New PJs for 2014

I'm happy that I was able to keep the tradition of home-made PJ for them every Lunar new year. This time, I decided to make a knit PJ in dress which is more comfortable for our hot weather.  I've adapted the pattern from Ottobre 4/2013's Circus Horse dress using size 110 for my 4 year old.  Instead of a gathered skirt, I just lengthen the bodice and flare out to make a slight A line dress with raglan sleeve.

The star print blue sweatshirt knit is from Spotlight and the white knit (not sure of the content but it is thicker) is from Fabric.com.  I love raglan sleeves as there is no need for setting of sleeves.  Ottobre is great as they give the measurement for the neckband so it was really helpful.

For my older, I use the same Ottobre issue's Ruler - striped raglan T-shirt as my base.  The 134 is slightly tight for my tall 9 year old.  I also lengthen the bodice to make it A line dress.  Added the kangaroo pocket.

The knit is really thin and but she loves it.  Next time, I must go 1 size up if I'm making a dress as PJ should be more loose fitting.

Like her sister's PJ, the raglan sleeve is really a breeze and I really like how it fits them so well.

I've bought some cute cotton print with colourful mermaids and originally had intention to make them PJ out of it. I even bought Oliver and S PJ pattern. So, maybe this year, I will make 2 PJs for the girls.

A New PJ for the new year

Has it been a month since I last post? Oh my..how time flies.

I did sew during my blog absence but just didn't get to take photos and edit them for the blog.  Hmm.. sewing is fun but writing a blog post sometimes ...hhmmm takes more energy than sewing, imho.

Anyway, here's the new PJs I sewn for the girls in 2013. It was done way before the Lunar New Year since I wanted to make it a tradition to sew them a new PJ every year.  I bought this cute Panda Heart cotton fabric from Spotlight at sale for $4/m. It was a steal! Immediately, I vision PJ with this cute print.

I drafted the PJ myself using a similar tunic I sew in a Japanese sewing magazine.  I'm very happy that the girls love them.  I had wanted to do a tutorial but really, lack of mojo and motivation and time...I'll just do a short note here if you want to take reference to make one for your kid.

The PJ is a tunic with a bottom piece since I think it is more suitable for my girls who prefer pants than dressing gown for night wear. It has button placket in front with V neck and sort of cap sleeves. The sleeves are part of the bodice as I was lazy to insert sleeves so since I'm drafting it, I'll just save a step. The lower half of the bodice is just rectangle with slight gathers attached to the top.

I made some variation between the sisters by giving my older girl some ruffles for the PJ bottoms.  For the little one, I added lace for the bodice and bottom.

The PJ bottom are just loose pants with elastic waistband.  The original tunic that I've based the PJ on was just a loose fitting bodice with no button closure. So, I took some time to draft that button placket plus the integrated sleeve bodice out. It was very rewarding to see them wearing it every night. Unless it's in the wash, they pull the PJ out every night : )

See, you can even do a ballet dance in them!

Just can't leave without posting a last photo of my cutie in her Panda Hearts PJ!

New PJs for 2012

Last week I finally finish making the PJs for my 2 girls.  It's my desire to make a new PJ for my girls every year for Lunar New Year so that they can keep this tradition with them. My mum bought/sew us PJs when we were young and I had fond memories of these PJs and the excitement to wear them on the eve of the Lunar New Year.

The pattern is from this Japanese sewing book for kids. This book is really good and I've previously made a dress for my girl from it.  There are other patterns that I've bookmarked to sew when I've the time.

I made the pants set for my 2nd girl using a vintage car prints cotton fabric that I got from Spotlight recently. 

I bind the neckline, sleeve, pocket and pants hem with royal blue bias tape that I made myself.  

It was a little too big for her but she was very happy to wear them and didn't want to take them off! I love the car prints on the 2 little pockets that I've placed in front.  The car print on the pocket is cut deliberately to be right in the centre and both are facing the opposite direction.  

For my older girl, I made a dress PJ with the fabric that she picked out herself. The fabric has pretty pink stripes and small flower prints. I also sew some handmade bias tapes at the neckline and sleeve.

I've sewn 3 colorful butterfly buttons in front and grosgrain ribbon at the waist area. The area below the ribbon was slightly gathered. I just discovered how to sew buttons using my Singer sewing machine with the special button foot! Ha...

I've painstakingly cut the front fabric and then match the print to the back fabric so that they meet at the side seams nicely.

Another success project cause she was very happy with it! Yeah! : ) She jump onto her bed immediately and pose some funny picture for me. 

The little sister also jumped onto her bed and they had a cozy time together before she took off her PJ, unwillingly. 

I told them that they will get to wear them again on the eve of Lunar New Year which is coming this Monday!   Till then, I've some more last minute sewing going on so come back soon and I will have a tutorial soon...