Tuesday 10 December 2013

Spendy superior Sewaholic PJs

 

Extra long pattern pieces, five yards of piping and Anna Maria Horner flannel: it can only mean one thing... it's the most expensive item of clothing I've ever made*!!
 
Would you use your most spendy fabric on something you'd only wear in bed? No? I totally recommend it. After all, one wears one's sleep-clothes a LOT, and let's face it, who honestly treats themselves on their nightwear? Wearing the luxury softness (or slinkiness, or just plain prettiness) instead of an old t-shirt is basically like giving yourself a big sewing cuddle every night (no? yes!), and as you probably won't wear them out of the house much (will you?) there's great scope for print madness that you might not otherwise feel you can allow.
 
As for the pattern, well with all that piping it could only be the Sewaholic Tofino. I actually didn't see the appeal much at first, when there are so many free PJ pants patterns out there which will do, y'know. Obviously, my eyes have now been opened to how much more fabulous the PJs are when they do more than just do. I bought the pattern on a sudden summer whim because I was grabbed by the idea of joining in Karen's Pyjama Party. Then other things happened, and that idea departed as swiftly as it had arrived, and I felt spendy pattern guilt about not doing it. But hey, it all turned out right in the end! Because if I had made the pyjamas then, maybe I wouldn't have made them now, considering the pattern done and not sewing myself some warm wintery flannel.
 
And that would have been a terrible, horrible shame. Because these PJs are absolutely, utterly superior. No going back. All the pyjamas from now on will be Tofinos, and they will all be in fabulous fabrics. Spendy sleepwear, I don't care!




I do like to hang out drinking tea in my pyjamas. And reading books (more John Irving).


 
 
 
And I guess I like doing acrobatics in them too.
 
 
 

 
But I think it goes without saying that I wouldn't mind doing quite a lot more of this.
 
 


Ha. Like that's going to happen.


* yes really. I am that cheap.

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What's the most expensive thing you've ever made? Did you luxuriate in the extravagance of it while sewing, or berate yourself for risking to cut into the precious fabric in the first place? Were you immediately converted to spendy fabric once and for all, or was it a one-off?

As for me - I've already ordered more not-cheap flannel to make holiday nightgowns for the kids. I'm telling myself that once I've done those, I'm done and back to the bargain bin.  But then again, maybe I'll just put off that line of thought until after the January sales. Yes.

10 comments:

  1. It's a shame I can't stand to wear long pants in bed, especially flannel ones, they are waaaaay too hot! I'll sleep in shorts and t-shirts all year... Yours are fabulous, definitely worth the extra spending!

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  2. ah see this keeps harmony between me who likes to be warm and husband who will only sleep under a thin duvet with the window open. It's a delicate balance :-)

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  3. These look so comfy and lovely. Have a free web pattern I've never made and keep almost buying this pattern. I think it's time to invest after seeing this!

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  4. SeamsOddLouise.Blogspot.comDecember 11, 2013 1:05 pm

    They look so comfy. Is the waist purely ribbon tied or is there some elastic in there as well? I haven't splurged on fabric yet. I'm still using up the leftovers I found at my nan's house. I have bought a few new fabrics (but cheap) although I'm having trouble with one as it's stretch and I appear to be useless at stretch. I am supposed to be making some bed clothes for my eldest son. But have been putting it off as he chose zebra print fabric! What will they look like?

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  5. Zebra bedsheets sound like a lot of fun!! I know what you mean with stretch fabrics, it took me ages to feel comfortable with them. Good luck!

    As for the PJs - yes there is also elastic, in fact I almost left out the waist tie thinking it would be superfluous, but in fact it really helps them to sit comfortably just where I want them. It makes me think back to when the kids were smaller and I'd have a baby/toddler tugging at my legs - more than once I had to grab my pyjamas to stop them being pulled off completely, which wouldn't happen with these held comfortably but firmly in place!

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  6. Silvia - Sewing PrincessDecember 11, 2013 1:25 pm

    Gorgeous Jo...says the woman who isn't even keen on pink normally! How timely...I splurged on some designer cotton for a shirt yesterday! Normally I am like you and avoid buying expensive fabric. I try to snatch good quality at lower price! I made those pajama pants some months ago and I really like the detailing. I found them a bit too wide though. Maybe I should have gone down one size.

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  7. I'm a PJ pants lover. I could wear them all day, so it's all right to spend some extra money on them. And I recently asked my nearly 2-year old son (who answers "no" to everything) if he would join me in a league for more pajama pants on the streets. He said "Yes"! Care to join me as well? :-)

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  8. thanks Silvia! Yes the details are what really makes this pattern, aren't they? I particularly like the stitched-in-the-ditch waistband, it's so tidy :-) They're very wide on me too especially as I am definitely not a pear shape (slim-hipped, in fact!), but for sleeping I just decided to leave it as is. Have fun with the designer cotton! The nice thing about not using expensive fabric very often is that it's such a treat when we do!

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  9. YES! To be honest this pattern in less PJ-like fabric probably wouldn't even look that odd!

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  10. They look great and super comfy. I'm going to use some lovely fabric like you to make some sleep wear!

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