Before and After: 1950s Shortie Pyjamas Become Delightful Dance Costume!

This is a happy story to relate, in which a professional dance costume sewist (name: Helen) is asked to create a vintage pyjama costume for a dance contest. Happily for me, she turned to my shop on Etsy, Midvale Cottage,  and purchased this charming pattern, Advance 7803 from the mid-1950s.

The drama was in the shipping. She lives in the UK, I live in Seattle. It was New Year's Eve and she needed it ASAP but without costing more than she could charge for the finished product! Needless to say, she got it in time to sew it for her client. Hurray!

And here is the absolutely adorable costume that she sewed for her client. You can see that she sewed view 2. I love the choice of fabric, it is perfect for this vintage outfit. And the pom-pom trim makes it super-cute!

To see more photos of these pyjamas, her client's feedback, and more of her costumes for dance recitals and performances, visit her website: Dance Festival Costumes. Kudos to Helen on a wonderful result, and many thanks for sharing her pictures!

Say Hello to June and Summer with Children's Fashion from 1932

For the wee lads and lassies are these sunny styles:

 328: A trouser suit for a young lad, with trousers, collar, tie, and cuffs contrasting with a shirt with tucks.

2723: A frock for a young girl, with a pretty collar and flowing pleats.

325: With fun details, this charming frock includes shorts.

330: Designed for girls on the grow, these pajamas have sophisticated style.

2720: A jumper with pleats on the sides and a pretty lace-trimmed blouse.

304: For the 'tween, this frock has wonderful style - princess seams zig-zag past the hips and release into inverted pleats.

310: With a high waistline, drop shoulders with puff sleeves, and a graceful flared skirt - this is sophisticated style!

Scraps from the Past - Summer Pajamas in White Seersucker

The Pattern: Simplicity 4006 (1961)

These cute pajamas are 60s slim! I especially like the short summer length, with their "cabin boy" or "clam digger" length pants. It's inspiring sleepwear fashion!

 

The Scrap: Still attached to the pocket pattern piece, and tucked in the pattern envelope, was this fabric scrap. Although stained with age, this square bit of white seersucker is still soft and feels perfectly light and comfortable for summer.

I can picture it! :)

Scraps from the Past: Summer Jammies in Blue Seersucker

This adorable pattern for one-piece jammies from McCall and 1942 can be warm for winter or cool for summer. The original seamstress left a square of fabric that left no doubt she sewed up these pajamas for summer.

 

Here is the light-weight, soft seersucker in a bright blue that was left in the envelope. It's easy to picture, isn't it? And do you think it was for a boy? :)