Friday 3 July 2020

Short Changed

I keep two pairs of pjs at Cornerstones - a pink winter set - tee shirt and trousers, and a navy summer set -tee shirt and shorts. They are both really old - and when I got them I was a little lighter than I am now. Lockdown has left me 'broader in the beam' than I used to be. I was wearing the shorts the first week I was here - but found they were no longer easy to wear, they felt too short in the body. So then I switched to the winter trousers.  Same problem - I was wriggling about in bed tugging at them, trying to get comfy.
I have perfectly good nightwear in Dorset which fits. I refuse to buy anything new. "Borrow my trousers" said Bob in his usual generous way. But that would be a major trip hazard if I had a nocturnal trip to the loo. 
But reading Claire's blog here and here where she turned an old pair of linen trousers and two pairs of jeans into a top and a playsuit I felt inspired. She's a professional - and I couldn't begin to emulate her skill. But I just wanted a comfortable pair of shorts to sleep in, and I like her approach to recycling old gear into new stuff.
I took the old ones, and used them to draft a pattern in newspaper, adding extra cm where necessary. Then I carefully took the pink trousers apart, retaining the side seams. The legs were very flared. Maybe the hideous style and the bright colour was why IKEA only wanted £5 for them!
Being lazy, I cut off the waistband, so I could reuse it, unaltered [my waist is no bigger even if my thighs and bum are] And I cut off the back patch pocket and fixed with a zigzag stitch. I need somewhere for my hanky!
Ta-da! slightly more generous, considerably more comfortable. They wouldn't pass muster for the GBSB, or for wearing in public - but they'll be fine for wearing when I'm preparing breakfast or sitting in the evening watching TV in the hotter weather.
And before anyone asks - no, the remaining gazebo wall is totally unsuitable for fashioning into nightwear. 
Have you altered anything during lockdown, to make it into something fresh? 

3 comments:

  1. Oh go on! Try using the gazebo!

    Actually those PJs look really good.

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    Replies
    1. It would be like sleeping in fisherman's waders I think! The pjs have proved surprisingly comfortable

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  2. You did well with your alterations! No, I haven't altered anything during lockdown. There were some skirts that were given to me, by one of my aunts, that I thought of altering, but, instead, I put them all in the donations pile!

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