And the list was ticked off...

Bit by bit, I finished all that needed to be finished for my family's holiday, despite a very late start. (I really began it all after my children went to bed on the night of the Solstice.)

I had these pajamas in mind to make for my wee ones a couple of months beforehand. But at the very end, it looked fairly grim for actually getting to them. And yet, they were finished and laid out as the final advent gift on the morning of the 24th. I'm good, I know. (Insert maniacal laughter. Because that's what I felt like. A maniac.)

The trees are wool felt (probably from here originally, but I'm not sure because I have so much felt from all different sources!), a tree pattern that I drew, and embroidered with french knots. I really wanted the trees to have a really simple, "homespun" quality, so I made the stitches a bit uneven and cockeyed (OK, I know that sounds like an excuse made after the fact, but it was actually on purpose).

(Excuse the fuzz and dog hair; this was taken after Christmas.)

The pants are flannel, from JoAnn. A bonus with these nice, loose, mama-made flannel pajama pants is that they fit over James's cast, which was pretty fantastic.

And my children loved them, of course. The concensus was "cozy." Not so bad for a last-minute project. And the best gift of all to a tired mama.

{Oh, and by the way, thank you all so much for your sympathy about my finger! I agree with many of you in saying that I didn't really believe this to be possible, even though I knew my mom had done it many years before. What happened to me was that I was doing applique onto a t-shirt with a small zigzag stitch, and doing some fiddly curves. My finger slipped between the presser foot and the needle. Eeek!}

Comments

[Bluebirdbaby]

Looks good! I'm so impressed you pulled everything off. You go girl :)

[Kristi]

These are so cute! I love the applique!

[Nicole]

You maniac! ;) I love the cozy jams, you rock Grace!

[Mama Urchin]

The two of them look so cute. In my house that would be a wrestling match in 0.3 seconds. Pajama pants are the greatest thing to make - so easy and the kids just look so cute in them.

[Suzanne]

Those are lovely! And yes, they look totally cozy on your babes:-)

[Mr Bob]

Glad your finger is doing better and that you were able to have the Christmas you were hoping for in spite of the late start. G really likes making presents for Elle because she is so appreciative of them, and I know she had fun finding all the parts to the cookbook stuff.

B

[amy]

Do you have time to answer a question? Can you wash the shirts with the wool felt appliqued on. I've wanted to try this, but wasn't sure how the felt would wash. Thanks.
Amy in CA

[Grace]

Amy in CA - you *can* wash them! The wool is already felted, so it's just fine. They may look slightly more "bunchy" afterwards, but not much.

[Aimee]

i think i used that same fabric to make some christmas pillowcases! cute!

[Mary Beth]

Hi Grace. They look so cute in their new jammies! I have a question too--did you make those shirts or just add applique to pre-sewn shirts? I love your tree design and the rockin' french knots.

[Lisa Clarke]

Oh, what sweet pj's! I made all of us (me, husband & two boys) matching pajama pants this year, and I, too, thought I must be crazy to be tackling such things a mere 2 or 3 days before Christmas... Happy New Year!

[Ram in the Thicket]

Great pj's. So cute and cuddley ;o)

[kate]

LOVE those pjs, so cute, and the dolls you made are BEAUtiful, great work!

[amy]

Thanks for answering my question Grace. I'll have to give this a try.

Amy in CA

[martha]

I love the appliques - what a great idea. also, your dolls are gorgeous. what kind of yarn did you use for willow's hair?

[Kirsten]

The PJ's look great, love the little trees, ornaments too!

[Denise]

Cute photo - I love the texture and stitching of the tree too.

Funny (and painful)-my mom also sewed through her finger when I was little - a very clear memory of mine!