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Writer's pictureSharon Prigan

Simple is Beautiful

Sometimes the simplest things that we do give us the greatest pleasure.


A student decided to create a set of pyjamas to gift her sister who lives overseas.





She brought a pair of pyjamas that she owns and copied the pattern, as her and sister wear the same size clothing. She has done it before so she is now a pro :)


Her favorite sewing machine to use in class is the vintage Alpha.



sewing on the vintage alpha sewing machine


She also enjoys using the overlocker




sewing on the overlock machine




The pants had a simple, gathered, elasticized waistband. She used a safety pin to pull the elastic through the waistband.



plastic bottle of safety pins elastic and waistband of pants


After pulling the elastic through, one edge was laid over the other and sewn in place, this minimizes uncomfortable bulk in the wasitband.



elastic pulled through waistband and edges held in place with a pin


This student likes to learn a new technique each lesson. New but simple techniques. So I had to be creative with the shirt placket technique, professional but simple.


I created a simple placket pattern out of a piece of scrap paper.



shirt placket pattern made out of paper


Pinned the placket pattern onto the centre front of the shirt and cut both layers down the center line - paper pattern and fabric



cutting through the paper pattern and the fabric together


After cutting the placket and the fabric



after cuttignhte placket and the fabric there is now an opening in the center front of the shirt


The paper pattern is removed and a fabric strip is placed face down on the edge, then sewn around the edge folded over, top stitched closed, and this is what it should look like.


This was her sample piece. When I teach a new technique the student first creates a practice piece, sometimes more than once, to "get" the technique.



fabric strip folded over edge of neckline and sewn down


Here you can see it on the pyjama shirt.



strip sewn over neckline edge, folded over and top stitched


The right side of the neckline is folded down



the right side of the bound neckline is folded down


Then folded up over the other side of the neckline opening



then folded up over the neckline opening


The point is pressed down and is top stitched in place



bottom point of neckline ironed down and top stitched in place


A facing is then sewn face down on the outside of the neckline edge, folded inside the shirt edge, ironed and top stitched in place.



facing stitched on inside of neckline


The finished pyjama shirt



pyjama shirt


Simple is beautiful!

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