Stay Connected

Wednesday, January 12, 2022

Another Practical Christmas Gift for Me

you can't see in the photo, but the pattern also makes shorts and pants
I tend to ask for and welcome very practical gifts. In addition to asking for shearling fleece inserts for my slipper-shoes for Christmas, I also asked for some flannel fabric to make myself some new winter pajama pants. My last pair has become so holey that I think they may verge on obscene. (thankful for bathrobes) 

Here's the fabric my daughter gave to me. Nice isn't it? A gray background with an all-over, white leafy-tendril pattern, She also bought the elastic that I'll need for the waistband. I have plenty of thread that will work as well as the pattern (one that I've now used 5 times). I look forward to my new sewing project for next week.

14 comments:

  1. The fabric is pretty and on this cold day, flannel pajamas sound so cozy. My sewing machine is having gear problems and I'm trying to figure out if it is better to get it fixed or get a new one. The cost for a new equivalent machine is about the same as the repair.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Live and Learn,
      That's a tough choice, when the repair cost is equal or close to the cost for a replacement. Here's one other thought -- is your current machine a better quality, better made machine than new replacements? My sewing machine is from the 1970s. It's all metal. The things that go wrong are mechanical and not electronic. It's a very basic machine and I have wanted a fancier one for many years. But mine was a used machine when my parents bought it for me and continues to work. I have had to have it repaired a couple of times, but feel it is worth it because the original workmanship was superior to what I could buy new today. So that's something to consider as well.

      Good luck with your decision!

      Delete
    2. Live and Learn, look around at estate sales. Our new hobby is going to estate sales and almost every one has good quality sewing machines and all kinds of sewing supplies! My son wanted a Kitchen Aid Mixer and we found a wonderful one at an estate sale. I have found so many things.

      Lili, new pajamas sound wonderful. I might try my hand at making some and the pattern you have looks like my style as well!

      Delete
    3. Hi Alice,
      It's a very easy pattern (It's McCall's 2476). But I think any elastic waist pj pant pattern would be equally similar. I'm looking forward to new pjs.

      Delete
  2. I haven't done enough research to know about the quality of the new machines. I talked with a repair person today and the repairs will probably be more than a new machine. Still have to figure things out. I have never really gotten back into sewing like I intend to some day, but a working sewing machine is a handy thing and I am missing it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, that's a bummer on the cost of repairs.
      Good luck!

      Delete
  3. Great choice with the fabric. Pajama pants should be an easy project and won't you be cozy with new ones this winter?

    We bought our daughter a new sewing machine for her birthday a year ago. She had been using my mom's from the 1970s but it was super quirky to work with and it seemed like it needed a minor repair every time she used it. And we had taken it to be professionally fixed twice. She absolutely loves her machine and doesn't need my help at all anymore, hallelujah.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Kris,
      that's another good consideration -- the frustration of dealing with an ailing sewing machine. I know I regularly trouble-shoot for my daughters with my aging machine. Thanks for the input.

      Delete
  4. I have my grandma's sewing machine from the 1970's and it still works great. My mom made almost everything we wore and I remember my dad buying her some beautiful red fabric to make a housecoat (as we called them back then) for Christmas.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Nana,
      I bet you treasure your grandma's machine. What a wonderful memory to have of your mom and dad and Christmas!

      Delete
  5. When my father passed away in the 70's I received a bit of insurance money. With that I purchased a bernina and I have used it ever since. I sew in spurts now, but I used to make so many things for my children. I have loved that machine - they just don't make them like they used to. Good luck with your decision.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Ruthie,
      that was a smart use of your inheritance, I think. I agree, sewing machines, like washing machines, used to be made so much better, back in the day. I'm glad you still have yours.

      Delete
  6. Great minds think alike. I purchased a pattern for bottoms and fleece fabric ( separate times);at my favourite thrift shop. I have elastic but noticed that the elastic off my husbands old brand name boxer shorts is in fantastic condition as opposed to the cloth that was cut off. I think I’m going to experiment and see what I come up with. I purchased a singer when my first child was born and it was one of the last all metal ones . I have my mother’s singer machine in a beautiful wood cabinet. I’m getting the cabinet refinished( accidents from plants on top) and machine serviced and moving it to the lake. I learnt to sew on that machine and it will be nice in this season of my life to come back to sewing, creating on it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Teresa,
      You just put a smile on my face. I used to save the elastic off of different family members undies to reuse in pj bottoms and fabric-covered headbands. Hey, if it works, it works. And it saves some money and delays tossing something into a landfill.
      That is so nice that you have both a great, all-metal machine as well as your mother's one in a cabinet. My sister has our mother's old machine. It also was in a nice cabinet. Good luck with your next sewing project.

      Delete

Thank you for joining the discussion today. Here at creative savv, we strive to maintain a respectful community centered around frugal living. Creative savv would like to continue to be a welcoming and safe place for discussion, and as such reserves the right to remove comments that are inappropriate for the conversation.

FOLLOW CREATIVE SAVV ON BLOGLOVIN'

Follow
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Be a voice that helps someone else on their frugal living journey

Are you interested in writing for creative savv?
What's your frugal story?

Do you have a favorite frugal recipe, special insight, DIY project, or tips that could make frugal living more do-able for someone else?

Creative savv is seeking new voices.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

share this post