Tuesday 11 December 2018

Catching up and cotton sewing

Oh my. The year is fast disappearing and I have quiet a few projects that need to land on the blog before the year is out.

When I was meant to be sewing my Frocktails dress, I realised A was about to have her school sleepover and didn't have any pyjamas that fit her in a way that looked acceptable. Of course she had pyjamas that were perfectly comfortable to wear, but the legs were up around her knees... Time for something new.


Years ago I made her some pyjamas from a Japanese Sewing book called Girl's Life, and she had been super keen on the nightie. It was only in the bigger sizes, and so she had to wait.

Here it is in the smallest size (130cm). It's a good fit, although I could lower the armscye opening a little. The way to attach the trim at the sleeve confused me (again) and I studied the previous white pyjamas to try and get my head around it. It's very neat once you figure it out! I also found the plan for the pintucks confusing, again. It would be so much easier if they were marked on the pattern. It wastes lots of fabric to pleat first then cut, but if you cut first you need all those little dart legs for every pleat.


She's happy with it. The fabric was a deep stashed quilting cotton and I was glad to finally use it up. The yellow trim matches the tiny yellow centres on each pinwheel. Yes, I sewed ric rac into something. Shoot me now, right. I can't stand the stuff as a rule. But this did need something and I didn't have any lace of a good shade of blue.


I threw in the chain stitched monogram and it was done, just in time for the sleepover. She promptly had a horrendous blood nose that night, and then as soon as it was washed, she cartwheeled in it and tore one of the armholes. That's repaired and it's back in rotation. Thank heavens for my rule of photos first.

The other bit of cotton sewing I did was to make Sal's version of the Tessuti Felicia Pinafore dress (first one here). Sal tried on mine and declared she loved it just as it was. I bit my tongue and tried not to point out what I saw as flaws in drape and shape..


So I made it exactly the same, which was super easy. This one I seemed to have a tiny bit more fabric and wouldn't have needed the minor bodice and skirt shortening, but I did them anyway so it would be as per the one she tried on. This fabric is also a cool print from Nerida Hansen. (link in previous blog post).


And she got one of Kylie and the Machine's awesome labels. Cause it's true: Sewing is the F'ing Best. I've passed on the pattern to her and hopefully she can make many, many more!

8 comments:

  1. I can't believe YOU USED RIC RAC! Very cute nightie; pity about the blood nose and the cartwheel but lucky the damage was repairable. The pinafore looks great, too.

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    1. I know, it would seem I lost my mind, right?! It was fun to sew simple, cotton things, so the ric rac slipped in when I was blissfully distracted.

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  2. No need to shoot you, the ric rac was perfect for this very pretty nightie and would lowering the armhole prevent the cartwheel tear?

    You are a true friend and I'm certain Sal will be very happy with her pinafore.

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    1. Yes, I think lowering the armhole point would have been a good idea. It completely baffled me all over again how to sew those jolly armholes. The finish is so perfectly clean and neat inside and out without any facing, but it's a real brainteaser of which way to fold and how many times.

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  3. The nightie is really cute, and the ric rac is subtle and adds just a perfect little colour accent. I'm glad the mishaps were fixable too!

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  4. I love the ric rac!! But I'm apparently not as morally opposed as you are, tee hee. Great stuff here.

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    1. Thanks Inder. I think Sarvi picked it right when she pointed out that I am not actually averse to trims and embellishments I am just a dreadful trim snob. So yeah, if only it could have been antique French ric rac in a nice shade of grey :)

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