I had a few quiet hours on the weekend and managed to sew Tessy's pyjamas that I had cut out and were waiting in the cupboard. The pattern I used was New Look 6746 in size 8. It is up on the wall behind my sewing table. I kept the pattern instructions open behind the sewing machine and mostly this worked fairly well. I could follow along what I needed to do next and it only occasionally got awkward while I was sewing the larger bits of the PJs. In retrospect it was reasonably detailed sewing for a pair of bedroom attire. Still, I actually think that is rather brilliant - to learn to sew by making reasonably complicated pyjamas.
Tess had picked this pattern because she loved the headband. I liked the pattern because it was pretty. We recently bought the floral blue flannel in Sydney but I had the plain greeny-blue flannel in my stash.
The pyjama top closes with snaps and on the front you are meant to attach three ribbons but Tess didn't want to feel all buttoned down around the collar so we just put on two of the snaps and two ribbons. Ribbons were from the stash as well and were the choice of the pyjamee. I love the gathers around the bodice and the skirt-like effect of the top. I also like the little lace trims around collar and sleeves and cuffs. The collar is interfaced and the trimmed with bias binding on the inside of the neck. All these techiques were new to me and in the past I would probably have huffed and puffed and stressed my way through the sewing. I took a bit out of my hand sewing philosophy, which is, that time is not the measure of success. I think in the past, i've always rushed through, made mistakes, not done my research and reading. Anyhoo, I enjoyed the sewing and she loved the pyjamas - smile.
A few other details - cuff with lace and topstitching. Child with strange markings on her hand. She's often self marked but on this occasion it was the school teachers, as she ran around the oval in the cross country. She did three laps but didn't need a mark for the last lap. I wonder if teachers enjoy drawing on children? She certainly enjoys taking a pen to herself.
The pattern is a size 8 and Tess is 9 but it fits her well and has enough room for growth. She is still wearing some size 6's so I was pretty confident the size 8 would be fine. And it was. There's enough length in the pants to maybe get two seasons out of these. She's also wearing her little felt slippers purchased from the Nepalese felt stall at the Folk Festival. Cozy. I know. I have a pair as well.
Happy girl. She's asked for more versions but I've a feeling there are other sewing tasks queued up - aprons, soft toys, quilts....but I'm sold on the joys of garment construction and will return to the scene of my crimes.
