Blog with Friends on the Go - DIY Vacation Pajamas - Mandarin Style

It's that time again!!! Blog with Friends!! This month we're on the road! Ready for some great travel and vacation ideas???? 

For my part, I am going to show you how to make a comfy pair of pajamas, Mandarin style. ;) Comfy, cool and perfect for a special vacation. 

I'm not gonna lie. I struggled with this one. In my head. Once I actually got started it really wasn't that difficult! LOL 

WHAT I USED

2 yards of flannel backed poly satin 
1 package of black piping
3/4" elastic
3 frog closures
Small piece of lightweight fusible interfacing 



STEP 1

I used one of Cailey's shirts as a guide to draw out my pattern. I wanted it to be rather long. 
I actually could have cut it a bit wider. You sew and you learn. ;)

This will be the pattern for both the front and back bodice pieces. You'll just cut the neckline for the front a little lower. 

You're going to cut 2 on the fold. 


STEP 2

I free handed the pattern for the collar. 
Actually, I went back and made one a bit bigger. I should have stayed with this one. The one I ended up with was a little big as I'm sure you can tell from the picture. ;)

Cut 2 on the fold.



STEP 3

Next I used a pair of Cailey's capri pants as a guide for the bottoms. 
Make sure you leave a couple of extra inches at the top!! I didn't leave enough room and had to put a waistband on in the end.
Also, I used capris because I wanted a wide bottom cuff thingy on the ends of the legs. 

Cut 2 legs on the fold.


STEP 4

Now you cut the cuff thingies. 
Mine are 10" when unfolded. 


STEP 5

Now we start with the tricky bits. 

You can cut this part anywhere you like and at any angle you like. Just make sure to start in the middle of the bodice. 

*You can also make this fasten straight down the middle OR over on the side. 



STEP 6

Now you need to cut one facing and one placket. The only difference between the 2 is that 1 will show and 1 won't.


STEP 7

Fold both pieces with right sides together.
Sew the ends.
Turn right side out and press.
Pin the bottom to the bottom of the top piece. 
Sew.
Press with the placket lying flat not tucked behind the bodice piece.
Top stitch in place.

On the bottom piece, follow the same instructions except that you will press it under the bodice piece before top stitching. 

Press.



STEP 8

With right sides together, pin the shoulders in place.

Sew the seam.

Press.


STEP 9

Take your frog closures and pin them in place.

I used my button foot and dropped my feed dogs when I sewed them on.

Sew them in several places. 

This was not nearly as difficult as I thought it would be. ;)



STEP 10

SLEEVES!!
I forgot to actually take the pictures of HOW to cut the sleeves so hopefully you can just follow along.

To cut:
Fold the fabric.
Place the shoulder of the bodice in alignment with the fold.
Use the armhole as a guide to cut the sleeve, making sure to leave a seam allowance. 

If you need a visual click HERE and scroll down. ;)

Now, on to the piping!!

Pin the piping to the raw edges at the bottom of the sleeve. Right sides should be together and the actually piping portion should be toward the top.

I used my zipper foot to sew this on.

Sew close to the actual piping part.

Fold over at the piping and press.

Top stitch right at the edge of the sleeve above the piping. 

Not nearly as hard as I thought it was going to be. LOL



STEP 11

Time to attach the sleeves!!

Lay the bodice flat with the front in one direction and the back in the other. 

With right sides together, pin the raw edges of the sleeve to the armhole. 

Sew the sleeve in, pressing when you're done. 

Here's what you should have so far and a close up of the front where the tricky bit meets the sleeve. 



STEP 12

On to the collar!!!

Take one piece of the collar and line it up with the lightweight interfacing. 

Cut the interfacing to match and iron it in place on the wrong side of the collar piece.

Take both collar pieces and pin them with right sides together. 

Sew around the sides and the top. Leave the bottom open.

Turn right side out and press.

Top stitch across the top of the collar. 



STEP 13

Time to attach the collar.

Pin the raw edges of the collar to the raw edges of the neckline with right sides together. 

Sew the seam and press. 



STEP 14

Time to finish up the sides. 

I put a slit on both sides of the top. 

To do this fold 1/4" and press. Fold another 1/4" and press. 

Now, top stitch that in place.

When that's done, turn it all inside out. 

Pin along the sides of the top and the raw edges of the sleeves.

Sew the seam and press. 



STEP 15

Final part for the top!!!! 

Fold the hem in 1/4" and press.

Fold 1/2" and press.

Top stitch the hem. 

Press.


THE TOP IS DONE!!! WOOO HOOO!!!!!


Now on to the bottom!!!!

STEP 16

Take the piping and sew it to the bottom of the legs  exactly as you did with the bottom of the sleeves. 



STEP 17

Take the bottom cuff thingies and pin them to the bottom of the leg, right sides together. 

Sew just above where you stitched the piping.

Press it out. 

Top stitch just above the piping. 



STEP 18

Time to sew the inseam.

Pin from the bottom of the cuff to the curve of the crotch. 

Sew the seam and press. 


STEP 19

Take one leg and turn it right side out. 

Slide it down into the other leg and pin the raw edges together. 

Sew the seam and press. 


STEP 20

This is where you do the elastic casing. I had to do mine differently this time because I didn't leave enough room at the top when I cut my pant legs. LOL So, I'll have to walk you through it without pictures to help.

With the pants wrong side out, fold over the top by 1/4" and press.

Fold again by 1" and press.

Sew the along the bottom making sure to leave an opening of about 1" in which to insert the elastic.

Take 2 large safety pins and pin each end of the elastic. 

Push the elastic through the casing. 

Pull on both ends and sew them together. 

Sew the opening in the elastic casing closed. 

ALLLLL DONE!!!!!!!


**The alternative**

Just in case you were like me and didn't leave enough room at the top....

Cut either 2 pieces or one long piece 3" wide and long enough to fit around the top of the pants. 

Sew the ends together. 

With the band right side out, fold in half and press. 

Pin the raw edges of the band to the raw edges of the top of the pants. 

Sew the seam but leave the ends open.

Trim the band if needed but leave a seam allowance of at least 1/4".

Insert the elastic as above.

Sew the elastic and the band closed at the same time. 

ALL DONE!!!!!

If you have any questions don't be afraid to ask!!!!

Now!!!! 

Time for all the other projects this month!!! 

WOOO HOOO!!!!

Karen at Baking in a Tornado has some more yummies for you!! This time it is Fruity Lemonade Snack Mix. PERFECT for traveling!!!

Robin at Someone Else's Genius is going to show you how to make this AMAZING Frodo's Journey Bezel Bracelet. OMG how great is THAT???

Eileen at Eileen's Perpetually Busy will show you how to make that CUTE His & Hers Toiletry Cases! You won't believe how she does it!!! 

Melissa from Home on Deranged has some GREAT Tips for Summer Travel. I know we could all use that!!! 

Lydia from Cluttered Genius has some great advice about how to Travel with a Newborn!! I know a lot of people that could use this post!!!! 


HAVE FUN TRAVELING!!!!!! 

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!!!!!