" ...... I have no spur
To prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps "
(Macbeth, Act 1 Scene 7)
Macbeth is plotting to murder Duncan... I have merely maimed a pair of pyjama trousers. If I had just stuck to Ang's instructions on how to add length to the body I'm sure things would have gone reasonably well. Apart from having to mend a couple of places where I was forced to cut into the fabric to separate the elastic from the waistband. The original machinists were obviously determined to make the seams very secure.
No, where my vaulting ambition overleapt itself was in deciding to add pockets at the same time. If I'd stuck to patch pockets it still might have been OK.
If I wasn't wanting to wear them tonight...
If I hadn't needed to reuse the elastic because I cannot find the new packet of elastic anywhere...
If I hadn't put off beginning the alteration until yesterday morning...
I spent the whole of yesterday snipping and snipping and snipping, and managed to open out the waistband and pin on a strip to extend the body. Also in searching for the new elastic.
I've spent the whole of today in pinning ang pressing and sewing and bodging 'making it work'.
I'm two days older and two days wiser and tonight I'll be wearing clean pyjamas. With pockets.
If you are of a nervous disposition look away now;
The waistband showing the new facing
I don't really care about all the botches and repairs; I've learned a lot and they are only pyjamas!
Music
now that I've finished and the pyjamas are ready for bedtime, I'm ready to relax...
Schuman, 'des Abends' played by Daniel Baramboim.
Ahhhhhh...
I
As one who can't sew I'm impressed with the job you did on your pj's even if it seems like it was quite a hassle!
ReplyDeleteI'm impressed with myself too! It took me a couple of weeks to get my courage!
DeleteWhat a lovely gift from you was that Schumann, close to the end of my day - thank you!
ReplyDeleteThank you - it's such a beautiful piece. Just what I needed after a fractious day with the pyjamas.
DeleteI hope you slept well!
ReplyDeleteLike a baby, and the alteration was well worth the effort. (There is something a bit weird going on with the pockets... but I don't notice it when I'm asleep!)
ReplyDeleteOmgosh, so much agro for some pajamas, why do you want pockets in them?? But you learnt a lot, perhaps also to listen to someone else's ideas next time? When I was learning to play the piano, Schuman was my favourite composer.. thank you for that music.
ReplyDeleteAng's (tracing rainbows) instructions for the waistband worked perfectly... and I much prefer pjs with pockets! I had a really good look at my other, slightly more expensive, pair and reckoned I understood how they worked. Which I almost got right. I enjoy hand sewing, so much slower (and easier to unpick than machine, and without the bother of getting it out) so all in all it was a useful experience. Plus I listened to a few more chapters of A Small Bomb at Dimperly ' which is a great story.
DeleteI love Schumann too.
Soothing Schumann ahh! I would have given up on the pjs well done for sticking with the project. The material looks lovely and soft just right for sleeping in. Regards Sue H
ReplyDeleteI bought the pyjamas from MandS last year, they are very comfortable now! (They weren't too bad before but tended to ride up as I'm long bodied)
DeleteThe important thing is that they are comfortable.
ReplyDeleteYup. After it's mostly dark when I'm wearing them!
DeleteWow! Well done! I'm suitably impressed.
ReplyDeleteActually, (tooting my own trumpet) so am I. I really wasn't sure I'd succeed.
Delete