Today I thought I would show you what I made a few weekends ago…
I am quite proud of my little project.
At first glance, my new p.j. shorts may not seem all that special. Making pajama shorts must be one of the easiest projects in the world — especially if you know how to sew. I have watched several videos on YouTube, where, in a matter of minutes, people cut, sew, boom, done! A perfect pair — just like that.
My original plan was to sew pajama pants, but as I prepared to cut the pattern pieces, I realized I didn’t have enough fabric. (I also didn’t think of folding the fabric in a different way; something I learned later that day.) So, I decided to make the shorts.
In retrospect, I wish I had made the pants, even if they had been a tad shorter than they were supposed to be — I love this fabric.
The pattern I used is McCall’s “EASY” M8056. It’s funny that I even own this pattern. There is so much I don’t know about sewing.
Whenever I attempt to sew anything I am pretty much starting from zero. (Well, I do remember some things from watching my mom use her sewing machine when I was a little kid. But that was ages ago!)
As a beginner, these thoughts went through my mind as I tackled this project:
– Was I sure I knew how to choose the pattern size based on my measurements? No. (None of my measurements were under one same size, which one to choose? 🤯)
– Was it possible that I would cut the wrong size? Absolutely!
-Was I confident that my sewing machine would act nice and not get the thread all tangled up? Nope.
-Did I know if my machine had a button-sewing feature? Not a clue.
I sometimes think I can do anything, and I love it when I am in that mindset. Trying new things, especially low-risk projects like this one keeps my busy mind focused.
I spent most of the morning studying the instructions. We’d been having lots of rainstorms, so the power was out and it was nice and quiet in the house. After much consideration, I finally took a deep breath and cut the fabric. Later, when the electricity came back on, I was 100% ready to sew my shorts.
The buttonholes were definitely a challenge. My sister thought I had tried to make them by hand, but I actually used the buttonhole feature on my sewing machine. (I found out it had one!) It looks like I need lots more practice with this. 🤣
That afternoon, I decided to learn more about sewing patterns. I didn’t want to feel confused or scared the next time I attempted to sew something.
I found a great introduction video on YouTube. I learned a lot, and I also realized I wasn’t so lost in the first place. Who knows, I might dare to try making the top that goes with the shorts next time!
Although we’re in the middle of winter, I’ve used my p.j. shorts quite a bit already. Best of all, they didn’t fall apart when I threw them in the washing machine.
What about you? Do you dive into projects even if you aren’t sure of what you’re doing? Do you prefer to stick to things you’ve already mastered?
Here’s the link to the video on: How to Read a Sewing Pattern with Liesl Gibson
Related to this, have you read this book?
I started reading it over the weekend. You might want to look into it. It’s about the side benefits of allowing yourself to be a beginner as an adult. I am all for it.
