PJs and Robe for Riley

Note: This project was started and completed awhile ago (2/9/08) but I've just now got around to posting it. It was (mostly) a good one, so I wanted to be sure and get it up there :-)

Project: Robe and PJs for Riley
Pattern: See & Sew 4322

Fabrics: Turquoise fleece (robe), white and dark pink jersey knit (PJ top), and blue sleeping doggie flannel (PJ bottoms)

A couple of years ago, Chelsea made a great robe for Riley. It was a rich, dark purple fleece with a cozy hood and belt. When Riley first put it on, it was a bit big, so we rolled up the sleeves and she pretty much wore it daily from there on out. One day I noticed that the sleeves had become 3/4 length (or even 1/2 length!) and the bottom of the robe barely kept her upper body covered.

The only way to get her to give up wearing it was to promise a new one in whichever color she choose. She said she wanted turquoise, so I bought the pattern, bunches of turquiose fleece and fabrics for matching PJs as well. When I brought it home and showed her, she said, "Oh. Is that turquoise?" I said, "Yes, what did you think turquoise would look like?" She said, "Pink." Uh-oh, I thought. Then she fortunately said, "But I love it anyway." Good girl, Riley!

The good: Riley loves the new robe and wears it daily. It went together remarkably easily and looks and fits great. Good pattern. PJ bottoms were equally easy to put together and worked out equally well. Very cozy and good fit. Both were a pleasure to cut and sew.

The bad: Not so much with the PJ top. Cutting was fine and most seams went together pretty easily, but the middle front and back seem to be quite short compared with the sleeve lengths and the length of an actual sized-seven child. I give it about a month before it is way to short for Riley to wear. Hrumph!

The ugly: Again with the PJ top. I have to assume that this is my inexperience sewing stretchy fabrics like this jersey, but all three narrow hems (both sleeves and the bottom edge) came out wavy and almost fluted. Yuck! I must have either stretched it during the ironing or sewing, though I tried to be careful not to. Ah well, better luck next time!

Wearability: Robe and PJ bottoms: Super-high. PJ top: Super short-lived.