Simple Summer Tank and Shorts Pajamas Tutorial

Hi, all!!! How's the weather where you are?? Here it has been HOT!!! BLECK! I am NOT ready for summer. SIGH... We won't be spending any time around a pool this year and let's face it, that's the only good thing about summer. 

Anyway, Cailey was complaining to me the other day that she didn't have enough summer PJs. Well, I knew exactly what to do about that! Time to make some!!!!

I got that cute print from The Fabric Fairy and it was on SALE!!!!! Can't beat that!!! 

It's such a light weight knit that I knew it would perfect for some summer PJs. I just needed to decide what KIND of PJs. 

Since the print is sorta busy, I decided to go with something simple. 

I am SO GLAD I did. I LOVE IT!!! I can see myself making more like that and for Colin, too!!! This is absolutely unisex! 


WHAT I USED

Light weight knit fabric (less than 2 yards)
3/4" elastic
Coordinating thread 
2 large safety pins

Let me start out by saying this: I had started out using matching thread. I thought I found this great deal on Etsy.... Yeah, you've heard if it sounds too good to be true it probably is???? Yeah... That's what happened... This thread was a NIGHTMARE. It kept breaking after every few stitches. GRRRR!!! So I had to go with a coordinating thread. Oh, well. The print is busy enough that you can't really tell anyway. LOL

Ok, here we go!

*NOTE* Make sure to always press your seams after you've sewn them!!! I always forget to say that! ;) 

*NOTE* When sewing knits, it's always good to use a stretch stitch. 

*NOTE* The only "special" thing you need to sew knits is a ball point needle. ;) 


STEP 1

Grab a shirt that fits your child well. Just make sure yours is cat fur free, unlike mine... YEESH!! It didn't look THAT bad in person. SIGH...
Use the shirt as a guideline to cut your pieces. 

When you cut the front piece, make sure the neckline dips in a bit more. ;)



STEP 2

Take a pair of shorts that fit your child well and use them as the guide for cutting your shorts legs. 
Make sure to leave about 1 1/2 inches extra at the top for the elastic casing! 

This is what they look like. 



STEP 3

Cut 3 strips that are 2" in width and at least as long as your arms holes and neckline. 





STEP 4

Now, with right sides together, pin and sew the shoulder seams.



STEP 5

With right sides still together, pin and sew the side seams. 



STEP 6

Now, fold the hem of the top about 1/2" and press.
I then turned my right side out and pinned. Then I top stitched the hem. In my opinion it just looks nicer that way. ;)



STEP 7 

Fold your fabric strips in half and press. 

Now, starting at the center back of your neckline, pin the strips with right sides together and raw edges touching. 


As you sew them together, pull gently. It will give the neckline a nicer look. 




STEP 8

Do the same thing with both arm holes. 
Start your pinning at the side seam. 
That is what it looks like when they are done. 



YOUR TOP IS DONE!!! YAY!!! Time to move on to the shorts! :D


STEP 9

With right sides together, pin the inseam.
You are just sewing from the bottom of the leg to the beginning of the curve of the crotch. 

Sew the seam. 
Repeat on the other leg. 



STEP 10

Take one of the legs and turn it right side out. 
Slide it down into the other leg. (Right sides will be touching.)
Make sure to match up the seams. 
Pin in the place and sew the curve. 



STEP 11

Time to make the elastic casing!
Turn your fabric down 1" and press. 
Sew close to the bottom edge. 
Make sure to leave an opening to insert your elastic.



STEP 12

Take 2 large safety pin and pin one to each end of the elastic.
Push the elastic through, holding on to the opposite end.
Pull both ends out of the opening and sew them together. 
Push it back inside the casing and sew the opening closed. 




STEP 13

Almost done! We just need to sew our hems!! 

With the shorts right side out, fold the bottoms in 1/2" and press.
Pin in place and sew the hem!
You CAN do this wrong side out, I just think the hems look neater when they are top stitched. ;)


ALLLLLLLL DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now you have some cool and comfy summertime pajamas!! YAY!!!!

The great thing about this is that you can make them for anyone of any age. I think I might make myself some! ;)

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask!!!!


HAVE FUN SEWING!!!!!

Sweet Summer Dress Tutorial

Oh, I had this dress idea in my head for a while. So glad I finally got it out of there and into the real world!! ;) 
This was so much fun to make!!! And like a friend of mine said, it's perfect for ALL ages! Little kids, big kids, tweens, teens and adults!! I think I need to make one for myself!!! 

There are a lot of steps to making this BUT don't let that scare you. It's still very easy to construct. 

You can make it longer and lose the leggings or make it shorter. It's all up to you! 

WHAT I USED 

1 1/2 yards of grey knit
1 1/2 yards of striped knit
3/4" elastic 


STEP 1

I took Cailey's measurements and drew out the patterns.
You want the back pieces to overlap so the pattern piece will be wider than the front piece. 

You want to cut 2 front bodice pieces on the fold.
You'll need to cut 4 back bodice pieces NOT on the fold. 


STEP 2

Fold the fabric for the bottom over, then over again. Fold until you have a nice point at the top. Basically it will be folded into fourths. 
Now, here comes the math. However wide you need the top of the circle to be, divide by 4. Use your measuring tape to measure that distance across the top, near the point. 
Cut.
From there, measure how long you want it to be down one side. Mark it. 
Measure again down the middle and mark.
Measure one more time down the other side and mark.
Now, connect those marks. That's your cutting line.

Cut the bottom of the dress. 

This is what you should have.


STEP 3

Now, take your 2 front bodice pieces and pin them with right sides together. (My right sides have glitter but most of the time it doesn't matter with a knit.)

Sew just the arm holes and the neckline. 
DO NOT sew the sides, bottom or the shoulders. 


STEP 4

Now, turn it right side out and press.

Top stitch around the arm holes and neckline. 


STEP 5

Time for the back bodice pieces!!
Take 2 and pin them with right sides together, 
Sew just where the pins are (the arm hole and the straight edge NOT the side, bottom or shoulder). 
Do the same to the other 2 back pieces. 


STEP 6

Turn the pieces right side out and press.
Now, top stitch along the straightish line and the arm hole. 


STEP 7

With right sides together, sew the shoulder seams and side seams. 
Still leave the bottom open.


STEP 8

Place the bodice piece over the skirt, with right sides together. 
Pin the bottom of the bodice to the top of the skirt. Make sure to overlap the back bodice pieces a bit.
Sew the seam with a stretch stitch. 

Press it out and here is what you have!!! 


STEP 9

Sewing a traditional hem in a circle skirt can be a pain in the butt. There's just SO MUCH fabric at the bottom!! So, with a knit you don't have to hem at all!! OR you can do what I did and sew a zigzag stitch all across the bottom. 
I pulled the fabric slightly as I stitched to give it a lettuce hem. 

ALL DONE (well, with that part)!!!!

Now, on to the leggings. 
This is pretty much how I make any simple pant, short, legging, without any extras at all. LOL 


STEP 1

Grab a pair of leggings to use as a guide. 
Cut 2 legs, on the fold. 
Make sure to add at least 1 1/2" to the top and at least 1/2" at the bottom. (The first is for the elastic casing, the second is for the hem.)


STEP 2

Now you're going to sew the inseam.
Sew a stretch stitch right between where the 2 arrows are. 
Do both legs. Press your seams.


STEP 3

Now, turn one leg right side out and slide it down into the other leg.
Sew that U shaped seam! :)


STEP 4

With the pants still inside out, fold over the top by 1 1/2".
Sew the elastic casing, making sure to leave an opening to insert the elastic through. 


STEP 5

Put a large safety pin on both ends of the elastic. This makes it easier to insert and you won't lose the other end. ;)
Insert the elastic. 
Sew the ends of the elastic together.
Sew the opening in the casing closed. 


STEP 6

Now for the hem. 
Again, this is knitwear, no hem needed BUT it does give it a more professional look. 
With the pants right side out, turn the bottom of each leg in by 1/2" and press. 
Then top stitch the hem with a stretch stitch. :D


ALL DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Put it on and twirl away!!! ;)

Hope this was easy to follow. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask!!! 


HAVE FUN SEWING!!!!!!!!!!!

Little Birdie Nightgown Tutorial

It's been quite a while since I posted a clothing tutorial. I think it shows. I forgot to take a couple of pictures but hopefully I can explain well enough to make up for it.

I wanted to make Cailey and Colin new pajamas for the new homeschool year 'cause everyone knows homeschoolers only wear pajamas or denim jumpers. ;)

Today I'll post the tutorial for Cailey's nightgown and next Wednesday (at the latest) I'll post the tutorial for Colin's pajamas. 

WHAT I USED -

Just over 2 yards of flannel (for the skirt part)

Just under 1/2 yard of minky dot for the bodice (would also work well with fleece or a heavier knit)

The bodice is NOT lined. I added a neck facing and finished the arms with a zigzag stitch. I also did a zigzag stitch for the bottom of the nightgown instead of a traditional hem. I like the way it turned out and it was something different to do.

STEP 1 -

I took an older pattern that I made for Cailey and adjusted it for her growth. It's an easy thing to make using one of your child's shirts. Just trace around it on some blank paper. 

It's an empire waist, so keep that in mind.

STEP 2 -

Cut 2 bodice pieces.

STEP 3 -

Cut the bottom of the nightgown. I just cut 2 pieces for length. I wanted to work with the full width of 2 pieces. Remember, I left off a traditional hem so the length I cut was only 1/2" off of the finished piece.

STEP 4 - 

Cut the facing.

I folded a piece of the minky dot and used the neckline of one of the bodice pieces as my guide. You want to make it just a smidge smaller due to losing 1/4" when you sew the shoulders together. 

STEP 5 -

Right sides together, sew the shoulder seams. 

STEP 6 -

Right sides together, pin the facing to the neckline and sew all around the inside.

DO NOT PRESS MINKY DOT! You'll lose the dots! LOL

STEP 7 -

Fold the facing inside the bodice and pin. Top stitch all along the neckline. 

STEP 8 -

Run a gathering stitch across the tops of your skirt pieces. Leave them in 2 pieces. It's MUCH easier to attach gathers that way, or at least I think so! ;)

STEP 9 -

Right sides together, pin the tops of the skirt pieces to the bottom pieces of the bodice. Sew the seam.

Now, top stitch across the bottom of the bodice pieces or stitch in the ditch.

STEP 10 - 

Pin up the sides and sew the side seam. 

STEP 11 -

Run a small zigzag stitch across the bottom of the nightgown.

STEP 12 -

Run a small zigzag stitch across the arm holes.

If you are dealing with a small sized nightgown, you might want to do that before sewing the side seams. 

Technically you don't HAVE to finish minky dot, knit or fleece. None of them will unravel like wovens. BUT it can look nicer if you do. I go back and forth depending on the project. 

Now you're all done!!!

I'll be posting the tutorial for Colin's chevron knit pajamas soon! :D

Let me know what you think! If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask! 

HAVE FUN SEWING!!!!