New Years Blanc Tee

I needed to get some elastic. Nothing special just 1" wide stuff that's good for waistbands. So I popped down to my local Spotties and got some and of course got sucked in to purchasing some fabric. I couldn't help myself - post Christmas sales, lots of fabric, lots and lots of fabric. I had been thinking about what I would wear tonight for New Years. We're not doing anything big, a few friends at our house. But I like to make an effort. I hadn't made my mind up until I saw all the metallic knits. Shiny! Immediate inspiration struck - a blanc tee. A TNT with a difference. I whipped it up in the afternoon. 2 hours from cut to complete. And I love it. Happy New Year!

A new friend

Guess what I got for Christmas? A dress form! Woo hoo! I have had my eye on mannequins for years. And when Stitch56 had an extra special special I took the plunge and bought a Lady Valet. Sigh! I told my family that this would be my present from everyone. They were fine with this, making it a (relatively) guilt-free purchase.

I had lots of help setting her up. Everyone wanted to get in on it. And whilst we were setting her up, we had lots of fun coming up with an appropriate name. I would like to introduce you to Doris.

So here Doris is wound out to my measurements with some padding and a plain tshirt. I am currently researching how to pad and cover her properly. A recent make is covering her up.  I have been asked that she not be left unclothed. Apparently various family members have been freaked out. You'll be seeing a lot more of her here.

Sleepwear!

Does anyone else struggle to find sleepwear that suits? Remembering that in the southern hemisphere we are in summer, currently I can find PJs that are shorts and Tshirts, granny nighties (lightweight cotton, gathered at the neck on a facing or yoke) or Tshirt nighties. None of these appeal - for all kinds of reasons. So I started to think about making my own. So what do I want from PJs? Comfort, decency (don't need to scare the kids 😉), cool (as in not too warm), some shape. Hmmmmm... nothing in the shops fit the bill. So I started a Pinterest board - sewing: pyjama inspiration. But nothing jumped out at me saying "I'm the one!" So I thought about what in each pattern I liked. Words that describe my likes: feminine, some shape, "not granny", decent, cotton (!).

I used an old nightie as the basis for pattern. Baby doll cut (a slight a-line), ruched bodice, and a bit longer than anything I've seen. I measured everything and then created pattern pieces. Back and back facing (identical), front (ruched) and front facing, and skirt front and back. I started off with identical front and back pieces but that changed 😉.

I scored some extra special fabrics at Spotties, Isa Form Fishes. I love it. My sister is living in Scandinavia right now so it has extra meaning. And as an extra special I have heaps left over - enough for a present for her?!?

Construction involved: gathering the front (EPIC FAIL - I need to work on my gathering method), join front and back at side seams, join front and back facings at side seems, pin front straps, join front/back to facing at top seam reinforcing at straps, fit elastic across back wedged between back and facing, sew skirt sides ( I ended up adding a 2" wedge to the skirt), sew bodice and skirt together with a generous seam, encase elastic in the seam and stitch, fit the straps, hem. That reads as quite straightforward but it wasn't. I haven't done much "rubbing off" patterns from finished garments so there was lots of tweaking.

I under measured everything. I extended the front bodice and added the wedge in the skirt so I could get it round my rib cage. I got the length right 😉. I used bra elastic for straps and a narrow hem.

Here's the finished version. It's very comfortable and wearable. The fussing around was worth it. I've taken enough notes that I can replicate it. I think I will.