Teaching the Boyfriend to Sew: Constellation Dinosaurs!

The Boyfriend has been interested in my sewing as of late and wanted to work on a project with me.  When I was in school he was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G and helped label my pattern pieces, trace off my markers, cut out the pieces and iron fabric.  He even seam ripped once or twice because I didn't have time.  He saved me hours of work and never complained.

I asked him back in December I think if he wanted to make himself a pair of pajama pants.  He did and we worked on them together.  He chose the fabric.  Constellation dinosaurs!

The Boyfriend laid out the pattern, helped cut it out (we did it together to save time), pinned and sewed the pjs.  I showed him how to pin a little bit on one side and then he would do the other side.  I sewed a bit, and then he finished.  Honestly, he made the pjs almost entirely by himself.  He even serged all his seam allowances. I stitched the elastic ends together and I also hemmed the legs.  That's it.

I think he did a great job!

These pictures were taken after many, many wears and washes.  They shrunk a little, even though I pre-shrunk the fabric in hot water.

Our next project together will probably be a baby quilt for my sister's baby.  She's due in October.  We have a little time to work on it. :)

Thanks to my newest Follower:  Kayleigh!

How long does it take to make a pair of pj pants in Fashion School?

2 months!  I know, I'm lame. And they aren't "special" pjs like I hoped. I wanted to add a little bow in front and the hems were supposed to be shorter and drawstring.  Silly, cutesy pjs became silly fabric boring pjs.  I did have 3 rows of 1/4" elastic in the waistband though and I love the fun cowboys.

This post is really just to say Thanks to my newest follower!  

Thanks Dawn Chan!

FIDM: A New Chapter

Just started back at FIDM for my second quarter!  I've only had 2 classes so far, but they both seem pretty good, especially my Sketching II class with Mrs. Riegelman.  I've very excited to learn from the author of these two AMAZING books:
















Just got Colors for Modern Fashion today and it is beautiful!  It teaches you how all about drawing in color with color pencil, Prismacolor markers, and other color media.  I'm really excited to learn from her.  















I already feel I am improving.  Working with color is difficult, but much more fun than working in graphite pencil.  I also like her teaching style better than my previous teacher.  Not that he didn't sketch well.

I also had my Fashion Seminar class.  The text for this class is:
















It is the first textbook I've had that reads like a textbook. I've only read a few pages.  If you are curious about the text, email me and I'll review it for you once I've read a little more.

I have Draping and Garment Construction on Tuesday and Technical Sketching on Wednesday.

In actual sewing news, after I finished all the Xmas presents, I had no time to start this project:

The pink version here.

Using this wool fabric I bought back in September in L.A.:

I had a few minutes, so I cut out a pair of pj pants for me because you can never have enough pjs IMO.  

My mom bought this adorable flannel at a swap meet, but there was only 2 yds.  I'll show you them when they are finished.  They are going to be cute and not quite your standard pjs.

Finally, thanks to my new followers!

Rachel of l'oiseau, a design student from Arkansas, Crystal, and Gabrielle (I think you joined recently).

It's getting much harder to figure out who's a new follower!  Thanks for everyone's support!

If I've missed ya, let me know!

I'm not sure I'm going to post anything for the New Year (ie. past goals met, which obviously weren't blogged and goals for this year).

Jama Gifts!

We exchanged gifts with my older sister and her family on Christmas Eve and on Christmas morning we were sent these pictures:

This is why I haven't sewn for myself :)

I originally only bought enough of the striped fabric for the kid's and doll pjs.  Then I decided to make a matching adult pair.  Went back to the fabric store and they were out of the stripes!  Luckily the solid pink matched.  

Merry Xmas!

More PJs!

I wish I woke up every morning with perfect hair and makeup. Life would be so much simpler.

I will never buy PJs again.  I actually made this pair before the Disney PJs, but I thought I would post the 2nd pair first  because they are so much more fun.  This fabric was almost as cheap as the *FREE* Disney fabric.  I believe it was $1 to $1.50/yd.   It's  a super soft and cozy cotton flannel.  I've washed these things so many times and they still look great too.  I followed the instructions and they were very easy to construct.  I will post a review on Pattern Review shortly.

This was my first attempt at matching plaids and I did good job on the pants and the side seams of the top.  I can't figure out how to get the plaid to seamlessly ring around my body without a break or overlap in the pattern.  It's one of those things that hurts my brain to think about.  I did a very bad job matching the plaids on the top part of the shirt to the bottom half. And the sleeve matching.  Oh well, they are only PJs.

1984 Disney Pajamas!

I'm a child of the 80's.  So when my friend pulled a few yards this baby Disney character fabric made in 1984 from her bag to put in the Craft Center "Free Pile", a wave of nostalgia hit me and I knew I had to own it.   My room for the first part of my life was decorated in primary colors and, gasp, clowns.  Looking back, it was a little scary.  The fabric really reminded me of my childhood, but I didn't quite know what to do with it once it was in my possession.   I would never want to be really seen wearing it in public (except for on this blog of course) so the only thing I could think to make was PJs.  I used Simplicity 3935.

And here they are!

Excited, can you tell?

Pardon the wrinkles. They jammed in a drawer prior to the photoshoot.

Oops! I got the lines to match up pretty well, but I have 2 wading pools on my butt!

Next up:

My other set of pajamas, pleated shorts, my bow cardigan, and a Pearl outfit!

Funderwear!

A while back I bought some cute cotton batiste or lawn.  I really wanted to make a top and shorts pj set.  I searched for a pattern I liked and while reading my ginormous blog roll, I stumbled upon the Collette mini bloomers.   I hadn't tried one of her patterns yet, it was free, and it fit the bill. It took forever cutting and taping the pieces together.  I hated it and I think it's why I haven't tried a BurdaStyle project yet.

 The french seams and elastic casing.

The shorts came together pretty quickly for me though, which is insanely slow.  I used my walking foot for the first time.  The fabric shifted a lot so I thought it would be fun trying out the foot.  I used french seams throughout, even on the curvier seams which proved to be a little of a challenge.  I was not happy with the drafting of this pattern.  It seemed the pieces didn't match up all that well, but because they were pj shorts, I just improvised.  

I love the elastic casings at the waist/hip.  I think it is super cute. 

 

I couldn't decide which picture was best so I posted them all.  Sorry.  I also have a picture of me wearing the shorts, but The Boyfriend did not want me posting it.  I don't think it's that bad. Its just a mirror (ie. MySpace) picture from about my belly button down to mid thigh.  They aren't even that sheer.  

 

Hopefully I'll find a top pattern to go with these shorts. I'm thinking maybe peter pan collar and button down.  with elastic in the hems of  short, gathered poof sleeves.  Any pattern suggestions?  I'm willing to modify or do some Frankenpatterning.