Zero waste project 18: summer pyjamas
Breezy zero waste pyjamas for summer!
I really needed some PJs for the hot weather, ideally before leaving on a short camping trip next week. I wanted to make them in linen but didn’t have any left – but I did have just over 1 meter of this black silk* crepe in my little stash since I bought my sewing machine, and it was more than enough for this project!
I made the shorts from 70x80cm of fabric, by hacking the #acttrousers pattern by @milan_avjc again. I made the legs 6cm long, omitted the belt and loops, and cut the waist lower too. I made a thin elastic waistband and used bias binding as a drawcord. This clever pants pattern is sized for 90-106cm/35-42” hips. For made-to-measure sizing, Liz Haywood’s free pyjama pants pattern is very similar (see her July 2016 blog archives).
I made the top from most of the remaining fabric, hacking the free gathered #rectangledress pattern by @_diydaisy (not sure which is the right hashtag for that). I shortened the skirt to a 20cm peplum, used single layers of fabric for the top pieces, and used bias binding to finish the edges and make straps. This pattern is drafted to measure, so fits any size!
This fabric frayed like crazy so I did French seams everywhere I could – the gathered parts are just overlocked though, so we’ll see how that holds up. I couldn’t get the shorts pockets to behave so they’re being made into a small carry pouch (still in progress).
Overall quite happy with this project, even if I did forget to cut the selvedge fluffies before French seaming them 😆 (they show on the outside…)
- I now know that most silk is produced without regard for the silk worms, which are often killed in the process 😢 Apparently peace silk waits for them to leave the cocoons, but they’re still often farmed and fed plants with pesticide and whatnot… I’ll prefer other fibres going forward, it’s really not easy to navigate all this stuff!
#zerowastesewing #sewingzerowaste #sustainablesewing #petitesewing #patternhack #gatheredrectangledress #diydaisy #milanavjc
