Dress of the Day 201. Pyjamas upcycled into a skirt suit. Sorella - silky.
Angela Lansbury wearing pyjamas, with pyjama bottoms slit to make a skirt. Photo by Trevor Sharot.
Why convert trousers into a skirt?
I didn't want trousers. In hot weather I like to feel free in a skirt. I hesitated. Would I wear the garment? I told myself, Go on, wear it.
My internal dialogue went like this:
No. I am not interested.
In that case, it is just taking up space. You have nothing to lose. You might as well cut the bottom half.
If it goes wrong, I still have lots of fabric Or could sew it back together.
The decision was made.
How To Cut?
I took the trousers and a pair of pinking shears. The material was catching. I used ordinary sharp large scissor, holding the join of the fabric very carefully a short distance from the blade.
I slit the trousers from the ankles to the crotch. Where to cut the hem?
I had previously realised that if you have a large hem it is worthwhile separating the two sides by unravelling the sewing along the join to gain a centimeter or more of extra fabric. Sometimes you gain as much as an inch on both sides.
However, if you have only two edges bound together, with a parallel running stitch along the side to reinforce, it is quicker just to cut. If you cut carefully, you can retain one bound edge using the original join. The other side can be sewn. Or concealed at the back. So decide which already bound edge you want pointing forwards.
The Waistband
If the waistband has lost its elastic, you might create a drawstring, threading it through. four or more upright slits. Or make a top hem wide enough for the ribbon which can thread inside and tie at the front or side.
If the elastic is too tight for your waist, you can cut it off to make a narrow hairband. Or a collar..
The Top Half Of the Trousers - now a skirt
The result is you retain the elasticated waistband, and the seaming down to the hips on the outside, a complete circle like a miniskirt with two large extra oblongs of fabric hanging down.
I originally thought of leaving the slits up the middle front and back so the waist was where the slit was when the garment was trousers. However, I accidentally put the skirt on with the slits down the sides. This worked well.
The pointy parts of the fabric, where the crotch was, are now on the side. You could cut them off. If the fabric is badly stained or torn, cut it off.
If the garment is hardly worn, or never worn, you can leave it as it is, as a feature. Or turn it inside and seam it up nearly.
Or turn the projections into tiny pockets, maybe bits of fabric added.
In the first picture, the top shirt was left as it was. This is the old-fashioned double breasted shirt look. I did not like the loose look. That may be comfortable in bed. but during the daytime, when I could be seen, I wanted to show my waist.
I knotted the front lower corners below the lowest button, twice.
Now for the collar. I hated the double breasted look.
However, this version shows the red underneath at the neckline which is a good contrast. I do like to see red.
I brought the collar up, as you see in the second version. It needs a hook and eye to keep it closed, otherwise it flops open.
Angela Lansbury wearing pyjama top knotted, with the collar meeting under the neck. Photo by Trevor Sharot.
See update Sept 10th 2022. Night Dress 496.
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About the Author
Angela Lansbury teacher of English (advanced and English as a Second Language or English as a Foreign Language, French and other languages, aspiring polyglot.
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. Member of many toastmasters speaker training clubs and speaking contest judge.
Angela Lansbury, the author of 20 books, including Wedding Speeches & Toasts, and Quick Quotations, has lived in the USA, Spain and Singapore.
She has several blogs and writes daily on at least two of the following:
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