Lately I’ve decided that I need another pair of nice pyjamas. I made a 1920s pattern last year in June, and I love them, but I need another nice pair for the changing seasons. I made some of the Carolyn pjs last year too, but stuck to the shorts and short sleeved top for myself. This time, I decided to use the long trousers from the Carolyn pattern to start my new pj set. I made 3 pairs of these for Christmas presents last year!
The fabric I picked is the ecru/off white and navy blue ikat fabric I had bought from Fabric Godmother about 3 years ago (the link takes you to her latest stock, a bit cheaper than I bought mine for!). I had bought it to make a wrap over top, but after tracing and toiling that pattern this year decided it really didn’t suit me. So now it is a patternless piece of fabric, a lonely soul looking for a new purpose. I had a feeling it would make a nice pair of wide trousers – and at that thought it was decided, pj pants!
As the fabic is narrow and I only had two metres, I knew there would be a bit of fiddling to be done. I started with the length of the pants for the view B, with the cuffs. I then shortened them at that point by 2.5cm each, just to get both trouser legs onto the fabric. I thought I could make up the difference in the cuff depth.
I had blue piping in my stash (from my mum’s stash!) that I used along the pockets’ opening edge. It makes a nice crisp line there and works well. The small pieces I had left were cut into bias strips and sewn together so I could make more piping, possibly to use between the trouser leg and the cuff, which I thought I’d have to make in a contrasting fabric now, none of the scraps were big enough for the cuff pattern pieces.
Before cutting the cuffs, I tried on the trousers to see just how much deeper I’d have to make them. And got a surprise – or even a shock! The trousers were the perfect length. What?? Yup, I didn’t need cuffs. This now proves that I have short legs. Anyway, I decided to use more of the blue piping at the edge of the trouser legs and instead of cuffs, used some of the bias I’d cut to bind the bottom of the legs, below the piping.
I think it’s worked out pretty well! I really was surprised that I didn’t need to add length (except hem depth) to the trouser leg, it was not at all what I’d expected! So now I have half a pj set, still need a top. I have some navy viscose leftover from a blouse I made earlier in the year, and I also have some navy viscose jersey in the stash. Either would make for a good pj top, especially if I use the remainder of the bias strips of the ikat fabric to bring them all together.
In the end it was the viscose jersey that won out. I like a stretchy top to sleep in, having made the short sleeved Carolyn pj top twice last year and barely worn them at all. they just don’t have the freedom of movement I like, and the collar annoyed the hell out of me! So no I know I’m looking for a tee shirt, one with a fair bit of ease. Either the Mandy Boatneck Tee from Tessuti or the Uvita from Itch to Stitch fit that bill pretty well. In the end I chose the Uvita because it’s more comfy around the arms.
I really like this pattern, it makes a nice loose fitting tee that’s not a tent. I lengthened the 3/4 sleeve length by 5cm, not wanting a full length, but requiring more coverage than the original length! It was quick to make and the colour blue is a perfect match with the pants.
I now have about 3m of ikat bias binding. I’m sure I’ll eventually find something to use it on! I also have a large backlog of projects that require phtos and blog posts. Amazingly, these were all made for the daughters, both of whom I’m seeing again this weekend! I will do my best to get all of the projects photographed so I can show off what I’ve been up to properly! Photographs on a dressmaker’s dummy are never as good as those on an actual person.
Oh – and Autumn sewing, planning for the winter… BRRR It’s in the air! Who’s started planning already? Made a list or is it all still in your head? I need to dig out my September copies of Burda and see if there’s anything I still need to make that I haven’t yet!
THE COMPULSIVE SEAMSTRESS 
You know you’re going to have to make yourself a dirndl now!! Yout September Burdas will tell you so!! 😂😉
Haha, nooooo. It’s not a style that suits me! 🙂 But I’m keen on looking for nice trousres, tops and jackets…
You know what, you would look fantastic in a dirndl. I know, I’m from Bavaria! We like to say that a dirndl suits best those women with „some wood outside the chalet“ . And also now you know why we need to drink beer from those massive steins, to deal with that kind of hunour…
😂😂 Oh my goodness! 😀 My husband’s family were from Bavaria originally. I can just picture them in the 1800s in traditional garb, with said steins…
What a fun and enjoyable addition to your wardrobe. Love this set and the fit is so good on you.
Love these! Your fabric choice is perfect.
There is absolutely positively nothing like a pretty pair of pj’s like yours. I need some badly.
Very nice! It’s a John Kaldor fabric isn’t it? I had some very similar but mine had black rather than navy.
It might be, but they’re is no branding in the selvedge.
Very nice PJ’s, Anne!
Thanks Wis!!