[Lightning McStitch]

Meleliza, as someone who sleeps in the buff I know how I’d respond to your cousin’s suggestion!

Do they have to be Christmas themed pyjamas? How about some reindeer antlers or a brooch and just normal jammies. The kids’ll still look cute and you’ll have a great excuse to do some last minute high end shopping for pyjamas that can be seen by the extended family.

Or you could just grit your teeth and sew new pyjamas til your fingers bleed.

Luckily we Aussies pay as much attention to Christmas outfits as any other celebration. Although having said that I’m thinking of a pair of Christmas Tea Party Ruffle Bloomers for the toddler in case it’s stinking hot. Bit tidier than a nappy and a singlet. 🙂

[meleliza]

I don’t really want to spend more money on Christmas outfits. I already order Liberty all the way from Lomdon for a lovely Christmas dress. There are lots of Christmas themed pajamas, they’re just all sold out already. You know how it is, when you’re 25 flying by the seat of your pants seems fun,but when you’re 36 and have a large family and large house to manage only preparatiion reduces stress. And the thought of. me appearing in public in pajamas? Well, Briggs, I’m too old for that stuff. Not to mention too flabby. And I was *really* looking forward to that Liberty fairy take dress with a crimson silk sash.

[Nicole]

I do understand Melanie. I loathe dress up parties now.

If I get off farm and out of my jeans I want to look pretty and feel nice!

CC dress made and posted off to the USofA and hopefully it makes it by Christmas.

Mr Shark is needed on Monday but that should be doable,it is proving an excellent pattern.

Next up,drafting off the Fairytale dress for Zara and making a bodice muslin.

[Tamara]

Can’t wait to see the shark costume! We have a week and two days before the end of term – you can tell I’m as excited as the kids.

For this dress, I have Lauren and Jessi Jung green (from the latest range) and Modern workshop red (the one that looks like hills). Which way would you do this? Red with green trim or green with red trim? I’m sort of holding off as I have some fab red and white fabric coming and plan to make an alternative – just in case the first one doesn’t go to plan (just can’t see the colour/pattern combination).

Going Superman cape fabric shopping tomorrow and will work on this costume over the weekend. That is needed on the 17th – why they make it the night before the last day of school is still a mystery! And also getting doctor costume fabric for a certain 3 year old nephew who loves to bake and “fix” people, thanks to a recent visit to the emergency ward – he should have been called Houdini!

[meleliza]

What do you think about making the fairy tale dress in a 3T so that it fits her next year too? She is now in the 2T, with a smidge of extra room for the toddler belly. That way if my kids want to join the pajama party the dress won’t have been in vain.

[rastis]

oh my a pyjama party for christmas! i think i might have been a little unimpressed as well… my pjs are dodgy as at the moment!

knee deep in christmas sewing at the moment… two long rows of christmas bunting are done and the santa sacks are half done… i decided to applique their names on them which has taken me far too long (and i’m still a bit cross at it!)… when those are done i need to make a few ornaments for the tree (and finish the christmas wreath) and then i’m allowed to start sewing clothes!

[Masha Richart]

I finally began the velveteen Playdate dress, like, three weeks ago. I made my yoke out of cotton sateen … when I went to attach it, it was TOO SMALL. I checked against my patterns and could not figure out what I did wrong. I was out of the sateen and could not obtain more locally, so I cut into a piece of champagne dupioni silk I got from a friend. I ended up cutting out a 3T yoke for a 24-month dress because I wasn’t sure what else to do, and then fitting it painstakingly to the dress. Thankfully that worked out and I’m very happy with it but now I’m having a heck of a time with the hem facing. The problem, I think, is that I lengthened the 24-mo so I have to cut out my own hem facing piece (can’t use the patterns) – I tried tracing the hem and adding the seam allowance but when I went to sew them together the facing was too small. ARGH. I only have enough dupioni for one more attempt … wish me luck. Also I have to finish this tonight. Wish me luck!

[with love Heidi]

How about retracing the facing from the altered pattern you used?, Because then the seam allowances will already be added, I think. this is what I did when I lengthened the tea party dress.

No sewing today, it’s the sort of day where you would destroy anything you sewed! But I have been making Oliver and S colouring in sheets and planning sheets.

Mama_Knowles, just checking in case I want to make one later, I love the way it looks.

[Nicole]

I bet the weight of the velveteen caused the bias of the neck opening to stretch!

I hope you work it out,I blogged the dress here http://fiveandcounting-motherof5.blogspot.com.au/2011/10/time-for-playdate.html and I had to make my facing bigger but I don’t think I had any trouble.(From memory) If all else fails,sew the hem facing in place leaving one side seam open so that you can adjust it to fit.

[Nicole]

PS Shark costume finished-drafting the Fairy Tale dress.

Woo hoo baby!

[with love Heidi]

Well done getting the shark done!

[Tamara]

I cheated! I went and bought a Superman costume! I know really bad of me but the excuse is I just have run out of time and the list is way too long! Besides the fabric I was going to use can still be used – for t-shirts which are much needed and it will save having to order and wait for it to arrive.

So that just leaves the dress miss 10 wants me to make which shouldn’t be that hard seeing as it doesn’t have zips, buttons or anything. Straight forward and that will leave time to also make the dressups for the little nephew and other much needed clothes for my two. Life is sweet and I don’t have to sew another costume. Am I disappointed? No way!

[Masha Richart]

Thanks Heidi and Nicole – I used both of your suggestions and got the dress done tonight. Pictures tomorrow from the Christmas party. Though they will be crummy cell phone pictures as I dropped our camera (fatal, unfortunately) last week.

[meleliza]

The play date head opening is def too small. I make mine much bigger than the pattern describes. Also, you have to ease it very carefully into place. I place mine over the pressing ham to help get the shape and use lots of pins., starting with centers and working your way in.

Thanks, rastis, I was beginning to think its just me! Mine are super dodgy too – or for hubby’s eyes only;) the last time I went out in pjs was probably college. That sort of thing is on my Murtaugh list. Plus, baby girl saw the Liberty last night, grabbed it, wrapped it around her and said “I want it!” Two years old. What can I say to that? So after much annoying stress, I’ve decided to move ahead with the Christmas dress, no matter what everyone else is doing. As soon as I’ve had enough coffee, I’ll dive in.

[Mama_Knowles]

I have some pj’s I have to make too. i have gad them cut out forever but have yet to make them. Rihgt now I am working on a non-O+S dress from a clothing book, So far it’s been a bit of a pain but should get easier once I make it to the sewing part. It is a Hellow Kitty Christmas dress.

I was wanting to make a velvet christmas dress for Sweet pea but made the cord Aple picking one instead. I am thinking about making a blue one for her birthday next month with a matching Sunday brunch jacket with fur trim for a gift. I am always planning!

~Sharon~