Friday 12 July 2013

Kwik Sew 1283, The last one.

 My latest task, as the sewing Auntie, has been to fulfill the entirely reasonable request of my niece-the-fifth for an animal pyjama suit, for her 6th birthday present.
The only problem is that I am totally sick of this pattern.

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This is not the fault of the pattern, it is well drafted, has clear instructions and is very easy to sew. It has earnt its keep in my collection.
I first made it up in1996 for my 18month old toddler, and I don't think a year has gone by without someone else wanting another one.

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It can be used to make an effective costume, whilst still being warm, toasty and washable pyjamas - use polar fleece in an animal print (there is a lot of tiger around this year) add a tail to the gusset, add claws to the feet (that is a neoprene scrap coloured in on the pale side with permanent marker .

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 I add gripper fabric to the soles ( ETA, Lyndle asked what I use for gripper fabric. I use slip-not fabric that I bought from Seattle Fabrics. It is $21.95 US per yard, but can also be bought in a fat quarter for $6.95, which I did about 5 years ago, and have only just used the last of. An alternative for the bottoms of the feet to increase friction is applying dots of puff fabric paint - but as it is not possible to iron polar fleece, this involves using another fabric for the soles and I have found that the puff paint wears off before the end of each warm pyjama season)
 You may gather from the size 4 on the pattern and the length of the garment that I have added considerably to the length in the the body and limbs to fit my tall niece.

I have had a lot of fun with this pattern.







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But I think it is time I lost it.


15 comments:

Summer Flies said...

You are funny! You have really got your use out of it for sure!

liza jane said...

Awesome! So, so awesome. I'd like to request elephant pajamas for my birthday.

Lyndle said...

I love the tiger.., and the bat thing...
What do you use for gripper fabric?

The Slapdash Sewist said...

Oh my goodness, these are all so cute. I love the tiger version.

Janis said...

They are all so cute! But I understand that remaking the same thing over and over can be a buzzkill. At least you got to use different fabrics. : )

fabric epiphanies said...

Don't get rid if it. At least you knw it works and it may come in useful for the next generation! I love all of the versions.

Gabrielle said...

That's a lot of makes from a single pattern, but it looks so cute and really well made - I'm not surprised you get a lot of requests for it!

Sharon said...

Great pattern but you had better watch out the girls don't want onesies!

Paola said...

The current onesie craze means there's still life in that pattern, but sounds like you are over it. The cost per use of that pattern would be minute.

Nanna said...

great use of your pattern! I love when patterns can be created into different things
Helen

Sandra said...

I just love these photos of the various versions of this pattern that you've made up. Onward! What's next?

TheTayloress said...

=)
Do you want to lose it over here?
;)
I didn't know they made a pattern for style that fits older children!

I've started sewing for our nephews & nieces (...actually second-cousins by marriage... but being "aunt"-ed simplifies things! =}) and they love that pyjama style. The older ones were bemoaning "there's only ones for babies!"

These pictures are amazing.
You've made so many happy memories for the children in your life!
E.

TheTayloress said...

=)
Do you want to lose it over here?
;)
I didn't know they made a pattern for style that fits older children!

I've started sewing for our nephews & nieces (...actually second-cousins by marriage... but being "aunt"-ed simplifies things! =}) and they love that pyjama style. The older ones were bemoaning "there's only ones for babies!"

These pictures are amazing.
You've made so many happy memories for the children in your life!
E.

kbenco said...

Thanks! My pattern is for toddler sizes 1 to 4. I have adjusted it rather dramatically up to a childs' size 8 in the past.
I think with the popularities of onezis that there are now patterns available up to adult sizes in this style, but I haven't seen one myself.

velosews said...

I don't suppose the older children are onsie fanatics?
I wish I could buy gripper fabric locally. Thanks for the link!