Little Stitches Week 4 - Pattern D - Kimono-Style PJs

Welcome back for another week to the Amy Bulter "Little Stitches" Sew-Along. This week I made something for my friends Caroline and Ehren. I've known Care and Ehren for almost 20 years. The three of us traveled the world together for a year in Up With People. We arrived in Denver that fateful July as total strangers and came away a family. Well, I'm only "family" in the figurative sense but they literally became family soon after our tour ended. They met, dated and fell in love on the road. They have two gorgeous and wonderful children, Luke who will be (gasp!) 16 in October and Mayah who's about to turn 14. (When did we get so old?) Then this winter, much to their surprise, they discovered that Baby #3 was on the way! This wonderful family welcomed Arden Adele into the world in July and I could not be more thrilled to be able to help keep her in fashion.

Pattern D - Kimono-Style PJs - Difficulty Level: 3

Care and Mayah helped me pick out the fabric (Living Elements Collection from Art Gallery Fabrics and Sweet Broderie by Rosalie Quinlan Designs), and I took the lovely fabrics they chose for Arden and ran with them! I had been wanting to make these super cute pajamas since the very first day I got the book and these super soft fabrics seemed perfect for sleepwear.

I have to say that this was one of the most straight-forward patterns in the book so far. These PJs came together quickly and easily. The little details, like the bias binding that frames the Kimono top really add a level of elegance and beauty to this outfit.

The pattern calls for 1/2" seams throughout which is especially important when attaching the bias binding. The 1/2" seam ensures that there is enough of the contrasting binding skirting the edge of the top.

Topstitching is and easy and beautiful way to finish the binding seams but remember these stitches will be visible so if you're not as confident with straight stitching then just take it slow. I actually put a piece of masking tape on my machine to provide a guideline for my 1/2" seams to help keep them all straight.

When you're attaching the remaining bias binding around the collar of the kimono top I used the seam line as a guide when I folded the binding onto the wrong side of the top. This is probably the trickiest part of the entire pattern and truthfully it's not all that difficult.

And don't forget to finish your edges (as directed) to provide a finished look to the binding. Part of this binding will end up being one of the ties for the Kimono.

Making the matching pants is even easier than making the top. Seriously, this pattern was a breeze and the final result is to die for cute! Why doesn't this come in adult sizes?

The outfit comes in four pattern sizes, 0-3 months, 3-6 months, 6-9 months and 9-12 months. Since I wanted Arden to have stuff to grow into I made this in the 6-9 month size so it will be a while before she'll be modeling it for us. But I promise an update when she's wearing them.

So what are you working on? Link up your latest projects here and show everyone what you're making. You can share your projects in any state from start to finish. Remember, you can also share your "Little Stitches" Sew-Along projects anytime in the Undercover Crafter Sew-Along Group on Flickr. See you next week when I'll be unveiling another cutie-patootie outfit for Arden. This week I'll be working on making her Pattern H, the Easy Empire-Waist Top.