I am really excited about the dresses I just finished for the girls. Part of my excitement is how cute they turned out-better than I pictured. The majority of my excitement is that the girls love them-which means they'll actually get worn.
I made a dollhouse birthday set like this for Mackenzie's birthday last year- Bailey has been begging me for one since. Because it takes a good deal of time to make, I've stalled until her birthday-a celebration worthy of a good, long project. Finally done, here's what I made:
An embroidered birthday banner
I used my embroidery machine for this but
on Mackenzie's I hand-embroidered the words.
(attaches with velcro to spots on the walls)
A tablecloth, pillows, and presents (made from Fimo clay)
I know, you've been on the edge of your seat since my last post...
did she do initials on the shirts or matching applique cut-outs?!
Sorry, Laura, I didn't do the initials.
It's a pitiful excuse, too.
Because they can't be handed down if there's initials.
I mean, I made three pairs of pants,
and once all the pants go through the
hand-me-down-chain
(Bailey to Mackenzie to Chloe to Maile to ...)
It's like NINE pairs of PJs!
I know, its a disease.
At least I caught it from my husband.
So, here's what I did instead.
I also finished Bailey's birthday skirt,
which was supposed to be a dress
but thanks to a very last minute implementation of uniform shirts at school,
turned into a skirt.
Same skirt pattern that I used for the fourth of July skirts
(I made it a little bigger in the waist-hopefully I can let the elastic out next year and she can use it again... there is no cure for this disease I tell you)
What if the crotch is too low? Or the pants are too short?
Or (more likely for Bailey) the butt's not big enough?
Well, I'm throwing caution to the wind and making the girls (Bailey, Mackenzie, and Chloe)
matching pajama pants for Bailey's birthday party.
Kind of cheating, I am using a pattern
(Kryptonite, remember?!)
I picked up the Singer New Look #6847 for unisex loungewear
(better name, anyone?)
Pants, shirt, shorts, and a robe in one pattern for less than $4!!!!
I don't like these patterns for the beginning sewer
they are not always clearly written
but they are SUPER CHEAP.
And they are anti-kryptonite medicine.
So I started making the pants.
I was unenchanted.
I decided to add a cute little cuff to the bottom.
So this is a nice little explanation of how to add the cuff to
a pair of plain pajama pants.
Pajama Cuffs
You'll need:
a extra quarter yard of your pajama material
one package of piping (I used 1/2")
Make yourself a pair of pajamas but don't hem the bottom of the legs.
Okay, now the math. If you need to, take a break and get a cup of coffee.
Eyeball how big you want your cuff to be. I wanted about a 2 1/2 inch cuff on the bottom of the girls' size 5 pants. I doubled this height and add 1/2 inch for seam allowance. So mine were cut 5 1/2 inches tall.
To figure out the width of the fabric I measured the width of on side of the pant leg and doubled it. Then I added 1/2 inch for seam allowance. Mine were 6 1/2 inches wide so I cut the cuff 13 1/2 inches wide.
So the cuff fabric was cut 5 1/2 inches x 13 1/2 inches.
Are you with me?
Fold the cuff fabric in half-you can see it lines up with the bottom of the pants. Then sew the short edges together. Press your seam open.
Pick up your cuff and fold it in half, matching the bottom edge of the cylinder to the top edge. Make the pretty side show.
Spin the cuff so the seam is on the side. Iron the sucker flat. Set it to the side.
Pull out your piping. Cute a piece 2 inches larger than the circumference of your pant leg.
(Mine were 13 inches around, so I cut the piping 15 inches long.)
Line up the bottom of the piping (the side without the bump) with the raw edge of the pant leg and pin in place.
Using your zipper foot, baste the piping in place.
To moisten (meat, for example) periodically with a liquid, such as melted butter or a sauce, especially while cooking.
Maybe I'm hungry.
To sew loosely with large running stitches so as to hold together temporarily.
That's better.
It doesn't have to be pretty, or tight or perfect. Just so it sticks.
Pick up that beautiful cuff you made.
Slid the folded side of the cuff up and over the pant leg. Line up the unfinished edges of the cuff with the bottom of the pant leg and piping. Sew (still using the zipper foot) around the bottom of the pant leg and cuff.
Try to sew as close to the piping as a possible.
Fold the cuff down and check for any areas you need to sew closer to the piping. Finish this edge with a zigzag stitch or a serger.
Fold the cuff down. Iron the zigzaged/serged fabric down so it is all pointing toward the bottom.
Topstitch below the piping (see the topstitch in the picture? It keeps the seam looking pretty)
Yeah! Cute pajama pants!
So what about the tops?
I bought plain long sleeve shirts at Old Navy.
Should I embroider their first initial on each or
use the pajama material to make a little matching patch?
st)
