Winter PJ’s

I came across a half-started projected when I unpacked my winter clothes.  Meant now to be winter PJ’s, it started life as a muslin for pants.

The  bottoms are a soft corduroy. Soft enough for a baby. The pattern was a failure, as far as fit goes, but I don’t really care that much how my PJ’s fit; just that they are weather appropriate.

The fabric is soft and stretchy. Even though I wouldn’t want to wear these in public, I know I’ll love them when the temps drop below zero.

Before folding away for storage, I pulled a complementary fabric from the stash.

Color in my  photos are a bit off. Both fabrics are an oyster color, more like in the first pic. Don’t know why, my camera added a distinctively yellow cast.  I used my TNT knit-top pattern, Silhouette Patterns 195.  This is favorite version with the dart rotated to the armscye. Yes, I sewed a dart even for PJ’s.  Cotton knit, with an interesting texture and not quite enough yardage for long sleeves. Easy solution: Cuffs

The actually sewing took place 2 days after I did the embroidery.  I started with a 5 color, motif from I don’t know whom or when

Even though it was 5 colors, they were very close in both hue and intensity. I watched it stitch in Embird’s Sew screen before joining sections and reducing the color count to 2.  Then I duplicated until I had triplets.

 

Using Embird Editor function, I sorted the colors so that I didn’t need to change threads back and forth for each motif.  Added trim stitches so there weren’t any long floats. Too bad my pic of the top didn’t show how lovely this is. Very feminine. Has an heirloom quality.

It’s still too warm to wear this set of PJ’s, but the time is coming.

SP195: Black Roses

I was surprised at how quickly this came together, especially the actual construction.  It’s definitely fall with winter not far away and I know I want some new knit tops to start the year.  I looked through my stash and a lovely rose print on black caught my eye.

It is polyester knit into a crepe like texture. It is beef but not enough for pants. Unless I was making PJ’s.  I thought it perfect especially since I have been seeing a number of prints, lots of them florals on solid black or blue backgrounds. “WOW!” I thought. “I’ll be right on trend!”

With my fabric having chosen me, I looked for an inspiration garment.  I wasn’t sure then whether I wanted to use FFA Tabula Rasa Tee or SP 195.  I only knew I wanted a knit top that had something extra.  Something beyond what was pictured on the envelope of either base pattern.  Several knit tops with asymmetrical hems have crossed my Pinterest feed and been saved by me, including this one with the interesting satin stripe:

I love the hem and the emphasis with the satin strip. I love the inspiration, but I am not copying it.  For starters, the only time I bare my bosom in the winter is in an overheated bedroom. And the shower. My neckline will not be nearly that low. I’m thinking long sleeves instead of 3/4.  It’s that cold thing again. South Dakota can get very cold.  With ease, I found a knit in the stash that very nearly matches the black of the background of my print.  It was then that I settled upon SP195 mostly because I am sure I want to use the TRT with a soon to be started bleach project.

I used my back pattern that has the center back seam.  Got to make allowances for a rounded back ‘doncha know.   Back was cut with no changes and serged together.

 

In retrospect, I wish I had rotated the dart in the CB seam to the shoulders/neck and sewn darts. Must remember that for the next distinctive print.

Sleeves were cut 2.5″ short so I could place solid colored bands along the sleeve hems.

I used my front pattern piece (I have several versions) with the dart rotated to the armscye because I like that front the best.   When placing the pattern pieces, I placed the center-front neck along the fold but then kicked-out at the CF hem about 1″ from the fold.  That gives me just a little more swing.  Hoping that’s about the same amount as the inspiration piece. But it doesn’t matter.  I am not copying. I am “taking from” the inspiration. Like my watercolor teacher taught me.  I cut the front without changes. My pattern neckline is high. As high as I would ever want to wear a neckline + a seam allowances. So I measured down 6″ and created a scoop that low.  I turn my attention to the hem.  Decided I wanted a diagonal line from one side to the other rather than the off-center square of the inspiration.

Man, I tell you that came together unbelievably fast!  I finished the neckline with black FOE. Hemmed the back. Added the front hem-band and stitched the side seams.

I LOVE IT!