Buttons & Booties: Sleep Tight Nightie Tutorial

The trend for my matching Christmas pyjamas has caught on and now our entire family will be wearing matching pj's on Christmas morning while we open the presents!! It will definitely be a memorable sight and a tradition that I hope to carry on. I will be sure to post plenty of photos for you!! So, today's tutorial is the Sleep Tight Nightie. Again, it is a very simple pattern and great for beginners to try!

What you will need;

Christmas Print (I've used 100 % cotton, but flannel would also work nicely)

Plain Fabric (for the lining, if desired)

Coordinating thread

Elastic

Lace

Sizing Guide

BUST PANEL SIZE
S - 34–35" (86.5–89 cm) 21" x 30"
M - 37–38" (94–96.5 cm) 23" x 30"
L - 40–41" (101.5–104 cm) 25" x 32"
XL - 43–44" (109 cm–112 cm) 27" x 32"

1. Using the sizing guide, determine the sizing for the front and back panels. Cut out 1 set of panels from the Christmas print and another set from the lining.

2. Assemble the panels in the following order

Lining; right side facing down
Christmas print; wrong side facing down (ensure that the print direction is correct vertically also)
Christmas print; right side facing down (ensure the print direction matches)
Lining; wrong side facing down

3. Stitch the long edges together, using a 1/2" seam. Zig-zag stitch the raw edge to finish.

4. Determine which short edge is the bottom of the nightie. Create a hem by folding the edge (both Christmas print and lining) by 1/4", iron flat, then fold another 1/2", iron and stitch in place.

5. Cut two 2.5" x 16" rectangles for the straps. Fold these in half, iron flat and sew in place using a 1/4" seam. Using a safety pin, turn them in the right way and iron flat, with the seam in the centre of the back of the strap.

6. On the top of the nightie, create a pocket for the elastic, by folding the raw edge (Christmas print and lining) down by 1/4", ironing flat, then folding another 1/2" and ironing flat. DO NOT SEW IN PLACE YET.

7. Position the arm strap 5" from the edge of the nightie. With the seam of the strap facing inwards, align the end of the strap, under the elastic pocket of the front of the nightie and pin in place.

8. Position the other end of the strap, in the same position on the back panel of the nightie and pin in place.

9. Repeat steps 7 and 8 for the other strap.

10. Sew straps in place, by stitching along the lower fold of the elastic pocket. Leave a gap for the elastic between the panel seam and the strap on BOTH sides of the front nightie panel.

11. Cut the length of elastic the same as the width of the front pyjama panel minus 3".

12. Insert elastic into one side of the nightie, through the join in the panels and sew in place by stitching over the existing seam. Using a safety pine, feed the opposite end of the elastic through the pocket to the other gap. Remove safety pin, feed through the join in the panels, ensure there are no twists in the elastic and then sew in place along existing seam.