Drafting a Nightgown Pattern

 

Before I completely gave a long thrifted, too big, paint stained, and threadbare nightgown over to being my official messy painting smock; I decided to cut it apart and take the pattern from it. Not only did I need to replace the downgrade, but this drafting exercise has become an invaluable lesson in flattering fittings and comfortable alterations.

Let us go back to Summer 2023, when I actually filmed several hours of footage documenting this process – from seam ripping the sleeveless source and tracing out the front, back, and two side pieces on scrap paper to the wearable mock up made from navy sheets and ultimately a nicer black satin nightgown. I was gravely ill and ended up having surgery, which expedited the need for these new post recovery nightgowns. Unfortunately, my poor health really shows in these videos from the time. It was a therapeutic process to focus on useful, necessary garments one stitch at a time, occupying my mind from all the bad things that happened that year. However the footage is too gaunt and depressing to share. It would also be a lot of editing, and now I much prefer single shot, chatty videos and Fun Hauls. My main takeaway from this footage is that the faded navy sheet attempt was for comfort when I felt bad, and the smexy black satin was for when I wanted to feel good. Fortunately, this worthwhile venture has lead to more lounge wear and hopefully nicer dresses in the future. I've posted on Blue Sky about the subsequent, long gestating brown dress and matching housecoat set also derived from this pattern. Alas, I will soon address how that shamefully sat on my dress form these past two years once I finally complete it presently. Hems!!! 🤦🏻‍♀️💪🏻

So far I have four different garments from this relatively simple pattern thanks to the princess seams in front and back. Along with the two side pieces, a variety of changes can be made for a loose or flattering fit as desired. I knew the original nightgown cut apart and sewn back together again to be the paint smock was already too big, so the mismatched navy sheets mock up could carry that largeness for post-surgery comfort and I didn't care if it got ripped or dirty. Here I pleated the side seam under the arms for a baggy, ye olde pinafore kind of ease. I'm not sure now why I used the leftover discolored sheets to make a ruffled hem at the bottom, as the ruffle is a gathered heavy that makes the nightgown hang somewhat rather than drape naturally. Indeed, hems have inexplicably been a constant problem with these projects – needing to redo the lining hem on the brown dress is what frustrated me into stopping back in 2023. The black satin poly nightgown went quickly despite changes to take in the side seams, shorten the shoulder, and make a V neckline with a small pinch pleat. This created a more fitted front with the larger ease in the back. I don't like the high-low dresses fad because they always seem mis-cut to me, and this nightgown suffers from a similar problem! It looks like the front hem is over inch or so higher than the back hem that touches the floor when there shouldn't be that much difference. My husband tries to tell me it doesn't matter, but I can't look at the nightgown or wear it without noticing, so actually, I don't end up wearing it as much.

As yet I'm in media res on perfecting this pattern with the brown housecoat set, and I intend to put some of the orange material from my recent Joann Hauls to good use here. Instead of costumes or crafty things, this is the practical sewing that my father always wondered why I didn't usually do. I needed garments. I made them. They are not de facto but useful nonetheless. This is a pattern copy that I know needs adjustments and customization every time, and it's okay to continually hone this basic princess seam design. Certainly, this may seem simplistic or too basic to advance sewers. However working from a throwaway garment with practice materials toward a preferred block pattern is a great place to start for beginners. Who needs the fear of a confusing commercial pattern and cutting an expensive fabric too small?! Although I turned my last threadbare dress into a Tie Dye Pillow, the cumulative practice here inspires me to take more patterns from my other nicer dresses also nearing the end of their usefulness.

Follow more sewing adventures on Blue Sky or visit Facebook and Instagram for more project photos. Browse our Kbatz Krafts Archive or read more:

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