Pajama Top

 

Pajama top

     I have three pairs of winter pajamas, two that I made and one that I bought.  One of the pairs I made are getting really beat up, the hems are fraying and the elastic is almost shot.  Therefore I figured I needed to make another pair.  

Embroidery detail

     When I was cleaning out all my sewing samples since I finished teaching, I found a pair of flannel pants that I had made.  They still fit, so I needed just a top to go with them.  I had an ivory colored knit in my stash that would work.  Of course to make sure the top went with the pants, I did am embroidery in the same colors as the pants.  I didn't have any of that flannel left so I just used a scrap of cotton fabric that was close in color.

Side seam

     The knit was a ribbed knit that wanted to keep stretching.  I set the differential feed on my serger to 1.8 to try to keep the stretch to a minimum.  I did sort of keep the stripes aligned at the side seams but the neckline stretched out horribly, glad it is only pajama top.

Neckline

Hem

      The embroidery design I used was a freebie from Designs by JuJu, Snow Princess Frame 2, 5x7 size.  I did use a lightweight fusible web under the appliqué piece as it was a little larger and I was worried about the texture of the knit fabric.  

Pattern

     The pattern I used was one I have used many times, Great Copy #420, classic fit small(bust) to medium(waist/hips).  It will be nice to have a new pair of pajamas to replace the one that is wearing out.

Red Hearts Bellavista Top

 

Finished Bellavista top

     I have been buying quite a few patterns from Itch-to-Stitch lately.  When I went to the ASG conference in San Francisco this past summer, I bought fabric to make up some of them.  For this top though, I had this red hearts fabric in my stash.  I was going to donate it but then thought I would try the Bellavista top with it.  

Pattern

     I spent one day printing out the pattern and then taping all the pieces together.  As I have made several of her patterns already, I knew what sizes I needed.  It was a bit of a learning curve at first to use Adobe Acrobat to open up the file and then eliminate the sizes I didn't need.  That does make it so much easier to cut the pattern pieces when you don't have 20 different lines to choose from.

Collar detail

     I really liked the cowl neck on this top but it also has a scoop neck option.  The pattern also has two options for the sleeves, long or bell sleeve.  I chose the long sleeve version.

Shoulder detail

     The pattern went together very quickly.  I used my serger to do the seams and the stretch stitch on my sewing machine to do the hems.  I liked how the top is fitted through the shoulders and bust area but then swings away from the body to hide any bulges but not add a lot of bulk.

Hem detail

     There are three things I might try differently on the next one.  The sleeve felt a little snug so I might try a sleeve from another of her patterns that I like the fit better.  I also would like it just a little longer.  Third,  I might try making the top a bit longer so I would feel more comfortable wearing it with leggings.  

Me modeling my new top

Halloween Placemats

Finished Halloween placemat

 

     This is the last post about Christmas 2024 sewing.  I made placemats for the grandkids to match the table runners and napkins I made for their parents.   I bought the design from Designs by JuJu.  I did the larger size.

All cut and ready to stitch

     I start by cutting all the pieces according to the directions.  I print out this page from the detailed directions so I have it in front of me while cutting.  The rest of the directions I just pull up on my computer when I am working on the project.  I found I didn't have quite enough of the orange fabrics in my stash to make the Jack O'Lanterns the same on all of the placemats.  Instead I made the girls' placemats with one placement and the boys' with another.

Pumpkins for the boys

Pumpkins for the girls

     I stitched out all six of one block before doing another one.  This makes for less thread changes.

Owl block in progress

     The appliqués are a bit time-consuming as you must remove the hoop from the machine after each piece is sewn down.  The owl block shown above has five different appliqué pieces.

Boo block

Black cat block

Moon block

Owl block

Spiderweb block with name

     On the block with the spider web, I eliminated the design on the right side of the block and replaced it with a grandchild's name.  I used a fun font from MasterWorks.  I like to give personalized gifts when possible.

Placed on the backing fabric

     After sewing the blocks together, I place them on the backing piece.  I then stitch in the ditch around the background fabric pieces.  I trim the outer edge to 3/8" and then apply binding.  I find this faster than bringing the backing to the front to bind the edges, maybe because I have done it that way on so many things.

Back of placemat

      I have a lot of fun making these for the grandkids.  A lot of this was from my stash so even better.  What do you think next year's theme will be?

Halloween Table Runners

Table runner with four napkins

      The theme for Christmas 2024 table runners was Halloween.  I use the Fat Quarter Table Runner II pattern from Out of the Blue.  I buy four 3 yard pieces of coordinating fabrics when I make these.  That gives me enough fabric for 4 table runners, sixteen 18"x18" napkins plus the backing and binding. Then there are usually scraps that I can use to make placemats for the grandkids.  (Watch for next week's post to see if you can spot those fabrics from the table runners in the placemats) 

Candy fabric center

     I cut all the pieces at one time and then arrange them in piles for each of the table runners.  Each of the four different fabrics is used as fabric 1, 2, 3, or 4 in each table runner.

Green swirls fabric center

     For the backing and binding, I use the same fabric as the center square fabric (fabric 1).  I used to then gift the same fabric napkins but I thought it was more fun to have four different napkins.

Jack'O Lantern fabric center

    This year I did the rolled hem on the napkins with orange wooly nylon thread.

Spiders fabric center

     I find these fun to make and pretty easy as it is a Quilt-As-You-Sew technique.  What will next year's theme be???