As I'm going to Paris soon, to check out the Exhibition – 'Christian Dior, Couturier du Rêve' at Museé Décoratifs, Paris. I thought I'd take some time out to make myself a lounge wear (sleepwear) outfit for the hotel.
So here's the work in progress. I've done this in two days so far. There's a fair bit of handstitching to be done yet, on the facing of the robe, so I better get cracking.
Firstly choosing the Fabrics – it had to be something special. So I chose to use a iconic British fabric – 'Liberty of London' Tana Lawn and a beautiful silky soft Bamboo Jersey for the top. #BambooJersey #LibertyofLondonTanaLawn
I decided I needed to use a signature fabric too, so chose revered Liberty Paisley in Bourton, which is one of their classics.
Bought from www.shaukat.co.uk
Liberty Tana Lawn is ultra-fine, but not see through. Very smooth, delicate and soft, so perfect for Pyjamas as it's cool and comfortable too. The fabric is finished without the use of crease-resisting chemicals or irritating allergens. It's durable, has a brilliant reproduction of colour and the print. It also has the bonus of being able to sew it like a dream. I chose Bamboo Jersey for the top, as Bamboo fabric has got lots of great qualities about it.
For one, it's super-soft yet strong, with a slight lustre. But there are lots of other amazing qualities it has, making it the perfect choice for sleepwear. It's naturally hypo-allergenic, anti-bacterial, anti-static, moisture-wicking, breathable and warm thermo-control (as it's fibres are hallow a bit like wood). It's sustainable too (it grows fast, bamboo yields the same volume of cotton but from 10% of land area).
I bought this Bamboo Jersey from Whalleys in Bradford, West Yorkshire www.whalleys.co.uk. and as its not far, I went over and picked the fabric up from the mill myself.
Here's a close up of the initial construction of the front draped neckline with piping made from the Liberty Bourton Tana Lawn.
I had a think about what suited my body shape and how I wanted it to feel, the colours and the styles. This bamboo fabric is dyeable, so could be any colour you want, but I wanted it to pick up the white in the #LibertyBourton print. I rummaged through my patterns and came across this one, a dress pattern, I decided to alter down to a top.
For to top I wanted something a bit more modest than a cami top with shoestring straps. I also wanted something that detracted from my not exactly toned upper arms lol and to just skimmed them. I thought the gathered drape at the front also add a bit more modesty than the fabric skimming over my contours in one flat piece of fabric. I added piping in Liberty #Bourton Tana Lawn down the cross-over front drape. I used a dress pattern that I cut down the length to make it top-length. Here's the pattern McCalls M7116 #McCalls7116
I'm planning on doing the fluted cap sleeves in the apricot chiffon crepe and also putting a empire-line band with perhaps a hand bow or hand-made flower on the front.
I knocked together a little headband in the Tana Lawn lined in the Bamboo Jersey, so when I'm doing my make up or nightly skin care routine, I feel totally co-ordinated.
I Found this short kimono pattern by Simplicity 1318 and decided to add piping and length it by 4 inches. I wanted to colour to be delicate and feminine. I wanted to to just flow and not have a tie belt, have a reminiscence of 1930's fashion Downtown style. So the crepe chiffon was just what I wanted, not too sheer, but just that little bit sheer so as to create a bit of modesty. #Simplicity1318
Here's the pattern Burda 7627 I used for the Pyjama Bottom (Trousers). #Burda7627
Hope you like what I've done so far. I'll put some more pictures up when this has evolved.
Any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. Contact me on info@sewperfectly.co.uk and I'll be only too happy to chat.
Thanks, Paula