Sewing Tutorial: Amy Pajama Top

The Amy Pajama Tee is a cute basic summer tee that can be both sleepwear and everyday wear. It has a basic round neck finished with an internal bind (or facing you if prefer) . The sleeve is a basic set in sleeve with a 3cm turned cuff. The fit is loose and relaxed so there is no need for any zips or buttons.

Also don’t be afraid to ask questions in the comments below if you need. I’m here to help. So let’s get started.

To begin you will need the following things

Materials

• Amy Pajama Top paper pattern
• 1-1.2m fabric
• cotton thread

Tools

• scissors
• pins
• sewing machine
• overlocker
• iron

Tips

• Ensure your fabric is washed, dried, and pressed before you start cutting. For instance, there is nothing worse than washing your beautiful garment and it shrinks, or even more annoying the lining shrinks and the main doesn’t so your garment is all pulled out of shape and is unwearable.

Step 1 

Cut all main and lining pieces accurately on the correct grain, ensuring all notches are clipped and dart points marked or pinned.

Beginner tip* If you can afford to purchase a rotary cutter and cutting mat, I find this more accurate and time-efficient. 

Step 2 

Sew bust darts on front bodice and press downwards.

Beginner tip* If needed you can draw the dart lines onto the fabric with dressmaker’s chalk to ensure you sew a neat straight dart.

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Step 3

Pin and sew side seams and then shoulder seams of front and back bodice together. Overlock closed and press back.

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Step 4 

Pin and sew inseams of sleeves together. Overlock closed and press back.

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Step 5

Overlock hem of bodice, fold up and stitch, Then press and set aside.

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Step 6 

Overlock sleeve hems, fold hem up internally 4.5cm and press. Stitch flat 4cm from folded edge. Then fold the sleeve upwards 3cm on the outside to create the sleeve cuff. Press well and stitch in the ditch of the inseam to hold the cuff in place.

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Step 7 

Next run an easing stitch along the top of both sleeves between the front and back notches.

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Step 8 

Pin the sleeve into each armhole ensuring the front and back notches match, as well as the inseams and the shoulder seam and sleeve head notch. Then gather the sleeve shoulder head to fit. Sew closed and overlock. Press seam allowance towards sleeve.

The below steps are to finish the neck edge with an internal bias bind

Step 9 

Sew a stay stitch 8mm front the neck edge along the front and back. This will help stop your neck from stretching when the bind is attached.

Step 10

Sew the ends of the bind together, press open and clip excess fabric. Then press into thirds.

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Step 11

Pin the bind to the outside edge of the neck ensuring it fits evenly around the neckline. Stitch together using an 10mm seam allowance. Then clip into the seam allowance every 1-1.5cm.

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Step 12

Understitch the seam allowance to the bind.

Step 13

Fold the bind over the seam allowance towards the inside of the garment so that the seam allowance is incased in the binding. Then fold again that so the neckline edge is on the stitchline.

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Step 14

From the inside of the garment, stitch the binding down 1-2mm from the edge.

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Give your garment a final press and steam and you are now complete. Please feel free to contact me if you need any extra help.

If matching PJs are your thing you can also make the Amy Pj Shorts, or this Summer Sleepwear Set is also really cute.

x x