It certainly isn't a big secret that I love the sewing patterns from Favorite Things. I recently purchased their relatively new Nighty-Night pattern in the child's size for Tater as well as the ladies size for Doodle and I.
They've been sitting on my sewing table for most of the summer and over the weekend I finally decided to actually sit and sew for a while.
First let me say (again) that I love the Favorite Things patterns because of their simplicity. The patterns are simple, the directions are clean and simple, and I haven't had any of the patterns I've tried turn out badly. I tend to "mass produce" things when I sew. If I'm gonna make a pair of jammie pants its just as easy to double up the fabric and make 2 pairs. This is why I like simple and quick. For this Nighty pattern I cut pieces for 3 Nighties one evening this past week and then whipped out 3 complete Nighties on Saturday afternoon. Perfect!
I do like to fiddle with sewing patterns, and I did take some liberties with this Nighty pattern. I decided on the Nighty version as apposed to the cami and pants and though the patterns are just fine as written I'm not a big fan of "finished and turned" raw edges and thats what the upper edges of the bodice call for. Me... I'm rather partial to lined bodices so that's what I did.
There are 2 pieces for the bodice.... a front piece and a back piece. I cut fabric pieces for each as well as identical pieces out of a very light weight gauzy cotton for the lining pieces.
Working this way, just treat the lining pieces as if they were an entire bodice of their own and sew the pieces as directed. The result is one fabric bodice and one lining bodice for each Nighty.
Press the seams open, turn the lining right side out, and place it inside the fabric bodice (right sides together) and line up all the seams and edges. Stick a few pins around the edge to keep everything nice and neat.
The other thing I did differently was making the little shoulder straps. I don't sew a tube and turn it all out to make a strip if I don't have to. I much prefer to use a bias strip maker and then just run a seam along the edge. I think it makes a neater, sturdier strap.
Now comes the magic. Sandwich the ends of the little straps in between the fabric bodice and the lining, pin in place, and sew around the entire upper edge. This sews the straps in and makes the most prefect, neat edge for a Nighty bodice.
The only thing left to do... bodice-wise... is to turn out and press the bodice and do a line of topstitching along that upper edge. From there I just finished everything else the way the pattern directed. I did add some length to the skirt portion because Tater is really tall.
A fine trio of lovely Nighties...
And a very pleased and even lovelier Tater...
I'll definitely be making more of these. Another thumbs up for Favorite Things!
The only thing left to do is break out the adult version and make a few for Doodle and I!
