Kwik Sew 2811 - Diet Coke Version

I was able to eke this short sleeved/long pant version out of 4 1/4 yards by cutting the sleeves on the cross-grain. I've lost track of how many times I've used this pattern. I even noted on the instruction sheet to wind 1-1/2 bobbins! How much do I like it? I bought a back-up pattern for $1 when our Hancock's was closing.

Smokin'

My fairly new Black & Decker iron Model D2020 went out in an almost blaze of glory! I was sneaking in some sewing time to finish another pair of Kwik Sew 2811 PJ's yesterday. Plugged in the iron and started sewing. The iron usually beeps when it reaches the right temperature, only this time it beeped and then didn't stop beeping. It sounded more like a smoke alarm - which it turned into! The display screen went dark and what I thought was steam coming out of the point was smelly electrical smoke! I calmly unplugged it and took it outside out front, went back inside and told T, "Hey, guess what?!" Usually I knock irons off the board, but this one was less than six months old and hadn't fallen. I'm also slightly paranoid about electricity and fires (I unplug the toaster!), so the idea of an "auto-off" feature iron continuing to self-destruct further reinforced my unplugging obsession.

This was a first! And the last of Black & Deckers for me! I went to Target and bought a Sunbeam Steam Master 4223, in the new trendy red color.

Update 11-5-07: I love this iron! A super large water tank and a shot of steam so loud and powerful you can hear it in the hallway. And only $29.99!

Kwik Sew 2811 Strikes Again!

This is the first time I tried trimming with the contrast sleeve band option. I hope it helped it from looking "Jeepers, I ran out of fabric"-y. Good to note, if you get three yards, you have enough to make the long pants and add contrast sleeves and collar when you are stuck with a less-than-2-yards-end-of-the-bolt remnant.

Night-Nightlife

Still smarting after those Sandra Betzina clunkers, best to go another round with TNT Kwik Sew 2811 PJ's. L and I just happened to be in the neighborhood of a remaining Hancock's. Gotta do our part to keep them around. She pulled together this fun combo, and on sale, too. Another one of their marked down/take another 20% off/now toss in the 10% ASG discount. I think the "sophisticated 60's ladies" ended up less than $1.50/yard, from an original $5.99/yard. The peachy pink, "Tea Time by Phyllis Hoffman" (wasn't she once the editor of Crafts or Country Cross Stitch magazine back in the early 80's?) will be the shirt, and the ladies are "KerryBeary" for the pants-both fabrics are Hancock exclusives. I plan to have some trim and contrast fun combining the two fabrics--embellishing the champagne with a few bead "bubbles" and their ensembles with either more beads or embroidery touches for the shirt pocket.

Fabric Static

Just when you zero out the fabric purchased/fabric used stats ...

You decide to stop by Jo-Ann's to check out their markdown bolts. In cozy flannels on the left - a true bowling shirt, with perfectly "spared" bottoms.

And the right - I found the coordinating bottle cap print for an extra PJ pant bottom. Maybe I'll be able to create a another shirt with the leftovers combined from the earlier sewn Kwik Sew 2811 PJ's.

Kwik Sew 2811 PJ's (again!)

Is this the fourth or fifth time I've made these Kwik Sew PJ's?! I've lost track. Newest version - short sleeved top with the long pants in 100% woven cotton with lace trim in the retro Pepsi print from the Jo-Ann's markdown shelves. I added my 10 cents/yard Hancock's lace to the collar, sleeve, top hem and to the tie/bow of the pants, after which I was left with only 6 inches. Oops! Sew first, then measure? Sew on the wild side -- it's just PJ's! I thought the print needed a little something and the lace was just the right touch. The buttons were also a Hancock bargain. If your local Hancock's is closing, run and grab this pattern at 70% off. It may even be 80% off this week. If not, 2811 is well worth the full price - you'll love and sew it over and over again, too.

Must be gravitational pull

Another stop at Hancock's but this was legit, really! -- I had an idea while treadmilling this morning and was looking for lace to trim my upcoming Pepsi girl Kwik Sew PJ's. I had just left Jo-Ann's empty-handed and actually (ugh) going to go to Wal-Mart to fullfill this cardiovascular inspiration cheaply, or just skip the idea entirely. Hancock's was on my route. I needed 4 yards and found a spool with...4 yards! For 40 cents total! Yay! Then two Simplicity patterns Threads' Sew Stylish 3867 --it includes that cute aqua purse she's holding-- and In K Designs 4022 - (all patterns are now 70% off. Gosh knows when Jo-Ann's will have another cheapo sale; watch, next week! But I had to have them now ! Too delicicious to wait --thank you, Erica B for scouting them out!), two spools of Mettler thread ($2.87), and 2 cards of buttons ($1.44). And a pair of cheap scissors to replace my decoy pair, which have gotten all gummy and funky (good thing decoys work, eh?) for only 59 cents.

Finished the PJ's

I finished the Kwik Sew PJ's this morning, and will wear them tonight. Though now I am wishing they were made from cozy flannel instead. Brrrr! And if you notice an additional 4.75 yards "used," it was because I dunked what was left in the Goodwill donation bag! What a *%$#@ that fabric was to sew. Hopefully someone else can find a better use for it. I'm still picking up shreds and threads of the fabric!

Kwik Sew 2811 - PJ's

Lest ya'll think I only sew bunnies, and boxes, and ties (oh my!)...I cut out a pair of these Kwik Sew PJ's this morning. A long pants/short-sleeved shirt combo. These are actually the fourth pair I've made. (Read my review and others on Patternreview.com. The pattern is popular for a reason!) The fabric is a $1/yard fabric from Wal-Mart, back in the day. You can't beat a pair of cute PJ's for less than $5.