November 15, 2011

Princess Phone Jammies

Princess Phone Jammies

Princess Phone Jammies- Made by me
Sock Monkey Slippers- Target
Eye Mask- Target dollar bin!
Headband- Made by me
Mug- Anthropologie
Chocolate Chip Cookie- From my care package from HOME!!!

This post has been sitting as a draft since July. I have just never had the chance to photograph these until now! Apologies!

Princess Phone Jammies
What, you mean this isn't how you look when you wake up? 

I am incredibly weirdly particular about my bed clothes. Basically I mostly hate them. They're hot, and uncomfortable, and I move around in my sleep so they contort, usually they're ugly, I can find a million things wrong with nearly every pair of pajamas ever made. I just don't really like them.

Princess Phone Jammies

Except I do like vintage ones (who'd have guessed?). I think pajamas were particularly well done from the 30's until the mid 60's. But suddenly pajamas took a turn for the frump-alicious and the just plain wack-a-doodle. All I know about that last one is he must really love her. And be very secure in his manhood.

Princess Phone Jammies

I've been trying to find a pair of vintage pajamas for a long time. Then I had a brilliant idea! Why not just make my own! Duh! So much easier, plus there's the whole I roll around in my sleep a lot, so these won't be as delicate. I'll just find a pattern for a basic set of pj's and make them up in some sort of vintage inspired print. Except it is really hard to find a basic pajama pattern. I ended up using Simplicity 3971, which is apparently a plus size pattern. I just figured that out. That explains why I had to cut out the smallest size... Anyways. I originally planned on using some red and white striped cotton and living out my childhood dream of owning Molly's pajamas, but instead I decided on some pink and white cotton (I'm saving the red for a dress). In the end this turned out to be a very wise decision, but we'll get there.

Princess Phone Jammies

So this pattern. Basically I love it. It's great! It's not perfect for what I wanted, but it was close enough. I wanted some proper 40's style pj's not a big lump of flannel with cats on it. I mean cat pajamas are great if you like them, but uh, I don't. . I also wanted a waistband. I really hate elastic waistbands. On anything, but particularly on pajamas. They are uncomfortable, and get twisted, and look unseemly. I wanted a real waistband. With a button. Because I am insane. So what should have been a three hour project took me about six. Granted I really did take my time with these. I reinforced the (shudders) crotch, and measured out the hem, and carefully stitched the button and snaps on the shorts. I also shortened them considerably. The originals hit me just past my knee.  The shorts took forever to do, mostly because I was making it up as I went along, but also because I really did take my time. As a result I've got a pair of really great fitting pajama shorts that are comfortable and cute to boot!

Princess Phone Jammies

Then came the top. I'd seen a few old patterns with some sort of monogram on the pocket of the shirt so I thought it would be fun to kind of use this technique I saw on the Colette Patterns blog. I used some bias tape to make the A and stitched it onto the pocket, then trimmed the edge with the tape as well. The pocket ended up being my favourite part of the whole set! This is why I ended up being kind of happy I didn't go with the red. Y'know, a scarlet A on my chest and all? While not many people will be seeing these, I'm not sure that's the impression I want to give off even if someone tries to murder me in my sleep... Anyways, I love these babies. They totally make me think of that scene in Grease where the girls have a slumber party. And The Mouseketeers. And Bye Bye Birdie. And talking to your girlfriends on a pink princess phone. And playing MASH until four in the morning. Good stuff. They are cute and comfy and just what I wanted. I fully intend on making the full length ones come winter, maybe in a heavier cotton or a lightweight flannel. Turns out I don't hate all pajamas.

Princess Phone Jammies
I really don't have a gut camel toe. I promise.

6 comments:

  1. Gosh, you are just the cutest thing ever. I adore this!

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  2. u r too cute! i wish i could have stuff made for me like that since im so picky.

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  3. aw super cute jammies! :) love it

    BTW im having agiveaway check it out :)

    xo
    A_Riot

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  4. Oh my goodness, too cute!! (oh, and I so totally wanted the life-size Molly PJs when I was a kid too...still do, come to think of it) As always, you did a fabulous job with these and I love the pink candy stripes. Pretty PJs are so hard to find, making them is a really good idea!

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  5. I absolutely love this post... vintage pajamas... you... my dear... are awesome!!!

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