog tour, and I'm excited to be sharing the matching sets I made for my kiddos!
Sew Family Jammies is a fun new event, hosted by Sew Altered Style. You can keep up with the blog tour and the fun jammies being sewn on Instagram HERE, as well!
I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with sewing pajamas for my kids each year. I love the ridiculous cuteness of the outcome, but hate adding too much to my plate at this time each year, as I tend to do!
I've only made matching, or coordinating, sets for my kids a couple of times in the past six years. It feels like quite a job, so I haven't done it as often as I probably wished I would have. 😄 Below is a major throwback blog post! I also included an Instagram post from last year's sets. Click on each photo to be taken to the post!
Oh my goodness, my babies!!!!
Dolly got a matching pair last year too!
I "officially" swore off make Christmas/Winter pjs a few years ago; or so I thought. Then last year I got sucked back into it, and same thing this year! So now I'm just rolling with it and admitting defeat to being able to resist, lol.
This year however, I have truly, truly, LOVED making them their matching sets! It can definitely be attributed to finding a really great, simple and FAST pattern for their pj pants! I also kept things super easy by BUYING a plain t-shirt to embellish with the scraps!
Are you ready for this?? The pattern is available for FREE, y'all! It is the Pajama Party Pants by Peekaboo Patterns, and is available at no cost to newsletter subscribers. How great is that!? The pattern ranges in sizes 3mo - 12 years, so you really can sew pjs for all the kids!
To be honest, I'm always a bit leery of free pajama pants patterns, but I have to say, I think the fit of these is pretty great! It's definitely on the generous side, but I completely am on board with that, because they grow out of them so darn fast!
My oldest is in a size 12, sadly, so I'll have to figure out something else next year! My other two are in the sizes they fit into best, based on their measurements, and they are pretty true to RTW sizing, so if you are making pajamas for children "not" in your household, you should be pretty close by sewing their corresponding RTW size.
Speaking of sewing for other children. Not pictured, because the models were not available, are 3 other sets of pjs I've made for cousins and a friend! I'm not done sewing for this event yet either. 😉 I was really unsure how much fabric I needed to buy and WAY overbought, so my husband will also be a recipient of pj pants this year!
In this "pose" they are mimicking the animals they chose for their shirts! :)
And now; speaking of fabric and matching pants... The fabric I used for the pajamas is from JOANN, and completely picked out by my kids. I was super brave and took them all three to the store with me and let them peruse all the Christmasy fabrics! It took a while, and of course I had to guide their decision making based on available yardage of certain fabrics, but in the end they chose this buffalo plaid. The reason being that I already have a very similar pair that was purchased last year and they wanted to match me! (Cue the heart bursting)
I haven't told you the whole story between my pants yet either. Last year, all of my sisters, my mom, and myself, bought matching pajamas, so this year, we will have quite the matching party on Christmas morning!! Lol.
It will be all of us, plus the five grandchildren. And my husband if he feels like joining in on the crazy matching party. Should be fun, yes!??? 😁
Keeping things simple is the way to go for me, but I hope that I will be able to keep making their Christmas PJ dreams come true in the years to come. 😊
I wanted to quickly mention the appliques on the kids' t-shirts. I made them the old fashioned way by searching Google for free image files; printed them out; traced to wonder-under and then fused and appliqued on to the tees. I made an IGTV all about this process that you can view HERE. I used a different fusible product in the video, but the process is the same!
A little tedious, but it really didn't take that long! In fact, I was able to sew all three of these pajama sets in only a few hours after the cutting was done. Such a quick and fun project!
LINKS:
Fabric: Super Snuggle Buffalo Check Flannel - JOANN **PS, This fabric is currently on MEGA-SALE! It's really easy to sew, the plaids matched up so quickly and easily! I didn't even need to use pins!** ONLY through TODAY 12/10/19
I'm really excited to be over at Imagine Gnats today sharing all about my Dionne Duster! This is a brand new cardigan pattern put out by the powerhouse duo over at Sew Altered Style.
I'm loving the unique details of this cardigan. Not to mention this fabric that is literally swoon worthy!
Head over to Imagine Gnats to read all about it! >Link HERE.
Outfit Details:
Cardigan: Blogged HERE
Tank: Portia Woven Top, Blogged HERE
This post contains affiliate links. All opinions expressed are honest and my own. If you make a purchase using the links, I make a small commission which helps support this blog. So, thank you!!
Welcome back friends!
I'm really excited to share with you the holiday outfits I made for my daughter and myself this year! We will be wearing these every chance we get, but especially to the Christmas service at our church!
I LOVE that my 8 year old thinks it's cool to match with me. I'll ride that train for as long as I can. 😊
When I finally got this fabric in my hands, my original idea went out the door because it wasn't quite what I was expecting. I ended up pondering long and hard about what to make before settling on this outcome! I've shared the whole story in the Minerva post, so you'll have to stay tuned for that in the new year! 😊
The fabric is really lightweight and is perfect for gathers, like on both of our skirts! It's also pretty sheer to wear on the bottom, so I lined both Olivia's dress and my skirt with Posh Lining Fabric in Black from JOANN.
I made this Sheridan Sweater before the pattern was completely done testing, so the "hacks" that I did to it are actually now pattern options. YAY!!!! for having all the work already done for you!
For this version, I sized down one from my original tester version and since the fabric I used doesn't have as much stretch, the fit it a lot more slim and for this outfit it's perfect!
I decided to crop the sweater so that I could tuck the band into my skirt waistband and I just love how it all turned out!
The fabric for my Sheridan Sweater was rescued from my stash, but originally came from JOANN as well. I held onto it for several years just waiting for the right holiday make to come along, and I'm so glad it finally did!
I love the bit of sparkle in the fabric, and the base color couldn't have been more perfect to pair with my Cleo Skirt!
I made a size small in the Cleo Skirt with no alterations at all. I chose the midi-length and inseam pockets. To line the skirt, I simply made a second skirt using the skirt panel pattern pieces, shortening at the bottom a few inches, then gathered and attached both the main and the lining skirt pieces to the waistband and hemmed both skirts individually.
This is the second Caroline Party Dress I've made for her and we both love the pattern so much! The full lining makes it feel very luxurious, both to look at and according to her, to wear!
Her measurements put her exactly in a size 8, but I sized up to a 10 for longer wear. I made a size 8 for her last year Christmas and it fits like a glove this year, so I wanted her to be able to wear it for more than just a month out of this year!
If you'd like to support my blog, you can use my affiliate link to purchase the pattern HERE! 😘
I am so thrilled to finally be sharing my Sheridan Sweater with you! I tested this pattern and it's instantly true love.
Because who doesn't love cozy sweaters to wear in the winter!??? Bonus because it's cute as can be and has some really cute details!!
(From the listing) The sweater includes two views with several options.
View A has a crew neck, and view B features a built-up bateau neckline, similar to a wide mock turtleneck. Both views have the option for a regular banded length, cropped banded length, or cropped hem length. Sleeve styles include a cuffed bishop sleeve or an elasticated bishop sleeve, or a simple wide bell sleeve.
I made View A in the regular banded length with cuffed bishop sleeves. I made a straight size 8 with no adjustments, based on my measurements of B:36, W:29, H:38; 5'3" tall. To wear with jeans, I would shorten the bodice length next time, but this works really well with leggings as is!
The fabric I used is tri-blend stretch french terry from Imagine Gnats. The color is rose-brown, but currently only in stock in green mist. I also used the matching ribbing for the neckband and cuffs.
This sweater is so impossibly cozy, I know I'll be sewing quite a few more using more fabric from my giant stash soon! I don't know about you, but the sleeves are what sell me on this pattern. And they are so comfy to wear, as well!
I made another immediately after this one, with some hacks, so stay tuned for that post tomorrow!
In the mean-time, I'll be wearing this constantly. When it's not in the wash! 😉 (It is today, and I'm sad...)
Life is a little crazy busy, in a good way, lately. I haven't had as much time to work on blog posts, but the sewing hasn't stopped. There is a backlog waiting to be shared!
But first in the queue, and one that I'm excited to share with you, is this new pattern by a new-to-me pattern designer! Coralie Bijasson is a French pattern designer and also translates her instructions into English. She reached out to see if I'd like to sew the new pattern, the Paloma Pants, that released in October and I definitely said yes!
I have been on a wide-leg pants kick lately, if you remember these Crew Trousers I made a couple of months ago...
This pattern is pretty similar in a lot of ways, but ends up looking quite different!
Since I was working with a brand new-to-me designer, I decided to first sew up a muslin, but to use a fabric that I could finish if things turned out well. Things definitely turned out well!! So I present to you, my muslin, turned completely wearable garment!
Since the sizing is in centimeters, I had to do some google conversions to choose which size to make. I ended up making a straight size 40, based on my measurements of W:29", H:38".
Before cutting into any fabric, I made a quick muslin of the waistband, since this is typically the place I have the most trouble fitting since my waist is normally a size larger than my hips. The waistband fit pretty well! I ended up taking just a slightly smaller seam allowance on my final version and the fit is absolutely perfect.
As with most pants patterns, I made some adjustments to these to fit my body. I preemptively shortened the rise 1/2" on the front only. It is very common for me to have to shorten the front rise and not the back. Secondly, I adjusted the length of the pants to be between the full length version and the cropped version. Since the pants are straight below the knee this is super easy to make them whatever length you'd like!
I sewed everything together with those few changes and tried them on! I had to baste the waistband on and sew in the zipper to assess the rise properly. After trying them on it was obvious I definitely needed to take out quite a bit more in the rise.
Since my pants were already cut and assembled, and everything else fit really well, I simply made this adjustment by removing length from the top of the pants and reattaching it to the waistband.
However, the changes I made to the pattern for the next time are: Removed 3/8" of length through the back rise and side seams, gradually increasing to remove a total of 3/4" from the center front rise.
Other than that, there were no changes made and I'm super pleased with my swishy pants!
The fabric is from Joann's and is from their linen-look selection. I believe the contents are majority polyester blended with some rayon.
My top is a Monroe Turtleneck (a FREE pattern!!). It was another first time sew for me, and it will definitely not be the last!! I could seriously fill up my closet with these for winter!
The fabric for my Monroe is the most delicious and drapey modal rib knit from Imagine Gnats Shop. It's so dreamy to wear! I did struggle with hemming it though! It was my own fault, because I was trying really hard to maintain it's extreme stretch for my sleeve hems since I like to pull my sleeves up on my arms a lot.
I decided to try to forgo any stabilizer and I definitely do not recommend that idea. ;) I did end up using HeatnBond SoftStretch Lite{aff link} and it worked really well, and did keep most of the stretch intact!
I have a full post about hemming knits HERE, and I followed the same steps, but altered a bit for my fabric. Since serging the raw edges tends to restrict the stretch, I actually lightly stretched out my fabric as I serged. It did ripple a lot while doing this, but I was able to steam it back into shape. Then I applied the stabilizer and hemmed using a triple zig-zag stitch with stretch thread in the bobbin.
