No, I will not be modeling these! The slinky fabric of the bottoms is just way too revealing, and the old tee shirt I found to go with them is too tight to fit a bra under! Which actually makes it good for sleeping - my old jammie top was so loose that it would twist around my torso in the night and I found myself constantly readjusting it.
Why the old tee shirt? Well, I totally messed up the top and just didn't have the gumption to fix it or redo it. The whole project just gave me trouble all the way through. At first I was disappointed, but once I put this old top with the bottoms, I really liked how they went together. And since one of my goals was to use up old stuff to make these, this top fit in.
Things were going pretty well with these pants until I got to the waistband. The first problem I had was that my buttonholer didn't want to work on this very sheer burnout knit, even though I fused two layers of tricot interfacing to the inside. The first buttonhole went OK, but I ended up having to finish off the second one by hand. It doesn't really show though when the bow is tied.
And then my machine just didn't want to sew the two lines of narrow zig zag I needed to create the elastic casings. I had to pick them out three times! But then, Hubby came to the rescue with an awesome anniversary present:
Gah!! My very own coverstitch machine! I'd been over at my friend Alicia's earlier last week and we played around with hers. When I got home I told Hubby I wanted one too, and he bought it for me the very next day! I told you he's a keeper!
I used the chain stitch to sew those casing lines - easy peasy and perfect first time:
outside |
inside |
For the center casing, instead of elastic I used some old twill tape I had laying around that happened to match exactly with the tee shirt. I'm pretty proud of how neat the ends are - I used that fusible web to fold back and secure twice before stitching. That stuff has changed my life!!
Everything else was constructed on the serger, as I am wont to do:
And as in my original jammies, I finished the hem with a three-thread overlock (don't I sound all technical?!):
Normally I would think this is a cheater's finish and would go for a hem, but here I sort of like it. It gives a little bit of contrast to that vast expanse of lavender and has a very casual feel.
I wore the new jammies last night for the first time, and they're quite comfortable. I'm glad I finally found a use for this fabric. I still have a little bit left and I'm thinking about making a simple tank out of it to go with these bottoms, but for now I'm happy to wear the old tee shirt. I'm also happy that I made these almost entirely from stuff I already had. The only thing I had to buy was the elastic!
I like the finish at the bottom - it works.
ReplyDeleteWow! A coverstitch machine - you are very lucky :) Enjoy it!
I am lucky! And spoiled!
DeleteThese look great. I love the colour.
ReplyDeleteYour hubby is definitely a keeper if he surprises you with a coverstitch machine! Wow!
Well, it wasn't exactly a surprise, but a wonderful gift nonetheless! I was going to wait several months, but he said, "No, you deserve it. You should have it now!" Awwwww! He's the best!
DeleteI think they look great :) Always I nightmare when things don't go to plan but hey, fantastic that your husband got you a coverstitch for your anniversary!! Definitely a keeper :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Louise! Yes - I think I created the problem too: I was sewing while grumpy! Grumpy about sewing! Never a good time to sew!
Deletelove the pj's, but now i'm super jealous of the new machinery! i'm sure you'll get a ton of use out of it!
ReplyDeleteYou can come over and use it ;-) I have already hemmed one new knit skirt, and gone back and hemmed a couple of my maxis that I'd left unhemmed. I love this thing! And it's so similar to the Brother serger I have that it was very easy to learn to use.
DeleteWhat a great anniversary gift! And just in time. It's so frustrating when projects that are supposed to be simple and easy turn into a headache. The pajamas turned out great, though!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I was at the point of scrapping the PJs because of all the problems I was having. I probably wouldn't have finished them on time if it weren't for this gift!
DeleteThose look soooo comfy. Knit pjs are a great idea. What pattern did you use?
ReplyDeleteOops - sorry! I forgot to link to last week's post about the pattern. It's Simplicity 8905 from 1999! And yes, they are really comfy!
DeleteOooh, lovely pajamas! Glad they turned out so well in the end! I'm excited to hear more about your coverstitch adventures!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sonja!
DeleteGreat PJs and a fab present, how exciting :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jacq! It is exciting!
DeleteThese look so cuddly! I would wear these all day! :) Also, can you share your technique for getting new equipment in the middle of frustrating sewing projects - I could definitely go for that ;)
ReplyDeleteHehehe - you're so funny! I had added the machine to our Amazon shopping cart because I was going to look at a few different ones and compare. But then he saw it and said, "Do you want me to buy this for you?" So I said yes!!
DeleteI really like the outfit (you see how I call it an outfit? that's because I wear pjs for entire days at the weekends sometimes!) Shame about not being able to model it but as long as they're comfy, that's all that matters. And lucky you with your pressie! It looks brilliant. Happy anniversary - def a keeper!!
ReplyDeleteTotally an outfit! We all have days like that - mine even happen sometimes in the middle of the week!
DeleteVery pretty and very neat! Thanks so much for joining in the fun.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Karen!
DeleteVery sweet how your husband bought you the new machine. Love and support he has for you. A true winner.
ReplyDeleteI like this set. They do look SO comfy. I like that shade of purple too.
He is truly the best guy ever. And yes - these are kind of your color, aren't they?!
DeleteSo cool! I want to come to your house and sew with you so you can show me your cool machines and techniques! Haha I meant that in a totally non creepy way :) well done on powering through and showing those pjs who was boss. ;)
ReplyDeleteWe need Tardises (Tardae?) so we can easily span the oceans. OR: get in touch with our future, better-at-sewing selves!!
DeleteCongrats on your new machine!The yellow burnout fabric looks great with the purple. Your PJs look so comfy too which is the most important feature for PJs! Funny thing - I totally messed up my PJ top too and it's folded away until I can figure out how to fix it.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I did the same with my top! I'm glad I'm not the only one. It's not beyond repair, but I'm kind of over it for the time being!
DeleteCute jammies! They look super professional. And congrats on the new machine. Lucky girl!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mela!
DeleteThe bottoms look like they must be wonderful to sleep in. It's a shame about the top though. Obviously you have the best husband ever, that is quite the machine!
ReplyDeleteI DO have the best husband ever - for lots of reasons :-)
DeleteThey are very comfy - I've been enjoying wearing them for the last couple nights!
How did I miss this?? Congrats on your new machine! It's like all the bloggers are either getting pregnant or cover stitch machines these days :-) I'm very happy to be part of the latter camp, let me tell you!
ReplyDeleteThank you! It's funny - I thought the same thing! Yes, I'm quite pleased with my new machine baby, and as much as I love flesh-and-blood babies, I'm glad I'm not in that camp either!
DeleteOoo! Your pjs look super comfy & loungy! So much coverstitch envy right now :)
ReplyDeleteThey are very comfy! I've been wearing them every night since posting this!
DeleteI really love your pajamas.
ReplyDeleteI was searching for info on Brother 2340CV and your blog appeared in the Search Engine. I'm thinking of purchasing this machine. I have the Brother 1034D and absolutely love that!
Thank you, Opal! I haven't used my coverstitch machine all that much, but when I do I've been trying to record notes about it for people like you who might be considering it! This post has a couple of notes which you might find interesting:
Deletehttp://gksagenda.blogspot.com/2013/07/scoop-top-cant-stop.html