Carolyn Pajamas

Hello, lovely readers!  I feel like I’ve been on a major blog break, but it’s really only been a couple of weeks since I posted something I made.  I haven’t had a lot of time to get back to the sewing machine since Caroline was born, but I did make my first Geranium dress for her.  It’s so cute– and it was so satisfying to use some of my long hoarded Amy Butler fabric scraps.  But it’s too big for her so I’ll wait to post about it until I can get photos of her in the dress.

The week before Caroline was born, Heather from Closet Case Files released her newest pattern the Carolyn Pajamas.  I have made a bunch of Oliver + S sleepover pajamas for my boys and each time I make them I wish that I could make some for myself.  I was so excited to see Heather’s new pattern and bought it right away.  I knew they would be great to wear at the hospital after giving birth– definitely more stylish than a hospital gown.

I used some Amy Butler quilting cotton that I’ve had in my stash for probably about 10 years.  I think I had about a yard less fabric than I needed to make the long sleeved shirt and pants view.  I opted to make the top with short sleeves and I used some coordinating fabric for the pants waistband and pockets.  I used that same fabric to make flat piping accents for the pocket, sleeve cuffs, and pants cuffs.

Because I was 38 weeks pregnant when I was making these I wasn’t super sure what size to make.  I ended up making the largest size in the pants.  I could probably have gone down a size, but I don’t mind my pajama pants being baggy.  I made the top in a size 14 and graded it out to an 18 at the waist/hips.  I was actually able to button the top before giving birth, which I didn’t expect.  I love how it fits now– it’s nice and roomy around my waist.  (I use the term waist loosely at this point– it’s only been about 2 weeks since I had the baby and all my body parts are still in the wrong place.)

This was a fun set to make.  I had never sewn a notched collar before this.  I had to do a little seam ripping after I did the first side, but the second side went much better.  I am not happy with the interfacing that I used in the collar.  It was fine until I washed the top and then the collar got kind of bubbly.  Does anyone have any tips on how to avoid that?  I haven’t had that happen before.  Maybe better interfacing or using sew-in interfacing is the answer.

I really love how both pieces fit.  In fact, the week before I made these I’d just made a pair of pajama pants from a different pattern but the fit is not great on me.  I think I am going to unpick them and see if I can refashion them into Carolyn pajama pants.  Next I want to make a set with a long sleeved top and piping around the collar.  I am thinking chambray would be really fun and comfortable.  I completely love the version that Kirsten at Fifty Two Fancies made– the ivory/black combo is perfection, not to mention that monogram on the pocket!   Are you planning to make yourself jammies with this pattern?

~Teri