Monday 29 June 2015

Kid's Clothes Week: Pyjama fest!

I'm going to confess that while I did some pattern tracing and cutting of kid's clothes the weekend before Kid's Clothes Week started, I was sidetracked by some sewing for me, and didn't get back to the kid's stuff until after Wednesday. So it was a half and halfer kind of sewing week.


Once I knuckled down to the kid's sewing I slaved each evening late into the night to make three pairs of Oliver + S Sleepover Pajamas before the end of the weekend.

The littlest pair are for Oscar who turns two tomorrow. He's previously been the recipient of a little blanket, and then last year the Playtown set from Little Things To Sew.


I already had the size 2 pattern drafted as that's what A's been wearing since here and here. They really do fit forever as turning down the cuffs gives another inch in length and they're pretty generous to start with.


A's pyjamas are a size 4. I chose to leave the ruffles off for the first time. They're super adorable with the ruffles but I knew it would be the time consuming bit that would put me over the edge.

There's no getting around it. These are some time consuming pyjamas to sew. Maybe I've become lazy with all the knit fabric overlocker jammies I've been making, but these ones kicked my butt.

Thank goodness for snaps as doing buttonholes on all three pair would have been untenable! I had A helping me in the garage lining up the snaps and setting them into the snap press, so naturally she got to choose her own colours, hence the rainbow snaps on this pair of pyjamas.


Finally, P got a pair in size 7.

Can you see the pockets? They're pretty well camouflaged as I was particular about fussy cutting them so they matched. I've said it before: you don't need pockets on pyjamas but if you're going to put them there you may as well do it right!


The kids chose the fabrics themselves from Spotlight last summer when it was on sale. My recollection is that the main flannelette fabric was $2/metre at the time. As they chose one fabric each they also volunteered that baby Oscar might like the blue camping animals fabric. So his birthday present was planned by the kids a long way out.


I would never have thought that I'd get into pyjama sewing, but if you're tired of having tasteful, darling dresses rejected then knock out some novelty print fabric pyjamas. The kids will love them and they'll get a ton of wear compared to anything else you make.

As I sewed these, my 5th, 6th and 7th pair of Sleepover Pajamas, I counted up all the other pyjamas I've made and came up with a decent list.
7 pair of Sleepover Pajamas
2 pair of Bedtime Story Pajamas
2 pair + 1 pair of Flashback Skinny T with Bedtime Story Pajama pants
2 pair of OUSM Ruffled PJs (pattern link)
2 pair of Tron Pyjamas (Rowan tee and Twisted Trousers)
1 pair Spider pyjamas (Rowan Tee and Bedtime Story Pajama pants

17 pairs of pyjamas!


Sewing these three pair was made trickier by our little houseguest seen photobombing above.
He gets a serious attack of the ratbaggy demon kitten just after the kids have gone to bed and I'm trying to sew. Obviously, a moving sewing machine, a pile of fabric, pattern paper, threads, it's all just too much for a kitten to resist. I had to press all the seams on these pyjamas with the cord to the iron wound over my shoulders so that it didn't get attacked from below!


I think that's us done for pyjamas for a while. At least until summer rolls around.

How was your Kid's Clothes Week. Was it slow and steady or a 4 night bender like mine?

20 comments:

  1. super duper cute! gotta love handmade jammies. we're in the middle of a crazy heat wave where I live in the states so seeing flannel makes me sweat. i get it, though. it's winter there. i shouldn't be so ethnocentric. ;)

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    1. Oh if only we could trade about 10degrees Celsius then we would all be happy!
      I keep seeing these gorgeous summer nightgowns and thinking that's next!

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  2. Next time my daughter rejects something I make for her she might get 17 pairs of jammies. They won't come with a kitten though. Love your pattern matching on the pockets. I find ever since I started sewing these things matter and mis-matchmess of print drives me crazy! So thanks for taking care of my sanity 😉 ps all adorable kittens get replaced by demons after tea haha

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    1. If I could have a fraction of the energy of a kitten in it's mad hour I'd be unstoppable!
      Pyjama sewing is oddly rewarding, due to the kids always being pleased and this new fangled internet thing where you can share your kids sleepwear with your friends! - and have them notice the fancy pockets :)

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  3. Wow, well done on those PJs! No wonder your kids look so happy. I commend A on her choice of rainbow snaps, too. Your little house guest looks like a mini version of our Zindzi - very cute. I love watching cats go crazy in the evening, but yes, it makes any kind of sewing (especially pattern tracing and fabric cutting, assuming you do it on the floor like I do) really difficult.

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    1. Thanks Marisa. Yep, I'm a pattern tracer and fabric cutter on the floor type too. Next 5 weeks I'll have to stick to patterns already traced off!
      Snaps are fabulous and I'm glad I got a colour sample pack for those need-a-rainbow moments

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  4. All the pjs look awesome! I'm loving the fussy cut pockets.
    Pajama bottoms are about the only thing handmade that my 14 year old son will wear anymore. Which reminds me...he could use some new ones for the summer.;)

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    1. Thanks Cindy. I can see there might come a day when pyjamas is all I'll be allowed to make them. However, they'll be the only clothes they get for free in that case!
      Big guy pyjama shorts sound nice and quick to sew!

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  5. I've made these pajamas for Jude. Except I have a problem where I am crazy unrealistic about how long things take. I don't know what's wrong with me. So I looked at the pjs and was like - Yeah, it'll take 1 hour for the top and 45 min for the pants. Since I left off the contrasting binding on the pants, I may have been right there, but the top was more like 3-4 hours if I recall correctly. And I was working late at night before just Christmas, too!
    Well these are cute. And I'll bet your kids love having a kitten around. My girls would be in heaven. No cats here - Jude is allergic.

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    1. Oh I know what you mean about estimating time. I sew in 2-4 hour blocks in the evenings, so if I underestimate the number of nights needed, then the nights just have to get longer. :)
      It was good to sew these in series, doing each step 3 (or 6) times before moving on. So 3 pair don't quite take three times as long as one pair.
      I'm always incredulous when people quote time for making something. Especially if it includes cutting. And i wouldn't consider myself slow.

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  6. You are a pajama-making machine! I need to tryout the top for this pattern at least once but I know it'll go so much slower than a flashback top that I have a hard time getting motivated!

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    1. That is true, but they're definitely worth it. Take your time and do the ruffle version cause that's just extra cute!

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  7. I think pj's are well worth sewing, mine often wear them all day! ;)
    Great sewing

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    1. Good point! We had a plumber turn up early this morning and the kids were still in their new PJ's. I was more proud of the PJ's than I was embarrassed by the undressed kids!

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  8. Great looking PJ's and I can see why you make them, they are so well received.

    I hope your house-guest behaves and keeps way from the thread.

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    1. Thanks Sharon, honestly they always love pyjamas a hundred times more than anything else.
      Oh, our house guest is so incredibly annoying in the way that only a four month old kitten can be. Lucky for him he's also insanely cute. - and we've discovered he adores the Tour de France on TV, so we really can't stay cross at him!

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  9. Impressive PJ tally you have going! These are really sweet, and it's true that my girl always goes for the novelty print flannel when I take her to the fabric store - last time she requested a dress made out of pastel purple flannel with yellow ducks on it:) I have to say that I am a wee bit jealous of all your flannel and wool capes - we are in the midst of drought, heatwave, and forest fires in BC. I'm looking forward to cooler days!

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    1. Purple flannel and yellow ducks is definitely pyjama territory! Maybe that's why my kids love pyjamas so much, cause it's the only time I'll consent to that kind of novelty print fabric. :)
      I do love living in a place with proper seasons, but sometimes it would be nice if we could all just have pleasantly warm all the time! Stay safe in the heat

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  10. I just had to come back to say your kids take the funnest photos! I just looked up 'funnest' to see if it is actually a word and indeed, it is. You know, in case you were wondering. :)

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    1. :) I couldn't believe that so had to look it up....

      Oxford dictionary: "The use of fun as an adjective meaning 'enjoyable', as in "we had a fun evening" is not fully accepted in standard English and should only be used in informal contexts. There are signs that this situation is changing, though, given the recent appearance in US English of comparative and superlative forms 'funner' and 'funnest' formed as if 'fun' were a normal adjective".

      Alright, it's an informal blog and you're American, and lovely, so I'll have to accept funnest, even though it grates! :)

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