Thomas the Tank Engine Pyjamas

I'm not quite sure how to start this post so I'll just launch straight in..... 

I made Thomas the Tank Engine Pjs

Me the 25 year old woman made Thomas the Tank Engine pjs...................

And I basically think they are the coolest thing in the whole wide world! Because well Thomas duh!

So this all started when my friend was having a clear out and found a load of his old childhood curtains. Including a pair of Thomas the tank engine ones. Now to begin with I did think "dress" I mean after all I made a He-man dress and I love that. But I don't actually like Thomas as much as I like He-man. 

I have a theory that having lil Man ruined Thomas the Tank engine for me because lets face it when you watch something on repeat it does kind of take the shine of it. Also Runied : Fireman Sam, Noddy and The Simpsons

Thus why Lil man will never be watching He-man or Thundercats......

Anyway then I stumbled upon the idea of making some Pjs. Mainly because Sew now mag was offering a free pj pattern at the time that I really liked.

Would you believe I couldn't pick up a copy of the magazine anywhere! We tried 5 supermarkets, our local newspaper shop and whsmiths but I couldn't find it anywhere. So I looked online trying to find something similar and then I had an epiphany. 

Why not just pattern hack some pjs? 

So if you own Love at first stitch by Tilly Walnes then our can make these jammies [you will have to find your own Thomas the Tank engine curtains though.] The bottoms are straight up the Margot pyjama bottoms but I changed the drawstring waistband for an elastic one. 

And the top is just the Mimi Blouse but I lengthened the sleeves and omitted all of the iron on interfacing for comfort. I did keep the regular facings though because they leave a nice finish on the collar. And I swapped the gathers on the front and back for pleats because they look a bit less twee.

As it turns out the combination of the two patterns ended up making a pretty cute pyjama set and as an added bonus I didn't have to spend any money. 

I was a bit worried the Mimi blouse might not work but as it goes I quite like the loose fit and the lower neckline as it means I can pull it over the top of my head without faffing with any buttons. In fact if I make another set I might just sew the buttons directly on and leave the front closed. 

Lets all just take a moment to appreciate that Edward is bang on my crotch area! I swapped the draw string for elastic because I tend to find that the drawstring likes to become really blooming difficult to undo just as I'm desperate for a wee! Elastic however just means I can whip them down!

Sadly I didn't have quite enough of the Thomas fabric so the back is cut with the trains going down and the sleeves, yoke and collar are cut using a different fabric, also from my friend.

Changes wise next time I think I might add an inch to the sleeves and make the top a fraction longer. Its not necessarily too short now but I do like the idea of having a bit more length. I'm also thinking that a pocket on the chest might be nice for keeping biscuits in and stuff. Because well biscuits.....

All in all I'm pretty darn pleased with them! Rikki thinks they are possible the most sexless thing I own and hes right but they are comfy and I love the style. So much so that I've already got plans to make another pair in some silky Pyjama fabric! But before you think I'm making a grown up set please bear in might that said silky fabric has MONKEYS on it!

Much Love

Frankie 

xxx

Lakeside Grainline Pyjamas, Christmas Style!

When I first started blogging I had to make a tough decision. As a person who hates having their picture taken would I put pictures of me up on my blog? Would I crop off my head? Would I just display them on a mannequin?

In the end I decided to photograph the things I make on me, mainly because I find it very frustrating when people post pictures of their makes on mannequins because everything looks good on a mannequin! [Major kudos to Jo at three stories high who posted pictures in a bra she made for the same reasons!]

So I took the plunge and took pictures of myself in my latest make a very short pair of Lakeside Pyjamas by Grainline Studios! [definitely worn nude pants and a strapless bra for these as well as tights because I'm not that brave!]

Right so details, the top is a loose fitting tank with a split back and bust darts and the shorts are elasticated at the waist and have sort of a 70's running short vibe!

I made a size 12, although I measured as a size 8. Yes I went up two sizes, after reading some blogs by people who had already made them I discovered that the shorts run a lil small, and as I have a lil bit of "ahem" junk in my trunk, I thought it was best to size up , and then I figured as I was making a toile maybe I should size up twice just to be safe.

And I'm really glad I did, the fit on top is good its loose enough to be comfy without the straps falling down and exposing bosom [anyone else have that? wake up in the morning to find both boobs have escaped you pj top? just me? okay then.......] 

And I'm really glad I sized up on the shorts, They are fairly loose on the waist and I took the elastic in by about 2 and a half inches but I'm really happy with them. I think the size 8 and 10 would have been a bit too snug and the last thing I want to be dealing with at 3am is a wedgie.

The pattern is deigned for light woven's, like lawn style cottons. But I used this Christmas fabric by the craft cotton company and it worked nicely. Although I didn't have enough of one fabric to make the full set so the top has a reindeer front and a snow flake back and the shorts have red reindeer print with a white reindeer waistband!

I don't mind the mismatched effect as its a toile but I do have some really lovely gingham cotton lawn to make my next set in! [courtesy of my friend who sent me both this pattern and the fabric as an early wedding present!]  

I actually put off making this pattern because it requires 7 YARDS! of bias binding. And I hate bias binding! But surprisingly I found this quite therapeutic and the instructions are really clear so that made it easier.

On some of the pictures below you can see how the bias binding hides all of the raw edges and gives a really pro finish. Although I got a bit confused when it came to binding the edge of the shorts but I think I know what I need to do next time for a really great finish.

This is the back split which might be my favourite part! It gives a really comfortable fit which I love and its nice to have a lil bit of sexy in the back especially seen as the rest is so loose. 

I also wondered if you could hack the pattern so the wrap over back was at the front and then you might have yourself a nice lil top for breast feeding.

Im starting to dream of a pair of these and a light silky material now! Very 1950s hollywood!

I had a hard time posing for these, hence all the props! oooh harry potter! perfect bedtime reading!

Here's the bias binding straps, the pattern give you a measurement to ct but I think its worth trying them before you stitch them into your top. These were the right length for me but if you bust is slightly bigger you might find the armholes tight.

The instructions are really clear on all points so its definitely worth following them! I love how the binding finishes this! Even if you do need 7 yards of the stuff! It is worth making your own though because pre made bias binding can be quite stiff and you don't want to be uncomfortable at bedtime!

I read on a few blogs that people plan on making these shorts in a knit with minimal stretch for running. I won't be doing that...... I only run on three occasions

1- for fabric

2- for wine

3- away from zombies

Here's the elastic waist, I'm tempted to make a drawstring one on my next pair but then Id have to tie them and stuff and deal with the inevitable my draw strings come undo shorts drop to the floor and expose my bum and foof dilemma! So I might just stick to elastic!

Much Love

Frankie

xxx

P.s Definitely not saving these for Christmas!!!

Feeling smug!

I'd like to start off by saying

My house is clean! During lil knitwits nap today I decided to give the house a this going over (usually I sew!) just thought I'd let you all know, it's kinda like when people post on Facebook that they've been to the gym. So status update : house is clean! 

Now back to buisness , it's not very often I buy things online. I'm a bit scared of the internet to be honest, I'm 22 but I'm still convinced it's full of pedophiles and con artists. ( and to be honest it is) so usually if I'm going to buy something I run if by mr Knitwit because he's far more tech savvy than I am. But this time I didn't! I put in my big girl panties and bagged myself a deal. A deal on what you ask? 

Buttons! 

 

Heart shaped wooden buttons! £0.45

Star shaped wooden buttons! £0.39

Small flower shaped buttons! £0.44

And small round gingham and spotted buttons! £0.39 

And the postage was free! These are all wooden buttons with cute prints on! And the buttons are large enough to be actually used as functioning/decorative buttons. I can't believe how lovely they are! 

I ordered them on the 4th of September and they came on the 20th September so the delivery time isn't to bad to say its free! If you'd like to snag your own button bargains! (Perfect for paper and stitch crafts ) you can find them on amazon and they are sold by FT-DEALS I think although there seems to be quite a few sellers! 

I should also mention that I haven't been asked to write this review by the seller. In fact they probably think I'm just another adress to ship to! I just thought I'd give my honest opinion on something I treated myself to (but if they do want to send some buttons my way, you won't hear me complaining!) 

Other than that I've been sewing up my first pair of margot pjs! From love at first stitch! Although I have had to unpick the crotch seam due to my rather large bottom (curse you mother) hopefully when it's re sewn they'll be a lil less snug! 

Seen any sewing bargins recently? 

Much love

Frankie

Xxx