Monday, March 7, 2011

New Look 6816 & Butterick 5330 PJs

I know I'm supposed to be Easter sewing, and I have started, but my PJs were in such a sad state that I took a quick break to sew up a new set.
The top was New Look 6816, which is a pattern I've used many times.  I used a very light single jersey from FFC.  The pants are Butterick 5330, which isn't a PJ pattern.  I wanted a slightly slimmer leg, and PJ pants are always too voluminous.  The fabric for the pants is a rib knit that I think also came from FFC.
I didn't want to spend a whole lot of time on these, but I still wanted them to be nice.  I constructed both pieces on the serger.
Instead of a neckband, I used FOE on the neckline.
I lettuce edged all the hems, which turned out really cute and was a huge time saver.  I thought this was a good opportunity to practice this technique.  I used the serger, set for a narrow rolled hem, with the differential feed on 0.7 and stretched the fabric as I sewed.  You could also do it with a narrow zigzag, but I never felt I got as good a result that way.  My serger does it beautifully and quickly.
All told, it took about 20 minutes to cut these out, then just under an hour to sew up.  So, I don't feel to guilty about setting aside the Easter gear. I have gotten started!
Here are both boys' shirts and the contrast bib and collar for Myra's dress.  All those little pieces!  I was surprised at how little waste I had, considering how much was cut on the bias.  Now that they are all cut out, it's time to get sewing!