Lakeside Pajamas and Pretty Bias Tapes
If you’re anything like me your nighttime wardrobe consists of whatever knit top you were wearing that day and one of your two pairs of proper pajama pants. Not very exciting right? After months of day dreaming about what to make with our selection of pretty bias tapes the Lakeside Pajamas from Grainline Studio shot straight to the top of my list.
We have so many lovely print and solid bias tapes to choose from right now. I fell in love with these floral beauties immediately. We also have a wide range of appropriate fabrics as well. Everything from fun cotton prints, classic yarn dyed wovens, as well as luxurious rayons and silk blends would make great pajamas. Mix and match patterns and solids to make them your own or surprise someone with a custom pair!
I chose a vibrant pink and classic black rayon challis to pair with the black floral bias. The pattern calls for 1” wide bias strips (also known as 1/2” single fold or 1/4” double fold) which makes for tiny little straps, but you can easily use wider tape like I did. Many of the tapes we have in stock are 1/2” double fold so the straps will be a bit sturdier, but still lovely. This pair was the second pair of Lakeside Pajamas that I had sewn and using pre-made bias made sewing them a breeze in one afternoon.
The fit of the pattern is accurate to the measurements given for your body and the finished measurements on the pattern envelope. Remember these are pajamas, so a roomier fit is better! The top is loose by nature and simply lengthening or shortening the straps can really help perfect the fit. Choose a size for the shorts that will accommodate your widest measurement with some room to wiggle.
Per usual the directions from Grainline are spot on and I felt like Jen was rooting me on completing the new-to-me method for putting together the shorts with the bias trimmed edges. Like she says, stick with it, follow the steps and like that you’ll have some sweet shorts!
On my first go with the pattern I decided to use one of my favorite Art Gallery prints with some self-made shot cotton bias tape. Art Gallery fabrics always have such a lovely hand and are a breeze to sew with. I hadn’t used shot cottons yet for self-made bias, but it was easy peasy and the perfect fabric to find a color match. The pattern recommends getting 1/2 yard of additional fabric to make either matching bias tape or contrast tape. I still use the piecing method described by Collette here, but you could use the faster continuous method as well described here. We also sell those handy bias tape makers in 1/2” and 1” single fold sizes.
Come into the store to try on the sample, pick up the pattern and choose your perfect combination of fabric. There’s something special about having your personal style translate to pajamas!