Got it!

"Whom the gods wish to destroy, they first make mad." Euripides

Yep, I did it. I'm going to make pajamas for my mother-in-law. Hunter, navy & cream plaid flannel (What is it with me and plaid? Is there a plaid support group?) for the pants and cream knit for the top, with navy bias tape at the neck.

There was some doubt for a minute. As I was looking through the fabric with the very helpful Hancock's employee, I realized that the sale had ended yesterday. Yesterday! This is the third freaking time in a row that I've missed out on a sale by one day, and I'm starting to take it personally. Then the manager said, "Since your kids are being so patient (they really were good, although Lauren sang Jingle Bells at least 12 times in the checkout line), I can give it to you on sale, but don't tell anyone." OK, so now everyone here is in on the secret too, right? Right! Shhhhhh! I got the pattern, fabric, elastic, plus fleece & elastic for two pair of mittens for just over $20. Ha!

Every major project I've made has had some new hurdle, something for me to fret about. The first major project, Easter 2003, it was lined bodices and buttonholes. Easter 2004 was zippers and curved hems. Halloween 2004 it was panne velvet & lame, which I'd never worked with before. Now it's knit. The thing is, all those things that made me nervous about taking on in the past - the zippers, the lined bodices, the buttonholes, the slippery velvet fabric - all those things ended up being no big deal. They might take a little patience and careful pinning, but they are not hard at all. I'm hoping knit follows suit.

As for zipping through the current pajama pattern, Evil One, I love this pattern, Simplicity 8488. Five pieces. No lining. No collars. No zippers. No buttons. I didn't bother with the lace or the applique, and am going to put hooks & eyes instead of buttons & loops at the back of the neck. Since the fabric is iridescent, that's fancy enough for this. If I could work on them while the girls were awake, I could whip them out in a day each. I would happily make these pajamas forever, and wish I could afford to sew more.

I'm getting my Serger out this weekend and take her for a test drive. Wheeeeeee!