One Pin Changed It All…

I’ve sort of always been crafty. Whether it was doodling on my pee-chee or taking a formal class, I’ve always had to have my hand in something creative. And along came Pinterest…my new best friend! Not only has Pinterest given me a way to capture all my ideas, but it has inspired me to stretch in new directions as well. One of these new directions has been in sewing. Now, you have to realize that I used to swear I would NEVER pick up sewing. That was that thing my mother did. Then along came Pinterest and it did the impossible. It MADE me want to sew!

Needless to say, when I came across this post it really made the project look easy. I had been wanting some new pajama bottoms, but the price of the ones I liked seemed too extravagant or I absolutely hated the material. Creating pajamas was the solution I was looking for. AND like I said before, they looked so easy!

The tutorial said to take a pair of pajamas bottoms that currently fit, turn them inside out and create a template on a piece of butcher paper. Easy-peasy! After hunting down and ordering the perfect fabric, I took my template and cut it out according to the instructions. Added the cuff at the bottom and tried them on. I made an important discovery. My rear required more fabric than my front! Back to the drawing board.

I hunted down and purchased a real pajama pattern and started over with a new collection of fabrics (until I could replace the fabrics from my first project). I was able to salvage the cuff pattern the Pinterest tutorial and added it to the bottom of the sewing pattern. Not having sewn since Junior Highschool, measuring, laying out the pattern, and cutting the fabric were very intense decisions. I had already ruined a pair after all! I attached the cuff and even managed to add a bit of contrasting piping in between. Having completed two separate legs, I went to attach both legs together and made the horrifying discovery that I had created two left legs. Arrrgh!

More fabric.

Here is the final piece. I added button holes for the draw-string as well as elastic when I don’t feel like dealing with it. I have worn them and they are quite comfortable. I learned that you can almost ALWAYS rip out the stitches and try again.

Since completing these, I have made a second pair and included a ruffle at the bottom. So thank you Pinterest for helping me overcome my aversion to sewing. I have discovered something fun and quite beautiful in it.

How about you? How has Pinterest inspired you?