I am torn on what to do. Should I buy some fun patterned seersucker and make summer pj's? I could use something light and cottony. I have two cotton nightgowns that are good for when it's truly hot, but that's about it and both are well, old. And I don't really want people to see me in either nightgown, they are old and thin to the point of somewhat sheer if there is light behind me. Not so good for lounging or stepping out to the backyard to water plants.
Or, do I make something warmer? I bought some fleece backed pale purple satin ages ago. I have two pairs of pj's I adore, but really they are both over 10 years old now, they aren't as fleecy on the inside as they were even if they still look good on the outside. They are men's styling, with a collar and pocket and piping. I do love them when we have guests and I want to look nice-ish but not sexy in the morning (more Hugh Hefner, less Playboy bunny). I bought the fabric with that kind of pajama in mind. Stash busting is a pro here, but the top will need some thinking to it and take a fair bit of time for what is in my head.
In all honesty, I don't wear pj's to bed all that often. Mr. Lina and I typically sleep naked. I do wear pj's when we have guests (or if I am a guest) or if I go to bed first. I have a tendency to sleep walk when I'm stressed, I rarely go far, but I get very vivid dreams and start acting them out. Dreams that make me walk are generally reoccurring dreams. When I was a lifeguard in high school and university, there were 2-3 pool related dreams I rotated through if I worked more than 40 hours a week, particularly if the bulk of those hours were in the water teaching lessons rather than on deck guarding. I have come to realize my current reoccurring sleep walking dream is tied to being naked. If I go to bed first, I hear Mr. Lina coming to bed and I don't think it is him. Then I feel embarrassed that someone is seeing me naked who isn't my husband and I walk over to my cupboard to find something to wear. Typically, I have a specific article in mind so I will hunt until I either find it or wake up. It is to the point that if Mr. Lina hears me starting to move while he is coming to bed, he will say "It's just me, go to sleep". And that is usually enough for me to settle. If I wear pj's to bed when he's staying up to play video games, sleep walking is averted. Pj's are also lounge wear in the morning so they do get use, just maybe not as much as other households.
I think the fleecy satin fabric sounds like it would be awesome. I mean, Canada is cool or cold for a majority of the year, right? Plus it'd use up something from your stash that you aren't sure what to do with. And if you really like your current PJ pants, I'd maybe see about using one of them as your pattern--if they're shot anyway, it wouldn't be much of a deal to cut them apart, as long as you remember to add back the seam allowances. :-)
ReplyDeleteOh they aren't quite shot enough to part with just yet, but they will be what I turn to for inspiration when I get indecisive or start to chicken out on the tricky parts. Those are what I want for warm pj's.
DeleteSeeing as you live where the humidity can be terrible in the summer, I say go for light as a feather cotton seersucker. I am toying with the idea of doing the pyjama party also. I should do it, shouldn't I?
ReplyDeleteCan you really go wrong with more pj's? And would they be as fun to sew without the pyjama party?
DeleteI can definitely see the appeal of stash busting, but given the season I'd be tempted to try out the seersucker avenue first.
ReplyDeleteThere are methods of cloning a pattern off an existing piece of clothing that don't require cutting it up---the book "pattern making for perfect fit" is basically all about a couple of those methods, but I know there's tutes online, too.
I feel you on the thinking-sewing front, though. Ninety percent of my sewing for the last six months or more has been brain-dead sewing.
I actually worry in making winter pj's that I'd get annoyed and let it sit because I won't wear them probably until October. And I'm not as fussy about summer pj's design, simple is better.
DeleteFor either, I'll probably take the pants sloper and add some ease. As much as I like a lot of my pj's, they are generally not well proportioned for my short frame, too long in the leg, the rise is so big the waist is just under my bust. I don't mind for commercial, but I wouldn't want to repeat those issues myself.
There will be a window of thinking sewing prior to progesterone sleepiness post transfer that will make sewing at all impressive. Thinking sewing is good when my brain is swirling with stress.
Oh, I know I should do the pajama party but I just can't MAKE myself. I hate pajama sewing! I think it might be because I have yet to find the perfect pattern -- most are too long in the front rise, too short in the back rise, and either too loose or too tight. I've actually had an easier time buying pajamas! Basing it off a pants sloper sounds like a good idea, as is copying pants I already own (hmm, some of my flannels are coming apart at the seams...).
ReplyDeleteI'm perpetually cold so I'd sew the warmer pants, but I live near the ocean and we only swelter three weeks out of the year so YMMV. Definitely make whichever pants you'd wear first, though!
You should never sew something that feels like an obligation rather than pleasure. There is no "should" in sewing, it's a quick way to make a fun hobby suck.
DeleteIt is interesting how pj's need ease, so fitting isn't really as much of an issue, but when fit does go wrong it's really wrong. Rise is generally an issue because they don't realize I'm only 5' tall.
We have Lake Ontario to moderate our climate a little, but ElleC is right, it's freaking humid here in summer. July/August, it is generally around 25C-30C (77-86F) which is comfortable but another 8-10C with the humidity. So when a heat wave hits and the base temperature is over 30, it's pretty sticky. I am also slow to turn our AC on. Really, we work in air conditioning during the day when it's hottest, our tv and computer are in the basement where it's relatively cold. The ceiling fan in the bedroom is enough until the house can't cool down at night.
I am a total pajama whore. I love them. I avoid the pajama section in stores the way dieters don't look at the dessert menu. However, I generally do not wear them to sleep. A friend came over a few weeks ago, and we drank too much and I spilled sticky something on my pj's so I changed. Then I smoked a few of her cigarettes (bad redhead!) so I had to shower and change again before I went to bed. When she woke up and looked at me in the third pair of pj's in 12 hrs or so, she looked concerned.
ReplyDeleteI dream about being naked in inappropriate places, but usually it's other people getting upset about it--not me.
That sounds like a very fun evening to me. It is nice to have pj options for lounging with company.
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