men

Closet Case Files Carolyn Pajamas in Silk

July 7, 2016 By Chie

I made silk pajamas! After making my Ginger Jeans (white version here), I became a big fan of Closet Case Files patterns. The jeans fit pretty well for me and the high waisted version is more flattering to my body than most store bought jeans. So, when a friend asked me to make silk pajamas for her friend’s wedding gift, I immediately thought of Carolyn pajama patterns.With so many cheap versions out there (like this GU one), I wanted to make it special by crafting it in pure silk satin.

The fabric used is beige silk satin. I made my own pipping with some white silk left over from making wedding dresses. That was the recommendation from the pattern instructions, so the width of the pipping can match the seam allowances, which is 1.5cm in this case.

From putting together the patterns to finishing two pajamas took a long time…about 17 hours. One of my goals of 2016 was to keep track of my work hours in excel in order to up my efficiency. Silk satin slips around a lot so cutting it on proper grain was a challenge. I mostly used a rotary cutter and a mat to cut the fabric and interface. Silk PJ feels so luxurious! I am not sure how they will care for it since silk satin loses the shine once you wash it with water, but I am assuming this is for a special occasions. Any thoughts? For a men’s version, I used BurdaStyle Men’s Pajama Set 12/2010 #134. It is almost identical to Carolyn PJ patterns. The only modifications are to omit drawstring waist and added a pipping cuffs on pants hem. Unlike Closet Case Files pattern instructions, BurdaStyle’s instructions are like reading foreign language at times…I had to just guess and figure out.

Here is the picture of pants fly with hidden pocket for men’s PJ pants. 結婚プレゼント用に、男女お揃いのシルクパジャマを作りました。
素材は100％シルクのサテン。
ベージュに白のパイピングでクラシカルな雰囲気のパジャマが仕上がりました。
型紙は女性用はCloset Case Files Carolyn Pajama、男性用はBurdaStyle Men’s Pajama Setを使いました。

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Golden Gloves to Hemline Pt. 8: Power and Glory

March 9, 2012 By Andy

Some men earn greatness through perseverance and dedication. Other men have greatness thrust upon then. And then others of us receive greatness through endurance. I endured mockery, emotional and physical torment, sleepless nights and a near loss of sanity. But now VV ladies look below at the pictures and be astounded! Tommy Hilfiger ain’t got nothin on me!!!!

I have completed my first sewing project; a skirt for my daughter Kiko. I remember wining the golden gloves, my arms raised in exhausted bloody glory….my victory over thread and needle was no less sweet. It was slightly more bloody thanks to Chie’s vicious back hand slaps but no less sweet.

This wee skirt took 4 “@&$)(; hours to make but as you can see it was done to seeing perfection. Particularly the hem line which was do splendidly straight and perfectly constructed that Vera Wang would look in envy at my accomplishment. In all seriousness, if the sewing gods were to incarnate and create a skirt for a baby they could have accomplished nothing greater than I.

Today I sit, basking in the radiance of my yellow creation and ponder what lies ahead.

Any recommendations for project #2?

Golden Gloves to Hemline: Pt. 2 Threading a Needle

Golden Gloves to Hemline: Pt. 3 Remedial Class

Golden Gloves to Hemline: Pt. 4 Manly Measurements

Golden Gloves to Hemline: Pt. 5 Building Blocks

Golden Gloves to Hemline: Pt. 6 Pattern Tracing

Golden Gloves to Hemlin: Pt. 7 A New Path to Success

Golden Gloves to Hemline Pt.7 : A New Path to Success

February 29, 2012 By Andy

So…….Where have you been, Andy? You haven’t visited VV Land in O’ so long. Why is that?

Let me give it to you straight. I suck. Chie told me this before we got married, during the wedding ceremony and most days since. Sadly I must say that I am becoming to agree. I, for all my desire, cannot go through that damn book. It’s too friggin hard. “For those who have never used a sewing machine before…” Bull%$#”$&%’&. Had I continued on my intended path to completing the Burda book, either myself or the book would have been destroyed (probably me)/ So, I decided to take a new route to the sewing promised land. I will be lead by that great sewing prophetess, my wife, Chie Duncan.

What I will be doing from this point is working on hands on projects under direct guidance. Chie will be assigning me (just like the rest of the day…) little sewing projects while she is tasked with molding me into a Project Runway worthy seamstress. I don’t know what she has planned but I can’t imagine its any more daunting that damn Burda book.

She tells me our first my project, I will be constructing, from nuts to soup, a skirt for my daughter, the magical Kiko. Chie, being the trickster she is, has decided to let me tackle the first parts on my own. She wants me to read and print out the pattern and then cut out the fabric pieces. From there she will work on the actual construction with me. Not too bad right?????? Click the following link I have been assigned here What you will notice immediately is that the language is not English. It seems, that my tricky tricky wife, has decided that it would be much more fun for me to complete this task if it is in Japanese. Thank you, babe it is always an adventure. So Step 1: 12 hours of translation. Step 2: Print out the pattern. Step 3: Cut out the pattern. Step 4: Cut out the fabric pieces. Step 5: Sew the garment. Step 6: Dress Kiko in garment and take pride in my accomplishment. Step 7: Wake up from my dream. Step 8: Stop crying. Step 9: In real life try sewing. Step 10 Start drinking. Step 11: Continue drinking。Step 12: Pass out in a shamed, failed and drunken slumber.

Whose excited!?!?!? This guy 🙂