Sleepwear Makeovers: Pants to Cute Pajama Set and a Bonus

I said a couple days later, but here’s the next craft project a couple weeks later. :(

Anyway, I found this cute pair of pink pajama pants at a thrift store for only $1, score!

They have this cute Mickey and Minnie mouse print.

The problem was that not only were they too big, but I found them too warm to wear here in Arizona.  I prefer to wear shorts for sleeping.

That’s an easy thing to do, and it would leave fabric leftover, for what?  Then I thought, why not make a cute top?  Why not make a set of pajamas?

So let’s turn old pajama pants into a cute new pajama set. 

First, I cut the legs of the pants to make shorts.  I cut them about an inch longer than I wanted, so I could hem them later.

Then I pinned and stitched the inseam and took it in about 1.5 inches.  This was both to make the too big shorts fit me better, and to deal with a little hole I noticed in the crotch area.  Problems solved.

Then all I had to do was re-hem the shorts with a zig-zag stitch.

New pajama shorts completed!

Now for the top.  This is a drawstring tank top made a lot like the doll tank tops from my video tutorial.  Check it out if you have a little trouble with this.

First I took the cut off legs and cut down the side to open them up.  Layer them together right sides together, and you have fabric for the top. 

I wanted the top to fit loosely, but depending on how wide your fabric is (and how wide you are), you may want to trim it a little before sewing.

I used the already hemmed part of the fabric for the top of the tank top, it will be used as a casing for the ribbon. 

I first cut the top corners off in a curve shape, (use a tank top that fits as a cutting guide if needed).

Then I pinned and stitched the sides of the tank top.

Then the bottom was ready for hemming.

All that was left to do was thread ribbons through the “casings” and tie to form the straps.  I added a ribbon bow to the front just for fun.

And now the drawstring tank top is done…

…And the pajama set is ready to wear.

Now here’s the bonus.  A cute night gown makeover. 

I got this cute night gown at a thrift store ages ago.

I loved the cute pattern, it has kitties, bunnies and cows, because cows are adorable, right?

The problem is that I never wear it.  Not only is it too big, but I think it would work better as a top than a gown.  Easy to fix.

I just cut it where I wanted it, plus an inch for the hem.

I pinned and stitch along the sides to take it in, because things are always too big for me.

Then a quick hemming job to finish.

But, we’re not done yet.  Let’s make shorts!

I took that piece I cut off and cut down the middle to form to folded pieces.  I will use the already hemmed bottom for the hem of my shorts.

I used a pair of shorts I already had as a guide to cut the curve.  I left a couple of inches at the top for the waist.

Unfold the pieces and layer them right sides together.

It’s hard to tell in this photo, but the curved part should be deeper on one side.  That will be the back seam, and it needs to be deeper to accommodate your back side.

Anyway, I just pinned and stitch the back seam and then the front seam.

Then I turned the shorts around and pinned the inseam before sewing it securely.

Time for the waist.  I just double fold and sew to form a casing for the elastic.

Then I thread the elastic through with a safety pin and stitched the ends together.

And the shorts are finished…

And the second pajama set is complete and ready to wear.

Here’s the updated list:

• Dress makeover
• Doll undies
• Cameo and Hearts
• Blouse makeover
• Phone case
• Outfit
• Mother’s Day
• Costume fix
• Jammies
• Bonnet

Nine down, just one more to go.  The next one will be up in a couple of days.  I hope.

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Clothing Makeover: Altering a Pink Bodyline Dress for Easter

Normally, around Easter I work myself haggard trying to design and sew a lovely, ruffly new dress to wear on Easter Sunday.

This year, I decided instead to work myself haggard trying to alter a dress that needed work.

Here is the old dress that badly needed a makeover.  I got it in a lucky pack I bought from Bodyline.  The price was really cheap, but I’m not sure how “lucky” I was with this one.

You can see here that the collar had odd stains on it, but that’s okay because I immediately thought it had to go anyway.  The lace looked kind of cheap and the collar overall was unflattering.

In addition to the collar, the elastic on the one of the sleeves was shot, the lace on the sleeves was horrible, the hearts down the front of the dress were overkill, and surprisingly I thought it could stand to have a little less lace and ruffles.

So after some time with a seam ripper and sewing machine…

…Here’s the new dress.

I chopped off that horrible collar and added a touch of lace to the new neckline.  You can see that it’s the lace from one of the hearts on the bodice.  It helps to tie in the whole dress.

Obviously, I removed two of the hearts from the front of the bodice.  One is plenty, plus I can probably make something cute with the other two later.  I also removed two of the vertical strands of lace.

I removed one of the bottom ruffles, then realized the skirt was too short without it.  Oops. 

So I made a white underskirt to replace it.  It’s better this way, and I can wear the underskirt separately.

And finally, I replaced the elastic on the sleeves and switched the bad lace with the lace I ripped off the bodice.  The sleeves look much cuter now.

And just for fun, I whipped up a cute flower headband to go along with my new dress.  I think flower accessories are perfect for Easter, which is why I'm going to make a tutorial for the headband.

Here’s the updated list:

• Dress makeover
• Doll undies
• Cameo and Hearts
• Blouse makeover
• Phone case
• Outfit
• Mother’s Day
• Costume fix
• Jammies
• Bonnet

One down, nine more to go.  The next project should be up in a few more days, but the head band tutorial will be up tomorrow!  Look forward to it.

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Quick T-shirt Makeover: Cute Shrug, a Simple Cardigan, Plus Doll Tees

As promised, here’s my next craft projects.  Just a few things I whipped up with some t-shirts.

A super easy black shrug and an even easier white t-shirt cardigan.  I was inspired by a few tutorials I found on Pinterest to make them. 

For the shrug, I used this tutorial for a t-shirt shrug.  It’s a classic, but I didn’t follow it exactly.

I cut off a few inches from the bottom of the shirt.  Just enough to reduce some of the bulk from gathering the shirt at the end of the tutorial.

And while re-hemming the bottom, I added some lace along the edge.  This adds a somewhat dressier touch.

After that, I just followed the rest of the tutorial as is.  Sadly, my photo doesn’t do it justice.  It’s still pretty though.

And versatile too.  I think it still looks cute when worn in-gathered.

Now for the white “cardigan”.  I used this tutorial for a t-shirt cardigan.

All you have to do is cut the t-shirt open and zig-zag stitch along the edge.  I decided to cut and stitch along the sleeves too for mine.  I kind of want to try it with a long sleeve shirt like in the tutorial.

Now with all this t-shirt cutting there comes plenty of scraps, and what do you make with t-shirt scraps?

Make doll t-shirts!

I made three little doll-sized t-shirts, two white and one black. 

They were made specially for this fine boy.  He is the only male ball jointed doll I have, so he is in desperate need of clothes.  Clothes that are not girly looking.

They fit him nicely, and thanks to the Velcro closure in back, are super easy to go on and off.  If you want to whip up a few of your own for similar sized dolls, I have posted the pattern and tutorial on my doll blog.  Enjoy!

Here’s the updated list:

• Baby
• Blue dress
• Tiny outfits
• T-shirts
• Halloween
• Pink dress
• More T-shirts

Six down,  just one more to go!

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From Socks to Doll Sweaters

Well, two weeks later (argh!) I finished the next project on my craft list.  A recycling project too!

For this project, I had some old socks and tights to turn into something new and cute.

Doll Clothes!

The socks became cute little sweaters using this tutorial, sort of.  The pattern for the tutorial was for 1/3 scale ball jointed dolls, mine are smaller than that.  They are 1/4 and 1/6 scale dolls.

So I had to make my own patterns.  If anyone is interested, I decided to post the patterns on my doll blog.

With the tights I made actual doll tights and socks.  Two pairs black tights, two pairs of white tights in two sizes, and three pairs of white sock in two sizes.  Whew!

But they are quick and pretty easy to make, even by hand.  Actually I made all these sweaters and legwear by hand sewing except the first sweater.  Machine sewing is not recommended at all.

Anyway, this first sweater (for Hikaru) is made from a navy blue knee sock that didn’t fit right.  Knee socks are great for this because you get plenty of material to work with.

The sweater has lace along the neckline and a row of faux pearl bead “buttons” down the front.  It closes with sew-on snaps.

The tights, I think are pretty much fool proof to make.  The material is stretchy enough to fit well and hide any goofs you make while sewing.

Now doesn’t her outfit look so cute, and perfect for an Arizona “winter”?

I made this sweater (for Usagi) with the other navy blue sock.  It has thin ribbon along the neckline and bottom hem and closes just at the top with a snap.  I added a “large” button at the top “to close” it.

In addition to tights, I made this doll a pair of thigh high socks.  They are basically tights with the top cut across and hemmed, and no elastic needed.

Paired with a plaid skirt, it kind of looks like a school uniform.  She just needs more appropriate shoes.

And finally, I made these two cute white sweaters using little bobby socks.  Smaller socks for smaller dolls.

They are both embellished with ribbon bows and more pearl “buttons”.

The tights came out just as well on this smaller doll as with the larger dolls.  It makes me wonder how easy it would be to make tights for fashion dolls, like Ever After High dolls.

The socks are knee length and are super quick to make.  I found they look cute both when worn to the knee and when scrunched down at the ankle.

They both are so adorable now all bundled up.  All the dolls look so cute, it makes me want to make more sweaters.  I guess it’s time to dig out more socks.

Here’s the updated list:

• Pink dress
• Accessories
• Socks
• Headbands
• T-shirts
• Tank Top

Four down, just two more to go.  And I will either have it done by the end of the week, or just postpone it until January.  Christmas is coming quickly after all, and I need to start working on those crafts.  Look forward to it.

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