Fun with vintage sheets, part one

Last week, my aunt gave me a pile of old sheets that once belonged to my grandparents. I was pleasantly surprised to see so many designs that I recognized from the vintage sheet swaps I’ve hosted in the past. There were only two sheets in the pile that I don’t intend to use at all, and the others had me seeing visions of Summer tops, sheath dresses, and pajama pants.

As far as I’m concerned, the worst part of sewing is cutting out the pattern pieces from the fabric. I might feel different, if I had a proper studio with a huge cutting table, and plenty of room to spread out, but I don’t. I mostly sit on the floor to cut out my fabric, and that is so less-than-comfortable.

I decided to just get all of the cutting out of the way first, and so I decided which sheets would become which patterns, and spent Friday morning sitting on the floor, cutting stuff out.

(BTW, I discovered a yoga mat is really helpful for making a wooden floor more comfy.)

I’ve stitched up three of the seven things since then. Would you like to see them?

Wide-Leg Lounge Pants

This is my go-to pattern for pajama bottoms. I like them because they fit fairly snugly up top (aka no saggy bottom), but have a luxurious drape down the length of the leg.

I chose to use the decorative border at the top of the sheet for my pants’ cuffs, which would have been great if not for one thing:

They’re really too long on me. There’s no simple way to fix that.

I will probably just wear them this way. It’s not like I have to go out in public anywhere in them!

Pattern: Wide-Leg Lounge Pants from In Stitches by Amy Butler
I’ve made these before: See here.

Sorbetto Tank

I’m pretending it’s summer with this one. Just pretend I am wearing shorts and flip-flops here…

Ok, maybe it’s a little premature for summer, but this top works pretty well with jeans and a sweater while we wait!

Sorbetto usually has a pleat down the middle, but I already have three like that, and I think I like it better without. And hey, easier to sew!

Pattern: Sorbetto from Colette Patterns (it’s a freebie!)
I’ve made this one before, too. See these.

Simplicity 3835

Raise you hand if you knew this was coming. I guess this pattern is pretty much my uniform now. I can’t help it, though – I can practically make them in my sleep, and they’re so easy to wear. I can wear one on its own, with a long-sleeved tissue tee under it, with a handknit sweater over it, or with a fine-gauge cotton sweater…

Despite seeming a bit springy or summery, I wear these shirts year round.

Pattern: Simplicity 3835 (sadly, now out of print)
You know I’ve made this one before: see here.

What’s left

I still have two Sorbettos cut out, as well as a pair of lounge pants and a Barefoot Summer Sheath, as I like to call it (it’s this one I made last May).

I’ve promised myself I am not going to let the sewing stuff clutter up my bedroom. I am putting it all away this weekend, whether I’m finished or not.

The question is, am I finished? Or do I have another few hours of sewing in me this weekend?