Sleepover Pajamas Do NOT Make Children Sleepier

Another been there, done that before pattern!  This was my third and fourth time sewing the Sleepover Pajamas by Oliver and S, and they turned out just as cute as always!

The pattern is easy, and there aren't too many pattern pieces, which is nice.  Often, when sewing, I like to complete the shirts first, always finding pants to be more work.  Clearly, in THIS case, it's the opposite, so, I whipped up the bottoms before attacking the tops, which again, are NOT a big deal.

I will say, though, that I remembered too late that I always think there is something wrong with the pattern - that the buttonband piece isn't long enough - but that is because you hem the shirt BEFORE attaching it....someone please remind me next time...whew.  I cut out extra pieces and everything ;)  Thankfully, I sewed Tiberius's pajamas first, so, I didn't mess up the second time around.

As for Tiberius's pair, I totally forgot to lengthen the top, and I don't recall if i lengthened the legs.  I wish I had done all this, as they totally outgrow the length before the width.  I sewed him a straight size 3, I think (why not a 4?!), and I sewed Camden a size 7, with a size 8 length, so, they're out of control long, but I don't care.  Other than that, nothing riveting to say.  I happily had the right buttons in my stash, which rarely happens - yay!!!

We have already had a few days where the children haven't changed out of their pajamas at all, so, they MUST be cozy!

Here ae a few PRE-Christmas happenings....

Cast on the Little Honey for the #tokyghoneykal in the This Old Knit and Yarngasm ravelry groups

First time ice skating!  And showing off her Cabernet hat!

OMG!!!  LOLOL

Also LOLOL

I never give them water

Wrapping Christmas presents!

A little time at the farm

Something Flowered and Something Blue - Figgy's and Zonen Combo

I am THIS PLEASED with this outfit!!!

These pants fit Camden so well, and it's one of my best zipper-fly installations (like, the whole shebang, fly-guard, zipper, waistband/button and all!), which really gives it major points.

Also awesome???  Brianne of Ali Cat and Co. sent me this lovely fabric - a blue corduroy and a vintage-looking flowered (super light-weight) fabric.  I knew I wanted to use them together when she sent it to me months ago, and I had the pants cut out a few months ago and only got around to sewing it all up right before Christmas.  So glad it's all done!

I wasn't sure at first which pattern to use for the shirt, and though I know a different pattern would have worked overall better for the fabric and style of the outfit, I chose laziness because I needed it DONE and wanted to use a pattern I already had (always gotta save those duckets, yo).  I will say I am glad I didn't choose something that needed buttonholes, as my machine may have totally eaten the fabric :O  Whew.

The pants and top went together quickly...especially as I had the pants cut out so long ago.  The sewing was nice and easy, and as with the last time, I cut out a pocket facing for the front pockets...wishing I knew a way to do that for the back side.  I'd have to sew up/prep the outer pocket piece and then make a pocket lining after.  I don't like having that raw edge that the directions give you (unless I missed something, aha!) on the inside.  I REALLY want these pants to work for Tiberius in the future, as that was part of the pattern decision-making process for this fabric.  I love the style of the Jacob pants by Zonen, and the directions are great!    As for the fly installation business...????

Clearly not a crazy-detailed picture, but you get the idea!  I hope :O

I kept the Ayashe blouse by Figgy's simple and only used elastic in the sleeves.  The mandarin collar sewing process was about the same as usual.  I always struggle with perfection on getting the corners to sew up nicely.  It will be a great blouse, too, for when the weather returns to normal around here (meaning, HELLO, could we have warmer temperatures any day now???)

Bottom-line, y'all???  A quick sew, and I adore the style - especially with her mittens, aha - and dotted Vans.  Our pairings always crack me up.

Some early January happenings....

Same day as above pictures...Community Day, Monday, January 4, 2016

Practicing from THIS book!

Cats and mice!

Helping dad make fry bread

Up Today? Not ONE, but TWO Ayashe sets!!!

Few things please me more than having completed an outfit/project of some sort - and then it's awesomeness on toast with honey if I can complete TWO of the same thing!  Just that much more enjoyment for that many more months :)

I actually finished two of these tops and the green skirt a month and a half or so ago, but I finally got around to whipping up the other skirt just yesterday.  My poor child did a lot of self-entertaining, which made it so much easier.

And what did I complete, you ask?  Why, the Ayashe shirt and skirt by Figgy's.  This is my third go-round with this pattern (four total shirts, LOL), and I hate to admit I went the same route with the shirt each time, but take it or leave it.  I like the collar, like the long sleeves, like it all!  So long ago, this is what I made my little girl:

You can see in the above pictures that the top is a bit short on my little girl, so, this time, I made sure to super-size up ;)  Again, much of it is just her belly, as she isn't tall AT ALL.  Bonus - three of the shirts, total, that I made were using left-overs of fabric I had used for my own dresses!  (Consider that BRAGGING, as I normally suck at that sort of thing.)  Two of them were lawns, the red maybe was a lawn but probably a voile.  Sadly, the above items are too small for her now and are in hiding in a bag or box.

On to bigger and better things - literally....The new version is the size 4/5 skirt (I think!), lengthened a tiny bit, and the shirts are size 4/5, lengthened to 6/7, for extended wear, so, as you can see below, Camden rocks that size pretty well.  A bit big, yes, but not sloppy, per se.  If I hadn't done the elastic waist, the tops would look baggier.

You can see that this version is her Christmas edition Ayashe - because I'm uber-prepared!  One holiday outfit down, two more to go.

In the non-Christmas edition, I did one of my favorite things, which is obviously so simple (for realz - nobody can pin creativity and going-out-on-a-limb kind of stuff on me!), but which adds a nice touch.  I love using a fun ribbon for a hem facing - adds a little pop if her skirt is acting all crazy, etc.  One place for lovely ribbon, by the way, is The Ribbon Retreat.  They're always running sales, etc, so, get on their mailing list!

Naturally, as for the patterns themselves, I love them - Shelly is super great and helpful if you ever have any questions.  One major bonus is I love the pattern paper - not thin tissue!  The neat thing about the patterns is that #1 - They still come in PAPER, and #2 - I find, honestly, that the Figgy's designs are just a bit different from everything else I see out there.  I'm always anxious for the next release (and it has been a LONGLONG time, as the pattern designer was working on her other creative job, which is teaching children and adults to sew, which is super awesome!), which is just around the corner, I hope!  Pattern releases are like Christmas for me, so, I'm itching to see what's in store!