Simplicity 8170: A fairy gown

PJs are something I really enjoy sewing for my kids. I don't always blog about them, but I do sew them often.

This is vintage Simplicity 8170, which I've made in the pajama version here and here. This time I made the nightgown. Myra is all about her gowns. Especially if they have fairies on them.

This is the first time I have used the pocket on this pattern. It seemed silly to put a pocket on a nightgown, but Myra loves them.

They keep her hands warm.

The neckline is finished with bias tape. I used the last scrap of this pretty purple floral bias that I made for this dress.

The closure for this nightgown is a slit in the center back seam. Super easy to do, since you just stitch down the seam allowances to finish the slit edges. 

For the button loop, I've tried several different things with this pattern, but the previous ones have all come apart with wear. This time, I'm using 1/8 inch elastic to make the loop. Here's hoping it holds! And aren't those buttons awesome! Opalescent purple buttons seemed a natural match to the fairy print.

Simplicity 8170

Myra hit a crazy growth spurt last month, and suddenly many of her dresses and PJs are too short. Since she still has some dresses that are wearable, the greatest need was for jammies.

This is "vintage" (1977) Simplicity 8170, which I made for her last winter. Since they were a little big on her then, they are fitting her well now, and we both really like the style.

Here is the back view. I'm quite pleased with how well I lined up the yoke across the button placket. The fabric is a cotton flannel from Hobby Lobby, which was a gift from Myra's grandma, given the same time as the flannel for these PJs for Logan. Myra chose the rainbow rick rack trim. I thought it would be horribly tacky, but it actually works and it definitely fits Myra's colorful personality.

Myra also selected these sweet vintage buttons from my stash. I had a hard time snipping them from this adorable little card they came on. Isn't that cute?! It was probably cuter before the Lil' Lambee lost his head, but still...

For the button loops, I took the easy way out and stitched some clear elastic hair loops into the back opening. There isn't a seam here, so I just had to topstitch them down, and I don't really love how that looks, but it is functional.

I'll be pretty sad when Myra outgrows this pattern. We've gotten some really sweet jammies out of it!

ETA: I was so sad thinking about how much I liked this pattern that I just bought the next size up, and in the meantime found a new place to buy vintage patterns.

Simplicity 8170

I'm trying to clean up a few UFOs before I start in on my jacket. I cut out these PJs for Myra last month, but then I got going on Halloween costumes and so they sat, just waiting to be sewn up.

The pattern is Simplicity 8170, published in 1977. I hesitate to call it vintage, since I was "published" in 1977, but there it is. Anyway the pattern includes a robe, long sleeved nightgown, short sleeved PJ top and one seam PJ pants. I made the PJ set, but with the long sleeves from the nightgown.

The crazy interesting print was chosen by Myra. It has all of her favorite things - pink, cats, flowers, hearts. She loves it. It is cotton flannel from Nuttall's Sewing Center.

The pattern has some really nice detail, as you might expect from a pattern of that era. The neckline is bias finished, and the yoke seam on both views features a decorative element. I chose to insert embroidered eyelet lace into the seam. I thought it was interesting that the pattern only instructs you to add lace or ric rac to the front, and omits anything on the back. Do you think this was for economical purposes or for comfort in sleeping? Myra is a belly sleeper, so she got lace on the back.

The closures are a pretty touch; two buttons with thread loops. Myra chose these satin buttons from my stash, and I actually made the thread loops. I know, handwork. They seem really flimsy, but they held up to Myra yanking on them getting dressed and undressed. We'll see.

I did make one major oopsie on the pants. The pattern calls for an elastic casing, but I never do that. I prefer to apply elastic in the round with my serger, then flip it under and stitch it down. I wasn't paying attention when I serged on the elastic, and I put it on the right side, so when I flipped it in, the elastic was exposed. I hate unpicking serged elastic, so it stayed. Myra doesn't care, so neither do I.
I got these fuzzy jammies done, just in time, since this is what our house looked like in the morning.

Our first real Utah snow!! It's a good thing I've been been busily sewing fleece.

Snowballs are cold, but quite tasty, I'm told.