How many pieces did I say that I had to make by end of January? I thought 8. Well, it's 11! One of those is a board of samples of seam finishes. The sewing will be easy, but I also have to figure out the lesson as I'm doing the samples. Me and my brilliant ideas!
It's very nerve-wracking, sewing samples for classes. They get hung up in the store. People look at them, scrutinize them, turn things inside out, examine seams ... and comment. Very nerve-wracking to have one's sewing under a microscope like that. Oh well - if people don't see samples, they won't sign up for classes. Guess there's no way out of this.
I started with the easiest pieces. First off - the pyjama pattern that I know so well, but have never sewn personally. That's for Sewing Fundamentals I (bottoms) and II (top). Somehow it turned out that someone else has made all the previous samples. My turn. These will be a present for a certain someone, down the road, so that's not my initial on the pocket - and not my size.
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| Please excuse scruffy baseboards! Painting project supposed to start fairly soon. |
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Kwik Sew 3553. They're actually a very pretty shade of mauve. (Not taking pictures in the snow to get outside light!) My goodness, but cotton flannel makes a lot of dust and fluff! Now I really do know why those beginner sewers have so many problems at certain points! 1/4 inch seam allowances do not leave much room for error. This fabric (and pretty well everyone brings in flannel) stretches on cut edges. The collar was not all that simple to get in with no tucks in wrong places. The simple solution would be to have them stay stitch around the neck edge, but with so little seam allowance there's really no place to put it. If anyone has any brilliant ideas on this dilemma - let me know. Oh, right - you can't see the initial on the pocket. Ta-da!
That required a quick trip to the store for some quality time with the Babylock Ellissimo. It's fun to be able to add little bits of embroidery from time to time, but at I do wonder how much I would actually use this function, should I have this capability at home.
I love the embroidery, such a pretty touch! And those pyjamas look elegant and so cosy; like heaven, for wintertime natch!
ReplyDeleteMy suggestion for overcoming the seaming problems would be to just cut with a wider seam allowance.
Very elegant! Maybe you could hang the samples up higher? Almost out of reach, perhaps? :)
ReplyDeleteI think I would have all kinds of fun with an embroidery machine. Someday... The PJ's look so warm and cozy and the initial is such a nice touch.
ReplyDeleteIt looks lovely Irene! I am sure it will inspire many people to take your class.
ReplyDeleteYes, you are so right, it's samples that inspire people and these look so chic with the embroidery. I love a discreet touch of embroidery, jut like you've done, but don't have an embroidery machine myself. But fortunately I could always ask/pay a friend to do the work which is much easier and less expensive thangoing through that learning curve. Hope the classes are enjoyable for all of you.
ReplyDeleteThese are beautiful pajamas. I love the classic style paired with the color and subtle embroidery. I am sure they will garner positive comments in the store (or are they going directly to the recipient?).
ReplyDeleteGreat jammies. The embroidered initial is a nice touch. I have embroidery capability on my machine, but I dislike sitting there watching the machine sew. Bore. I used it for a while, but like a lot of things, grew tired of it and put it away.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pjs! The collar looks great!
ReplyDeleteReally nice pj's Irene.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the advice you just left on my blog. I'll follow your directions and make a sample to see how it works as soon as I have time and let you know how I did. That was so sweet of you to take the time to do that!!!
Oh, Irene...they are so nicely done! There is nothing better than a well constructed pair of pajamas...love the monogram, too.
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