Soulmate/Sleepmate/Secura

08 Jul Soulmate/Sleepmate/Secura

Such a good feeling waking up in a lovely pair of PJs!

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Greetings from the gazebo, a colorful escape and peaceful refuge to start my day. In April, I borrowed a pair of Julie’s Carolyn Pajamas by Closet Case Patterns. (She’s sewn seven pairsseriously). At last I have my own. If you’re a Bedhead fan then you’ll love this pattern! (Check out Bedhead’s Liberty PJs here.)IMG_0076 copy

I sewed the pajamas in Amy Butler’s latest fabric design, Soulmate (Free Spirit Fabrics).  Amy’s latest collection features 24 designs in 3 color ways of garment-friendly poplin!  Since Amy’s fabrics are color co-ordinated companion fabrics, I used contrast wherever possible.

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For the shirt, I sewed the front and back bodice, lower pocket and arms in Soul Mate It Takes Two in bone.

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The cuffs, collar, upper pocket and facings were sewn in Soul Mate’s Power Point, Cocoa. The collar, facings, pocket and cuffs were piped in turquoise.

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As a newbie to embroidery, I’m exploring my new machine‘s capabilities and embroidered the pocket with my monogram.

Carolyn pocket-001(Hoping to order monogram software soon! ) The process took less than 5 minutes and I continue to be awed by the unlimited possibilities of the Creative 4.5.

Last but not least! ……

Have you heard of Secura?
Coats & Clark recently introduced me to its Secura Heat Activated Button Thread.

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Available in six colors, this innovative thread is heat activated by steam which causes the thread to lock to itself.  No more loose buttons or embellishments!  Simply attach the button with the thread and steam with your iron.

My preferred taste is to use smaller buttons for shirts, unless I want a decorative look.

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I love the outcome of the PJs so much, I ordered fabric to make long and short bottoms!IMG_0089

The bottoms are sewn in the reverse colors of the top. This time the main parts (legs) are sewn in the Power Point Cocoa and the contrast (waistband and cuffs) is sewn in It Takes Two. I piped the pockets and the cuffs for a polished result.

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I think the two pieces go together just great and look forward to sewing the long bottoms as fall approaches. 

The only downside of my new PJs is not wanting to get dressed 😉

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Many thanks to Free Spirit Fabrics for providing Amy Butler’s beautiful Soulmate fabric, and a huge thank you to Coats & Clark for introducing me to the awesome Secura thread!

Happy Saturday to all!

 

 

goodbyevalentino
goodbyevalentino@gmail.com
53 Comments
  • Marion
    Posted at 07:12h, 08 July Reply

    So cute. I love it.
    Happy weekend

    • goodbyevalentino
      Posted at 07:15h, 08 July Reply

      Thank you, Marion!!

  • Vivian Katz
    Posted at 07:12h, 08 July Reply

    These are too cute. I recently made the Kwik Sew pj’s, but they didn’t have a separate front facing or pockets. I love this pattern, It is now on my list.. Also love the accessorizing for your photo shoot with the earrings.

    • goodbyevalentino
      Posted at 07:15h, 08 July Reply

      Thank you, Vivian! You’ll love the pattern. Doesn’t everyone sleep in gold earrings? 😉

  • Lisa Jones
    Posted at 07:17h, 08 July Reply

    I have made five pairs!!!! Just purchased some liberty of London for a sixth!! Enjoy your new name hide..

  • Lisa Jones
    Posted at 07:18h, 08 July Reply

    I autocorrect!! Enjoy your new machine.

    • goodbyevalentino
      Posted at 07:25h, 08 July Reply

      LOL – You and Julie need to meet!! Many thanks and hope to see a pic of those Liberty pjs 🙂

  • Irene Mischkinis
    Posted at 07:41h, 08 July Reply

    Lovely pj’s! And I hope you have fun playing with the embroidery on your machine.

    • goodbyevalentino
      Posted at 08:04h, 08 July Reply

      Thank you, Irene! I am having a blast playing ( and I mean that literally) with the embroidery on my machine 🙂 🙂

  • Julie Starr
    Posted at 07:41h, 08 July Reply

    Loved waking up to see your beautiful new Carolyns while wearing my own! (Pair number nine in Jennifer Paganelli “Sunny Isle” coordinates – my first sleeveless pair). Without a doubt this is my most ever sewn pattern, not counting tunics, of course😉 How fun to experiment with your new machine and add the pretty monogramming. Once you’ve slept in these PJs, nothing else will do!

    • Julie Starr
      Posted at 08:03h, 08 July Reply

      Also meant to say that I simply cannot wait to try Coats and Clark Secura thread – I’m going looking for it stat!

      • goodbyevalentino
        Posted at 08:08h, 08 July Reply

        Nine pairs of Carolyn pajamas?? You’ve got this pattern nailed! This thread is a game changer 😉

  • Joyjc
    Posted at 07:42h, 08 July Reply

    Very nice. Also love the color combinations.😊

    • goodbyevalentino
      Posted at 08:09h, 08 July Reply

      Thank you so much, Joy! The other color combos are equally as lovely – hard decision for sure 😉

  • Susie Hamlin
    Posted at 08:30h, 08 July Reply

    So cute – I wish I had time to make some before a trip out west with sorority girlfriends from the 70s! Much better than the old ADPi tee. The Tunic Bible was just delivered to me this week ANOTHER garment I wish I could pull together before I leave – we’ll see. I’ve enjoyed following you these last few years, our daughters both were married about the same time (made my dress of course – and used my wedding dress to make her rehearsal dress) and now she’s having our first grandchild, (a boy)., I see a lot of sewing ahead!

    • goodbyevalentino
      Posted at 08:52h, 08 July Reply

      Hi Susie! Many thanks for your comment 🙂 I know the feeling of wanting to sew before a trip and just not being able to do it……Thank you so much for buying The Tunic Bible and please send a pic of your tunic. Best of luck with the arrival of your first grandchild and I also hope you have a great trip!

  • peggy leah
    Posted at 08:40h, 08 July Reply

    Perfect! Absolutely perfect. Looks very time consuming, all
    the work involved. Do you have a time estimate? They look
    very expensive. Very!
    peggy

    • goodbyevalentino
      Posted at 08:56h, 08 July Reply

      Thank you, Peggy! This is not fast sewing for sure. I’m hesitant to give a time estimate because I made the bottoms several weeks ago (quickly). I re-ordered some of the fabric after deciding to sew long sleeves which interrupted the process. Also, I’m just learning my new machine and played around with the monogram.
      I will say after figuring out CCF’s method for the notched collar it went together issue free 😉

  • Kimbersew
    Posted at 09:19h, 08 July Reply

    Beautiful PJs!!! My concern with the button thread would be that it would soften up again in the heat of the drier and not hold up over time- give us another testimonial after a dozen washings! gorgeous work as always!

    • goodbyevalentino
      Posted at 06:23h, 09 July Reply

      Many thanks, Kimbresew 🙂 I can’t imagine that it will soften up, but will give a follow up as I know the pajamas will have their share of trips through the washer and drier!

  • Make it Any Wear
    Posted at 09:40h, 08 July Reply

    I have a 30ish year old piece of Liberty Tana lawn from my mother’s stash destined for a pair of Carolyn’s.

    • goodbyevalentino
      Posted at 06:24h, 09 July Reply

      Perfect!

  • Lucy
    Posted at 10:05h, 08 July Reply

    So glad you li,e your Pfaff. I love mine! No need for embroidery software which costs hundreds because our Pfaff is already preloaded and you can find extra monograms you like on Etsy and download. For $5-15 you can get whatever monograms you like already digitized in multiple sizes. Then you just download them and sew. You will get lots of variety and there are really gorgeous ones. My latest obsession. Enjoy!

    • goodbyevalentino
      Posted at 06:25h, 09 July Reply

      Lucy~ Your comment is so helpful. I’ve added this to my list of ‘to-dos’ to for the machine. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

  • Becky Thompson
    Posted at 10:05h, 08 July Reply

    Those are beautiful! I’ve had the pattern for several years. Wasn’t it part of a SMS challenge? I think that’s where I first was introduced to the pattern, but I’ve never made it. I really need to. I’m going to get some of that thread – thanks for the tip!
    Since you are new to machine embroidery, have you checked out blastostitch.com? They have entire font sets and monograms for a dollar and every once in awhile they’ll put them on sale for .25 cents. Truly. These are the same fonts you find elsewhere for $5-$10 each. I’ve downloaded almost everyone of them and they all stitch out without any trouble at all. https://blastostitch.com/product-category/fonts-monograms/ Their fonts all work with Embrilliance if you have it. I can also highly recommend any of the designs from UrbanThreads.com. They are hip & trends and “ain’t your grandma’s embroidery”. Anything from there you make for your kids and grands will be loved. Also, recommend doing yourself a favor and get a Personal Alignment Laser from Designs in Machine Embroidery (you can find it on Amazon too). I have the small one and while it’s not cheap at $50, it allows you to hoop the un-hoopable. Also, to resize embroidy designs, check out this post on my blog. There’s some free software that does a very good job of it. https://powertoolswiththread.com/2015/08/23/resizing-digital-embroidery-design-files/ The freebie software from Wilcom is at the top of their page. I’ve haven’t taken the plunge into their full version software because I don’t do this for a living. Enjoy your embroidery journey! I love it.

    • goodbyevalentino
      Posted at 06:48h, 09 July Reply

      Oh my goodness, Becky – I have SO MUCH TO LEARN! Will do all of the above – many thanks!

  • GayleMI
    Posted at 10:25h, 08 July Reply

    Another beautiful job Sarah!

    • goodbyevalentino
      Posted at 06:48h, 09 July Reply

      Thank you, Gayle!

  • brenda morton
    Posted at 10:32h, 08 July Reply

    Those have to be the most beautiful pj’s I have ever seen.

    • goodbyevalentino
      Posted at 06:49h, 09 July Reply

      Thank you so much, Brenda! Click on the link I provided to see Julie’s PJs – they are gorgeous 😉

  • MaryEllen
    Posted at 10:33h, 08 July Reply

    These pj’s are beautiful! What a fun way to try out Embroidery . You will be hooked by the way with a grandbaby to embroider for . I’m a Bernina Embroidery gal , but love seeing what other machines do as well . Check out pickle pie designs – so many great Embroidery projects for gifts & using scraps .
    Happy Sewing g & embroidering !

    • goodbyevalentino
      Posted at 06:50h, 09 July Reply

      Thank you, Mary Ellen! Did you say ‘will be hooked’? It’s already happened 😉

  • Karen Helm
    Posted at 10:43h, 08 July Reply

    These PJs are fabulous, Sarah! Isn’t beautiful sleepwear the best? Enjoy!

    • goodbyevalentino
      Posted at 06:51h, 09 July Reply

      Many thanks, Karen! Agree – beautiful sleepwear is the best every 🙂 🙂

  • Connie Turner
    Posted at 10:54h, 08 July Reply

    That thread is genious. Putting a bit of glue on your button also is a good trick for holding them in place. Love the pajamas, the fabric choice is stellar.

    • goodbyevalentino
      Posted at 06:52h, 09 July Reply

      Thank you, Connie and what a great tip! I might add a drop to glue to all of my previous buttons today 🙂

  • Cissie Wellons
    Posted at 11:44h, 08 July Reply

    You look way too pretty to have just gotten out of bed! Love your Carolyn PJ’s. I have 3 pairs of the shorty version and 1 as a nightshirt. But thanks for reminding me that I need to make the long version for fall and winter.

    • goodbyevalentino
      Posted at 06:53h, 09 July Reply

      Ha, ha, ha – I always wake up looking fresh as a daisy 😉 I look forward to making more.

  • Maggie ecger
    Posted at 12:36h, 08 July Reply

    Oh so cute!

    • goodbyevalentino
      Posted at 06:54h, 09 July Reply

      Thank you, Maggie!

  • Faye Lewis
    Posted at 12:43h, 08 July Reply

    They are beautiful!

    • goodbyevalentino
      Posted at 06:54h, 09 July Reply

      Many thanks, Faye!

  • Alice Elliot
    Posted at 15:52h, 08 July Reply

    So much work for pjs but totally worth it!

    • goodbyevalentino
      Posted at 06:55h, 09 July Reply

      T O T A L L Y worth it, indeed!

  • Becky Bagwell
    Posted at 18:13h, 08 July Reply

    So cute!

    • goodbyevalentino
      Posted at 06:55h, 09 July Reply

      Thank you, Becky!

  • Mary Funt
    Posted at 22:02h, 08 July Reply

    Wonderful PJ’s. I also have a few Liberty cottons that would work for this pattern. Enjoy your new machine and playing with all the features, especially the embroidery.

    • goodbyevalentino
      Posted at 06:56h, 09 July Reply

      Thank you, Mary! Out of curiosity – do you have an embroidery machine?

  • Lauren
    Posted at 11:44h, 09 July Reply

    Love the PJ style, especially the top. I don’t think I would wear a long sleeved and shirt collar top with short pants in the summer, but for winter it would be lovely with the long pants in a nice soft cotton like a Liberty lawn. I find quilting cottons too heavy, especially with covers. I love the coordinating cuffs and piping. So nicely made.

    • goodbyevalentino
      Posted at 12:33h, 09 July Reply

      Thank you, Lauren! The pattern offers any number of combinations for personalized comfort 😉 Also, Amy’s latest fabric is poplin and much lighter than quilting cotton. I recommend it, but nothing upon nothing beats Liberty for sure!!

  • Margo Bergman
    Posted at 11:20h, 10 July Reply

    You look so cute and relaxed in your new PJ’s! I have this pattern on my list to sew in a cozy fun flannelette for winter. Maybe I should consider some light cotton ones for now.

  • Nieves
    Posted at 20:47h, 10 July Reply

    You did a great job, very inspiring. Love, love all the details. Will definitely have a look at this pattern. You have made them look very glamorous,

  • Leitner Winstead
    Posted at 20:52h, 14 July Reply

    Great job! Pretty fabric selection and I love the piping. It is great fun to see what you are up to. Thanks for sharing!

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