So in a bit of a tangent from wedding sewing; the weather has turned super cold, unseasonably so actually, for this early 🙁 and my old winter pj’s had got drastically thin to the point where I’ve accidentally poked a finger nail through the fabric in several spots lately, ahem. I was desperate! Oh, and since I mentioned it? the wedding dress is basically finished!! but obviously I will not be sharing full shots until after the Big Day, though I am sharing a few details here and there over on my instagram account. And I’ve sort of gone as far as I can on the other wedding sewing duties, for a short while, anyway!
I’d found this adorable bunny print cotton flannelette at Spotlight… I love their little round bums complete with fluffy cottontails! And the ones with little pink paw pads are even cuter! btw I am fully aware that as an Australian I am honour bound to despise rabbits, and on an intellectual level I do, honestly. But also, look how adorable!
For patterns; I used the eponymous Carolyn Pyjama pattern by Closet Case patterns for the bottoms of course! and for the top I used a plain Burdastyle T-top pattern I’ve used a few times before, Burda 10/2009;121, with minor modifications – story of my sewing life, hehe.
To enhance and pick up the pink of the bunny paws, I found a small scrap of pink jersey in my stash, leftover from this T-shirt I made for Cassie, and cut strips to inset in the joining seam of the top, and then I cut the bottoms off the pj bottoms and inserted a strip in each of the pj legs too.
My old brown bathrobe was also long overdue to be replaced; the kids gave it to me for Mother’s Day about 20 years ago?!! I’d seen a pink bathrobe advertised in the Spotlight catalogue which looked promising, however when I checked it out it actually wasn’t pink at all, but more of a greyish-mushroom pink. Quaite hideous and tres disappointing! As luck would have it though, right beside the offending, not-pink bathrobe was a bin of fluffy throw rugs – oh excuse me, cuddle blankets, and one was the most perfect shade of cherry-blossom pink a girl could hope for. I was instantly rendered powerless to resist and bought it with rose-covered spectacles and in a loveheart-pink daze.
And so I whipped up my own bathrobe! I’m so much in love with this, it’s not even funny. In fact I’m wearing it right this second. It’s so flooffffy!! and soft, and as light as a pretty pink cloud. And warm! I’m super happy with how it turned out. I made it to have a shawl collar, deep deep patch pockets, and belt loops for the self belt…
… and a hanging loop tucked under the collar facing…
The blanket was already hemmed on all sides when I bought it, obviously; so I resourcefully utilised these hems in the lower edge, the sleeve lower edges, and the tops of the pockets. The belt is also cut from one long side edge, and I simply folded over the raw edge and zig-zagged it over the ready-finished hem. Funny thing; the huge loft of this fluffy fabric meant I could hardly see what on earth I was doing while sewing this, seam allowance accuracy? HA!!!
Also, there was FLUFFF EVERYWHERE; all over the table, the floor and flying up from the sewing machine too… could hardly believe it was producing so much and with still plenty of massive fluffiness remaining, thank goodness! Of course I was wearing something dark coloured while sewing it. Murphy’s Law. I looked like I’d been through the wash with a tissue in my pocket…!
I’m gonna pop some caaaash, only got twenty dollars in ma pocket…
All raw edges for both pj’s and robe are finished inside on the overlocker, and the pink-inset seams are further topstitched down in a sort of faux-flat-felling effect.
Details:
Robe; my own design
Top; Burdastyle 09/2010;121
Bottoms; Closet Case patterns Carolyn pyjamas
Winter? I am ready!
Oh! almost forgot…. I had a big enough portion of the fluffy blanket leftover to make a new cushion cover too. Now I just have to keep it safe from The Marauding Doggie; whose favourite evening activity is to select a fluffy cushion and sit sucking and gently kneading it for ages. This might be a losing battle!
What a resourceful way to get fabric for a dressing gown. I have some sizeable pieces of fleece left from my children’s gowns but not enough to make one for me but if I got a blanket I could do some contrast thingy for the belt, collars and pockets. Thanks for the inspiration.
So cozy and fluffy–what a dreamy cold-weather get-up.
So much to love about this! I’ve been to Japan in cherry blossom time and it’s a lovely reminder of the overwhelming beauty of that colour. Plus I thought I was the only one who made stuff out of those lovely soft rugs – it’s so cosy, I’ve made a travelling jacket and a pullover for the man.
And yes, it was like a fluff factory – I ended up overlocking the edges as soon as I cut them to try and stop the tide.
I also have my cat and a dog nephew who will steal any softies so I have to be very careful where I leave anything I don’t want covered in fur.
I love your bunnies – yes, I curse whoever brought them to Australia but they are so beautiful at the same time.
Thanks for such a cuddly post!
I guess the rabbits in Australia are the equivalent of the big squirrels of Canada – they are like rats, they eat everything, especially the most lovely flowers in your garden. But they’re harmless on such a lovely fabric. This is a great cozy night outfit, complete with matching piping. Wonderful!
Oh so cosy looking robe! And you can never go wrong with bunnies! 🙂
Looks very cosy and warm for winter. Here in Switzerland May so far is almost like late Autumn with lots of rain and some frost. Anita from Basel
It must have been a simply massive blanket! But I’m kinda glad you went with pink and not orange and black stripes – it wouldn’t have matched with the bunnies at all ^_-.
Love it . I am inspired . I need to get back to my machine of an evening instead of watching too much politics . Its doing my head in at the moment . My nightwear is also in a very bad way . In fact the whole family is looking pretty drac so maybe that is a good alternative to being maudlin!!
so pretty and cozy! Love the little bunny bums!
Amazing! They will keep you super warm and comfy, the throw blankets are great value for the fabric in them. x
That looks like the comfiest robe ever.