Once upon a time, Arden let me dress her in whatever I wanted—vintage sundresses, corduroy smocks, flowered leggings, calico skirts—but she doesn't seem to remember that time in her life. She can't believe she used to wear that stuff and she'd think I was lying if I didn't have the pictures to prove it. Somewhere along the line, jeans, t-shirts, and Chuck Taylor's became her uniform of choice. Somewhere else along the line, she decided that fitted pajamas were completely babyish and there was no way she was going to wear them out in public again. Normally, one wouldn't have to wear his or her pajamas out in public but as part of Book Fair Week at school, tonight is Pajama Night. The kids and grown-ups come to school after dark, dressed in their pj's, listen to stories, and have cookies and milk. It's very cute.
Last year at Pajama Night, Arden told me that she was done with fitted pj pants. She wanted loose-fitting ones like mine and since I couldn't find any in her size that weren't treated with fire retardant, I thought I would make her some. She requested something in blue and gray, and she wanted nothing frilly or old-fashioned. Conveniently, I was able to use the pattern pieces from Perry's Halloween costume from last year. (Yes, the pieces are in a size 7. Yes, she is going to be 12 next month and, yes, I added 6-1/2 inches to the hem. What can I say, she has legs like twigs and, no, she doesn't get it from my side of the family.)
I didn't add the pocket the pattern called for and opted instead to make some heart-shaped patches for the knees (and she let me use calico!). I just zigzagged the edges with red thread and she liked them. (She really liked them!)
(And, yes, her shoes are actually day-glo pink.)
I was going to make a pair of pj pants for Perry, too, but when I showed him the fabric I picked out for him, he held up his hand and said, NO WAY! That's girl fabric!
I don't think it looks like girl fabric, do you think it looks like girl fabric?
In any case, when he saw Arden's pj pants, he couldn't believe I didn't make some for him, too:
I want a pair! I love the fabric you got for me! I need them for Pajama Night, Mom!
PJ Night is tonight, in a few short hours, after I'm done volunteering in the classroom and in the library, and after I go the grocery store and make dinner.
Oy vey, kid.
