We've another make from one of our lovely ambassadors this morning.  Just like I did in my last post, Monica has made the Winnie Pyjamas by Merchant and Mills. We love her version!

Hello! I am excited to be back and sharing my second project on the Backstitch blog which are the Winnie Pyjamas by Merchant & Mills. I’ve always wanted to sew a set of pyjamas for myself, and this pattern / fabric combination is incredibly comfortable. I debated which combination of top and bottom I should go for but in the end settled on this pairing which will work for a variety of temperatures and lounging moments. The pattern itself has a few variations and I am excited to sew a silky pair and maybe a summer pair in the future!

The pattern design is similar to a traditional style of pyjamas, but its construction is quite fun. I would say the pattern is more involved than it seems, but it is really worth it for the final look. I chose to go for the long sleeve top with the short-shorts bottom, both piped. I had never made piping and decided to give it a go for to elevate the set. I didn’t toile the pattern (I tend not to for garments with a loose fit) but decided to shorten the sleeve pattern piece by 6cm from the get-go as this is a modification I have made to Merchant & Mills patterns in the past.

The pattern calls for a light to mid-weight fabric and so I chose this beautiful linen/cotton blend. I think the cotton helps to give enough softness and stability while also helping it to wrinkle less than a traditional linen weave which is nice! I chose a colour that is a little out of my wheelhouse, but I figured if I want to try out new colours, pyjamas are a safe way to go. I think this set is perfect for lounging around in on a slow morning, the fabric is so breathable and soft I already know they are going to wear in nicely.

The construction process of these pyjamas was pretty smooth although I did have a couple of hiccups when it came to notches. I usually find that if I miss a notch its fine but, in this case, notches are very important especially for the piping and facings. I accidentally ended the front piping much higher up on the bottom hem curve than intended as I had missed the correct notch but at least both sides match! I had a similar issue with the front facing where I hadn’t aligned them fully to the shoulder seams the first time so that needed some unpicking… got there in the end! I decided to add my handmade label on the front facing instead of by the collar as I always find labels there irritating when sleeping! Love how it looks this way and its inspired me to make more labels in different sizes to experiment with placement as a design feature.

The overall fit was better than I expected but I think I would make some adjustments for my next pair. The bottoms are slightly wider than my preference in the leg opening and are a bit loose on the waist. Next time I will shave off a couple cm from each side seam to solve this issue. I love the look of the tie, but I think if I make a light cotton/ summer pair, I may shorten the top so that there isn’t as much bulk underneath where the bow sits. I think this set would be super lovely in a light block print cotton and I can’t wait to give the short sleeve version a go. I also think if I make the full-length bottoms at some point, I may also include pockets as I love when pyjamas have pockets, makes them feel perfect for lounging as well as sleeping.

Overall, I am really pleased with the final result. I almost never sew loungewear, but I think that might change after completing this make!

Pattern: Merchant & Mills Winnie
Fabric: Linen/cotton blend in Denim
Size: Bust: 76cm, Waist: 57cm, Hip: 84cm; Size 6 sewn
Adjustments: Shortened the sleeves by 6cm
Notes on construction: Love all the little details in the construction, pay attention to all notches!
Notes on future makes: reduce shorts width at side seams prior to sewing which will help with wideness at leg opening.

About Monica: Monica is a sewist living in London. She has been sewing for most of her life and enjoys the process as much as the garments she makes.
Instagram: www.instagram.com/slowrituals.studio/