Tee Shirt Nightgown Tutorial

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Our Crafting Hope group is going to be making summer pajamas for kids that are staying with their Momma's at the county Women's Shelter.  I posted earlier about the generous pattern donation from Peek a Boo Patterns. I think those will be awesome pj for the kiddos. But I wanted a less intimidating option for those with a bit less sewing experience so I drafted up this tutorial for a quick nightgown out of an adult tee shirt.

This is my friend, Jessica's daughter. Isn't she adorable? Jess is an amazing painter and awesome seamstress with great style and an even greater heart. She's been my partner in crime in this Crafting Hope venture from the start. Thanks Jess!  If you haven't ever, check out her blog and her Etsy stores, k?

Here's what you need to make this quick little nightgown:

• One Adult sized tee shirt. I used a mens 2XL. You could probably get away with using a smaller shirt if you have a smaller kiddo.  The nightgown I made was a girls size 8 and the length from the 2XL was just right.
• Matching thread
• A ball point needle -- it's not a deal breaker if you don't have one but it will make sewing the knit fabric that much easier for you
• Your sewing machine and basic sewing supplies
• A tee shirt that fits your child (or a basic bodice pattern)

Cutting out your pieces:

1. Fold your tee shirt in half. Do your best to make sure all of the wrinkles are out and everything is good and even. This can be difficult if you are using a tee shirt that is worn and stretched out. Just do your best.  It's a nightgown, so it doesn't have to be perfect. I bought this tee for my husband in his early days of youth ministry when we were lobbying for a 15 passenger van to haul the students around in. It says, "Church vans move me" and it still makes me chuckle. Don't judge.
   
2. Once your adult tee is folded in half, fold your kids tee in half and place it on top of the adult tee. You are going to use this as a template for cutting out your nightgown.  You can see, I put the collar of the kids tee right under the collar of the adult tee so I could take advantage of the entire length of the shirt.
   
    
3. Take a deep breath. . . you are going to cut a basic A-line shape from the bottom of the tee shirt up to the arm pit area of the kid's shirt you're using as your pattern.  If it makes you feel better, you could use a marker to mark the line before you cut but again, this is a nightgown and doesn't require perfection.  You can make a wide A-line or a narrow A-line. That's all a matter of preference. I made mine fairly narrow because I don't like the idea of a lot of fabric flapping around. But that's just me.
   
4. Now, tuck the sleeve of your tee shirt up and get a feel for how the arm hole is curved. You are going to cut a very similar line from the arm pit up to the shoulder. 
   
5. Cut across the top of the shoulder following the shoulder line of your tee shirt.  Give yourself about an extra 1/2" above the tee shirt shoulder so that you have room for your seam allowance.
   
6. Finally, cut from the top edge of the shoulder down in a gentle curve along the kid's shirt neck hole. Give your kid back their tee shirt.  Separate the front of the nightgown from the back.
   
   On the front neckline, cut a slightly deeper arch.  You do not need to account for seam allowances along the neck or the arm holes because you will be binding them.
7. Very carefully, cut the ribbed neck band off of the adult tee. You could take the time to pick out the stitches to remove it if you prefer but I didn't want to take the time. You will use this around the neck of your nightgown.
8. Cut two strips of fabric that are 1 1/2" wide from the widest part of the adult tee sleeve.  You will use these to bind the arm holes.

Sewing things together:

1. It is best to use a ballpoint needle when sewing knits. Also, you will want to use a very narrow zig zag stitch. This will allow the stitches to move and stretch with the fabric.  A normal straight stitch will break. With all that in mind, put right sides together and sew the nightgown front to the nightgown back at one of the shoulder seams.
   
2. Lay the nightgown out flat, right side up. Take the collar binding that you cut off of the adult shirt and pin it to the right side of the nightgown (raw edges together). Sew the neck binding onto the nightgown with a 1/4" seam allowance. Cut off any extra binding. Press the binding up.  
   
   Top stich the neckline just under the binding seam.
   Make sure you use your small zig zag stitch since this is the one place on the night gown that will get the most stretching.
   
   
3. Pin, right sides together, at the second shoulder seam. Be sure you match up the edge of the neck binding and the neck binding seam. Sew the shoulder seam.
   
4. Take one of your 1 1/2" strips and fold it in half, wrong sides together. Iron.  Pin the binding on one of the arm holes, raw edges and right sides together. Sew the binding on with a 1/4" seam allowance. Trim excess binding. Repeat for the second arm.
   
   Iron seam bindings flat.
   
   Top stitch.
   
5. With right sides together, pin and sew up the side seams of the nightgown. I use about a 1/2" seam allowance. Turn rightside out and you are done!
   

Since you used the hem of the adult shirt as the bottom of your nightgown you have no hemming. And because knit doesn't fray you don't need to worry about finishing any of your seams.  Once you've made one of these and learned the process you should be able to whip them out pretty quickly.

Please let me know if you have any questions or any points need clarification.  If you leave a question in the comments, make sure you are not a no reply commenter or leave an e-mail address where I can answer you.

~Lindsay

Crafting Hope with Summer PJ's

I guess I'm kind of on a pajama kick lately, huh?

I've got good reason though.  A few days ago I received an e-mail listing some things that were needed for the county women's shelter. One of those things was summer pajamas for kids.

It just so happened that our June meeting of Crafting Hope is coming up and kids pajamas seemed like a pretty good project for the group.  This pattern was generously donated by Peek a Boo Pattern Shop. It's the Alex and Anna Summer PJ's and this is a size 6.  Fabric used is some pink camo knit I picked up at Vogue in Evanston.  The binding is a heathered grey rib knit that I think I got at Vogue as well.

I sewed this set up as a sample. I always like to have one done for the participants to be able to look at. It also helps me lead people through the steps if I've made the pattern before.

This one is super simple and a really quick sew.  If you are new to sewing with knits this pattern is a great place to start. There is an option to add short sleeves or you can just bind the sleeves like I did. Either option is adorable.

If the Bug's reaction is any indication, they are super comfortable too.

I can't wait to make some more for some very deserving kids.

If you live in the area, Crafting Hope meets on Thursday, June 20th at 6:30 pm at the Nappanee Public Library.  Anyone is welcome to come. All skill levels are invited.  E-mail me and I'll send you details.

If you don't sew but would like to help out, purchased items work just as well!! Here's a list of their current needs, 

• “Summer” pajamas for children: sizes 6-8, 10-12, 14-16
•  Boys underwear size 10-12
•  Women's “summer” sleepwear sizes large, X-large, 2X, and 3X
• Size 8 women's underwear, briefs

The above items can be dropped off at iFiT, 101 East Hively Ave., Elkhart, IN 46517.

(or you can give them to me and I'll see they get dropped off when we take the pj's)

~Lindsay

Carry Along Quilt

I realize I haven't posted about our Crafting Hope group in a while.

Despite my lack of posting, we do still continue to meet every two months or so to make projects for local charities.

At our last meeting we made these cute Carry Along Quilts for our local CAPS to distribute to kids in need.

Our hope is that they will be of comfort to perhaps a foster child or someone in need of comfort.

They are small quilts that roll up and button with this cute little strap, making them easy to carry.

My friend, Kim, and I made this one together.

It's a fairly simple pattern. Just nine fat quarters sewn together in rows so it came together fairly quickly.

I found the fat quarters and binding fabric at Wal-Mart.  I wasn't optimistic about what their options would be but I'm glad I checked.  I think these kitties are adorable.

And I like that the quilt could work for a boy or a girl.

Next time, Lindsay, clip your threads.

For goodness sake.

I really like this blanket stitch on the binding. I've hand sewn some bindings before that came loose after the first wash. Obviously, I have much to learn when it comes to binding a quilt by hand. But there is no way this machine sewing binding is coming loose.  And it looks cute too.

Well it would be cuter if I'd have snipped my threads.

Is anyone else bad about that or am I the only one?

The back is a sunny yellow flannel.

We tied each block in the center. The instructions for this quilt in the Craft Hope book didn't include any quilting instructions, nor did they mention the need to tie it.

But I was afraid that without a little something the batting would all ball up and not stay put, right?

I wonder if that was just an oversight in the instructions?

This was a really fun project. It was kind of neat to work with someone else on it since so much of what we've done is kind of Lone Ranger-ish.

No way would I have finished this as quickly without Kim's help.

Anyone have any ideas for our next project?

We meet again in May. . .

~Lindsay

Crafting Hope

Our sewing group met again last week. 

This month we sewed little dresses and bandanna shorts for Haiti.

Since last time I posted that super cute photo of Jessica (to her chagrin) this month I give you a photo of myself. 

I gave my camera to the grand-daughter of one of our sewers to help keep her occupied and boy was it fun to see what she deemed photo worthy!

Liz from Little Lizard King patterns was sweet enough to give us a pattern to work with!

I love that spirit of generosity! Thanks so much Liz!

Please go check out her shop. Her patterns are super cute and there are several that are perfect for beginners.

We chose the Catie dress because of it's simplicity. Cute, quick and easy! I can't recommend it enough!

We didn't want to neglect the sweet little Haitian boys though, so we also made bandanna pants/shorts. The pattern we used was straight out of the Craft Hope book.

And we decided that there needs to be a little more quality control in bandanna making factories! Who knew, but no two bandannas are the same size? In fact, they are quite irregular. It made things an itty bit more difficult, not gonna lie.

This is one of the coolest things, in my opinion, about these sewing nights.  We have three generations participating.  Granddaughter is learning from mom (not pictured) and grandma.  I have such a soft spot for this handing down of the sewing bug since it was my own grandmother and mother who taught me to sew. Makes me tear up a little when I think about it.

I tried to get Jessica to model this little dress like she did the bib but she's onto me.

How cute is it that dress? She came with that striped fabric that she has had a hard time matching and I came with the green that I've had a hard time matching to anything and shazaam! They were perfect for each other!

And here is a pair of finished shorts!

The super cool thing is that this is the first item of clothing she has ever made!

I do love the "giving" aspect of gathering together and making items to donate. I think that's a really neat thing.

But even more than that, I love that several of the participants are new sewers. It's such a joy to share something I love so much with friends and then to see that moment when they see what they've made and are so proud.  That's what it's about for me. 

The real joy is in the sharing.

Thanks ladies for coming back each month and for all the work you are putting into this.  You girls rock!

~Lindsay

Crafting Hope

Our little sewing group met again last week.

We had a different crowd this time, which was exciting! Word is getting out!

I love how perfect the library meeting room is for this. We have room for several more sewing machines so if you are local and have interest let me know and I'll see that you get a June invite.

As my lovely friend Jessica is showing us, this time we made bibs and burp cloths (not pictured here) for young moms.

And yes, I know I am probably asking for trouble by posting this photo on the world wide web. 

But how cute is she? How cute is that bib? How could I not?

You see my dilemma?

We used the library's portable die cut machine to cut out our appliqué pieces. This was a huge time saver. I am a big fan of the die cut machine.

And here are a few of the finished burp cloths.

And the bibs.

Somehow I managed to not get a single picture of the beautiful machine embroidered bibs and burp cloths one very generous over-achiever brought already made that night.  What a sweet heart.

I just know some young mommas are going to feel very blessed.

The patterns we used were from the book "Craft Hope".

The next time we meet, I think we will be making clothes for friends to take with them to Haiti. Perhaps some shorts for the boys and maybe more pillowcase dresses for the girls? We shall see!

~Lindsay

Crafting Hope

A spark of an idea ignited when I read this post on the Little Lizard King blog.

And when I flipped through this book, a plan formed.

Last night seven of us met with pillowcases in hand.

We had varying levels of sewing expertise but a like-minded goal: to make dresses for little girls in Africa.

If you aren't familiar with the group Little Dresses for Africa, check them out. Their goal is to distribute these simple hand made dresses to little girls in Africa to help them feel WORTHY.

I love that.

So we all lugged our sewing machines down to the library and set up shop.

We cut.

We sewed.

And in the end, we had some beautiful dresses.

Beautiful because of the love that was sewn into them.

Thank you ladies.

Thank you for facing your fears Shannan.

Thank you for being willing to hone your skills Brooke.

Thank you for dusting off your home ec skills Kim (like riding a bike, yes?).

Thank you for stepping out of the box Maggie.

Thank you for your enthusiasm Heather.

And Jess, thanks for your help and encouragement along the way.

You all truly blessed my heart with your willingness to give a bit of yourselves and your time.

And I can't help thinking how blessed seven little girls we may never meet this side of Heaven will be when they receive these lovely frocks.

God, bless the hands of your servants.

Bless the fruit of their labors.

Bless the recipients of their generosity.

And thank You for the opportunity to give, even a small piece, of ourselves. 

We who have been so blessed.

~Lindsay