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

Gingham Lakeside Grainline Pyjamas

I know I'm boring this is the second pair of Lakeside Grainline Pyjamas that I've made recently but I just loved the first pair so much and found then so satisfying to make I couldn't resist!

This time I used a very light cotton lawn that was given to me by a friend with this pattern. I love the warm colours of the gingham pattern its so unusual.

I used the same binding that I used for my first pair because I made too much. I don;t think it looks out of place and it saved me a lot of time [and swearing] in ironing out a whole new batch.

I made no changes and followed the instructions exactly. I still had trouble with the binding on the side seam of the shorts. I'm not quite sure what I was doing wrong but when I stopped sewing at 9.30pm to watch the GBSB final I was nearly in tears and when I decided to try and finish at 10.30pm It went on smoothly. 

No idea how that happened.

Pattern matching wise I did try, the side seams on the top aren't too bad but the shorts are a bit hit and miss. Apart from on the bum [you can see it a couple of pictures up, yes feel free to stop reading and go and have a quick gander at my bum, its okay we're all friends here]

I am pleased that I put the black stripe along the centre front though, I really debated over which colour should be at the front so I left it too my toddler. He said black and I know better than to argue with a four year old. [I highly recommend this deciding style to anyone with kids, it really takes the pressure off yourself]

The straps and everything went in wonderfully!

I turned down the speed on my machine for top stitching. That way I have to take my time and can't rush through. 

I think the problem with the pattern matching on the sides is that I flipped the pattern piece so now the colours are in the wrong order.

So in general I'm very pleased. The fabric is beautiful to wear to sleep in, its so light and cool.

The shorts are riding up a little but but I think its because I shortened the elastic a bit too much this time and they are trying to find a slightly smaller part of me to sit on, Its not uncomfortable it just means you get a saucy bit of bum cheek poking out in the morning.

It is a bit weird to see the whole ensemble in one print after making my first pair in two different fabrics. I wasn't sure I like it at first but its grown on me!

Ive also discovered that the top goes with these pj bottoms I made yonks ago! Which means hopefully they'll get some winter wear as well! Yes even in winter I can't abide wearing long sleeves in bed!

To be completely honest I've been wearing both of the pairs I made in constant rotation. Wash and a wear style!

In other news! the lovely Charlotte won the sewing bee! It was such a close call this year. I felt a bit gutted for Joyce who I'd been rooting for, after weeks of being told her stuff was a bit boring she went all out only to be told it looked like a costume. I did love Charlotte and Jades dresses though and I shed a lil tear hearing Charlotte talk about her relationship with her ex-husbands new wife, "she's such a big part of the children's lives" Isn't that a lovely way of looking at it? 

Much Love

Frankie 

xxx  

skull print pj bottoms

I needed a new pair of pj bottoms, and that's all I can really say about this project, I saw a need and I filled the need!

I used the Tilly and the buttons Margot pj bottom pattern from love at first stitch. Mainly because I don't have another pyjama bottom pattern and I don't really see a need for another one? I mean a pyjamas a pyjama?

So anyway I used the last of my skull print fabric the same fabric that i used for my comfy dress, which is no longer in commission due to an unfortunate incident with a bottle of bleach. however due to the softness of the material I knew it would be perfect for pjs!

Anyway if you've forgotten the fabric here it is.

There not much to say really, they fit great they are very snuggly and all in all I'm super happy!

I think they took about two hours to sew together? but I did sew one leg inside out and took time to finish my seams.

I'm sorry about the quality of the pictures the man cave is stuffed full of boxes at the moment so I had to use the limited room in our upstairs hallway. Fun Fact : on the wall to my right we have a framed film cell from the second saw movie, its the scene where she falls into the hole full of needles.

This is me demonstrating how comfy they are you could actually do yoga in these! 

and this is me demonstrating how I kick Mr Knitwit onto his side of the bed during the night. Bad ass skull style!

and this is the tie which you completely cant see, although there's not much to see as its a tube of fabric threaded through a channel.

So these are a success although I'm not completely sure if they are blog worthy? Its the fourth time I've used this pattern so I didn't discover anything ground breaking or make any changes. In fact it was quite nice to do some mindless sewing whilst watching some mindless telly.

The more vigilant of you might be asking where my lovely face is on these pictures? well I didn't have any make-up on and I wasn't going to put it on for a quick blog post so I just chopped my head off.

Yes I know I should love my natural face but you didn't see my face this morning.

In other news I finished a dress yesterday, its awesome and will be photographed as soon as I get chance, and I might even include my head.

I've started another knitted bear.

And that's it really I have some more sewing plans in the works and Mr Knitwits grandparents came over today and dropped off some newspapers for me to copy patterns onto so hopefully I can crack on with those. Yes I'm using newspaper , tissue paper is just not cost effective for the amount of patterns I trace and hack into!!!

Much Love 

Frankie

xxx 

Margot pyjamas

Today I finally finished my margot pyjamas from The tilly and the buttons book love that first stitch. I thought after making my other pyjamas from no pattern that this would be the easiest task in the entire world. however I realised something, I do not do well with rules or with steps or with being told what to do. When I made my pyjamas I had the freedom to experiment and Do what I wanted but for this I told myself I was going to use the pattern and do it properly and I think that's where my problem started. 

 The whole cutting out process went really really well although you can't really tell if this parts gone badly until you start sewing. stitching up the inside and outside legs I had no problems, I had a few problems with the crotch but that's mainly because it I inherited my mothers bottom. 

I did however have a problem when I started to make the channel for the drawstring to go through, for some reason when I folded my channel over it bobbled and didn't look right. I ended with pleats all over the place so after un picking it and lobbing off about 2 cm it finally folded over without looking like a complete mess! 

I had no problems with making the actual drawstring or with hemming the bottoms of the pyjamas. 

 

I won't show you a picture of me in them purely because I do not look like Tilly in hers who looks like this! 

Now the idea of using this book was to make one piece according to the original instructions and pattern and one variation of each pattern however seen as these didn't turn out, quite as nicely as I wanted them to, I think I'm going to make another version of the original pattern and then possibly do an altered version! 

I wasn't going to but then I realised that all my pyjama bottoms are starting to get a bit tatty so I might as well make myself some nice new pairs without spending any money! 

HURRAY for handmade! 

Much love 

Frankie

Xxx

Lazy Day's

As promised I finally got some pictures of me wearing my handmade pyjamas! My lovely daddy was kind enough to offer his photography skills for this occasion! 

 

As usual please prepare yourself for the usual round of awkward posing, although I did have enough sense to crop out my eyes because of the horrific bags underneath them (no seriously you could have packed those bad boys for two weeks holiday, abroad, with children) 

 

 

I still love them, they are very comfy and I love that I made them myself!!!!  However I was not aware of just how short I am!!! I blame my daddy he must have caught me at a weird angle, I'm fairly sure that I'm a six foot amazon women who should be strutting the runway and winning Americas next top model. At least I'm fairly sure.

 

 

Here's the bottom by themselves I should probably add that I'm didn't make the vest top its a Primark original!

 

 

And the robe is back on! So glad I put the pockets in perfect for carrying my phone around. I know there just patch pockets but they are the neatest patch pockets I have ever done!

 

In other news!

•  Simplicity 4070 dress done! Including a zip! my first one EVER! Just need to finish stitching the trim down. And by the way my zip was met with approval from both Momma Knitwit and my Aunty (who is quite the dress maker herself!)
• Starting Lil Knitwits jammies today!
• Knitting always knitting! Never stop knitting.
• And spending far to much time looking at fabric online! And drooling, and then drooling some more. 

Much Love

 

Frankie

 

xxx

Woo's A Pretty Owl Then?

This owl was slow going, probably because I've been doing a little bit of everything at the moment! But its finally finished! I love making owls , I have so much fun deciding on their little personalities and was accessories they should have.

I feel like I should call this owl "Molly Ringwald" Because it reminds me of the movie Pretty in Pink! If you haven't seen Pretty in Pink buy it and watch it immediately! this is the film my mum showed me when I realised I didn't dress the same as the other kids.

 

 

Here she is! I decided to do block stripes this time in a nice set of pastels, and then used pops of colour as accents.

 

 

So in love with her lil dinky feet/flippers?

 

 

She is filled with toy stuffing and rice to add weight!

 

 

Don't you just love the bow! Couldn't resist a girly touch!

 

 

This little lady with be winging her way over to Esty shortly (depending on how long Little Knitwit decided to nap for!)

 

Other than trying to get this finished lots has been going on! Little Knitwit has been testing how much he can get away with and testing mummy with it!

 

I've been trying to find a time to shoot my vintage inspired pyjama set , which I still haven't worn in an effort to keep it nice! I did however recommend the elastic I used to a lady at Tesco and managed to slip in that I'd made my own jimmies', she was less than impressed, but how can you expect someone who made their own wedding dress to be impressed by pjs! I know a wedding dress! Amazing!

 

And this week I also had the opportunity to go to my very good friends 21st birthday! And I used my up cycled moustache bag! Hopefully pictures of what I wore it with will be up soon!

 

How you've had a good weekend!

 

Much Love

 

Frankie

 

xxx

 

   

And loses herself in her dreaming and sleep
And her lovers walk through in their coaches

Pretty in pink, isn't she?
Pretty in pink, isn't she?

Finally Finished!!!

I'm doing my happy dance. Well not right now, right now I'm sat typing, but I was doing my happy dance. All because I finished my pyjama robe! I've actually made a full set (minus top but give me a break!) of pyjamas! Bottoms and a robe! Without adult supervision! (I don't count as an adult, I am mearly I child confined to an adults body!) I'm giddy with excitement! There not perfect but they are mine! And I made them!

 

This is the robe I made, it's based on one of my other robes.  I just copied the design and style using the old one, actually this taught me a lot about fabric and how it can change the look of a design. The original robe was made in some sort of see through crepe, in black with a lace coller and a very small ruffle around all the edges. It is VERY saucy (as far as robes go anyway).

 

 

Mine as you can see is cotton flannel in pale pink and is a little less saucy, it's more on the side of Marks and Sparks to be honest. (The nice end! The I want to sip my cocoa in peace and not look like a 1950's vixen end of the shop. I like the think of the look as 1950s housewife aka Bree Vanderkamp). It's roughly mid thigh length and has pockets unlike the original, is anybody else obsessed with pockets? Maybe it is because of all of the junk I carry around all day. But I feel lost without pockets! 

 

 

The only major hiccup I had was with the belt, stupidly used my needle set to the left, thought oh it will be fine, couldn't turn the blooming thing inside out and had to unpick the entire thing. Upon unpicking the entire thing I also realised I had my machine set to the shortest stitch length possible. Nightmare does not quite describe it!

 

 

 In general the robe features raglan sleeves with a gathered front , pockets and belt loops!

 

Please expect some much better pictures as soon as I have time to play model! And as Tyra would say "SMIZE!"

 

The only thing I'm considering is adding is a monogram of the front of one side? My Initials maybe? or Mrs Knitwit?

 

Much Love

 

And yippee I did it!

 

Frankie

 

xxx

Bottoms Up

I finished my pyjama bottoms!!! I actually couldn't be more proud of myself! Especially after I had accidently sewn up completely the wrong seams and had to start over, I'd like to say I unpicked them, but I just cut them off because I'm a teensy bit lazy! But either way they are done! And there pretty neat too! I reinforced the edges? (I think that's what you call it? I basically picked the most complicated looking stitch on my machine and re-sewed every edge to make sure they don't come apart, and then trimmed it down, kind of like over-locking but without the posh machine! ) Anyway without further ado here they are!

 

 

This is how they started out, I used an old pair of PJ bottoms as a template and just drew around them , and I cut all four layers at once (I didn't use separate piece for the front and back, I probably should have done to get a really good fit. But you live you learn)

 

 

Here they are finished. Now I completely understand that these are not going to win any sort of award in the pyjama bottom department, but I love them. And to be honest the fit is just as good if not better than some other pairs I have. (And they don't have a missive rip in the bum so there already have one up of some of my other pairs!)

 

 

I did an elasticated waistband because I couldn't actually think of any other way to fasten jammies, until I remembered about tie fastenings! Doh!

 

  

The bow is purely for show! The ribbon I used for it was my grandmothers! She had a lot of the stuff and its never been my favourite thing but it actually works pretty well on this.

 

 

And then I added some of the ribbon to each cuff to give it more of a vintage feel!

 

And I've nearly finished part two of this project, the robe! It was going to be a pyjama jacket but I mulled it over for a while (in bed, with a brew of course) and realised I prefer to sleep in vest tops, its very rare I wear anything long sleeved to bed unless I have the flu! So I've opted for a robe, which I'm making using my old one as a pattern but more on that later.

 

As soon as both pieces are finished, I will be giving them a model! Prepare yourself for some awkward posing and possibly my teddy bear! (you think I'm joking) So keep your eyes peeled!

 

And um did I mention I made them myself? Couldn't be more thrilled if I tried, I've actually made a wearable garment, dreading when the postman comes and I'm wearing them, I don't think I'll be able to stop myself from telling him!

 

Much Love

 

Frankie

 

xxx   

Pop Your Pjs On

I'm the sort of person that wears my favourite things to death. Till there are loose threads and holes all over the place. And my favourite things to wear are pyjamas.

 

Yes, it's lazy but sometimes a girl needs her creature comforts and mine is a big snuggly pair of jammies! But I've started to find that my PJs are getting a little tatty to say the least, they've reached the stage where they are no longer suitable for opening the door in (don't get me wrong I mean to the postman, not to normal day to day people! I don't live in my pyjamas, I just wish I could!)

 

I had a look online for a new pair but I couldn't actually find any I liked. No I'm not "grumpy but gorgeous" I'm quite frankly sleepy and my grumpiness is a side affect of your stupidity, as for the gorgeous remark, well it depends on quite how dim your lights are and whether or not I've caked on the foundation with a shovel or just poured a bucketful over my head.

 

I just want some old skool PJs luckily for me I happened to find some fabric I had squirreled away at the back of my airing cupboard.

 

 

I'd already prewashed it and folded it away and then promptly forgotten about it.

It's not actually fabric though, its two double bed sheets. I was given them by a neighbour when we were moving into our house. Her Mother had died, but apparently before dying had brought about 10 new sets of bedding, Unopened, unused bedding! (I'm very much hoping my mother decided to do this with shoes, but in my size of course) 

 

 

It's 100% cotton, and I vaguely remember the box saying something about it being flannel? This confused me at the time because growing up a flannel was something you wiped your face with. Like a Little square of towel material , not a type of fabric.

 

It's a really lovely dusky pink (hence why there not on our bed, Mr.Knitwit is a boy! He will not sleep in a pink bed!) It looks lovely and warm and is very soft! Perfect for jammies!

 

Obviously I had a quick look on pinterest to see what's out there pattern wise and found a few styles I like.

 

  

Very nice pjs but I'm not sure they'll work in my material.

 

 

These are really lovely, but I know already it will go one of two ways either I'll make them and they'll be uncomfy so wont be worn, or I'll make them and they'll look that cute and I'll convince myself they are suitable to wear outside of the home and go to Tesco looking like a Muppet in my PJs.

 

 

Ohhhh PERFECT! Loose, comfy looking! POCKETS! This is the style I'm going to go for! I did have a look for this pattern but I just cant justify it, not when I can just use another pair of PJ bottoms as a pattern and use the bowling shirt pattern from my Sew Your Own Wardrobe book as a starting point for the jacket. Having said that if it all goes horribly wrong I shall be buying a pattern and starting over with the other sheet.

 

How hard can it be? (she says)

 

I'll keep you posted on how it goes!

 

Much Love

 

Frankie

 

xxx