Pretty Sleepy Thing: The Avocado Lola Nightie

Last year, the amazing Sewing Princess picked me a lucky winner of a green knit fabric.

It arrived all the way from Rome. It's fabulous quality, soft and easy to work with. She calls it "acid green" I called it avocado. The inside of a nearly overripe avocado.

It's a beautiful color, but it doesn't suit the yellow undertones in my skin. If I was more pink-toned this color would give me a soft-sweetness. If I was darker, skin like mahogany, the color would evoke a sort of tropicalness, a meet-me-in-Miami chic.

I'd originally planned to make a sundress out of it—waiting for a tan that would flatter the avocado color. But alas, in the gloomy Bay Area, the knit just sat there. But finally, inspiration met matter: It would become a pretty sleepy thing, where comfort and quality of fabric trumps color (I think). The irony is: I'll probably wear it more often.

Dress crumpled and face sleepy: Morning!

(Wish I had better photos, but our tripod is out on loan!) 

I took the Victory Patterns Lola because 1) I love the way the dress feels on me, all those princess seams! and 2) the banded hem might solve my nightie problems -- waking up nearly naked because the whole thing has shimmied to my armpits.

Here's what I did:

• left off the sleeves and pockets and adapted the bodice using a yoga tank pattern I've had in my arsenal for a decade (New Look 6265)
• cut the bodice pieces twice, using one as a facing. 
• sewed the bodice/facing combo to the skirt in a single piece
• widened the hemband by 2 1/4 inches on the fold and lengthened it by an inch
• Took in the bodice seams -- from 1/4 to 1/2 inch

Final thoughts:

• The adapted bodice was too wide, hence a pleat in the middle. Not perfect but it's okay.
• The hem band doesn't really stop it from shimmying up -- but I generally like the look and might use the wider band on future Lolas
• Love sleeping and lounging in knits!
• The spaghetti straps + skirt make it so easy to layer with sweaters and socks

With our continuing crappy weather, I've been wearing this lots around the house and to bed. It feels like a real luxury to like what I'm wearing rather than being grateful that the outside world can't see me drowning in oversized sweats and holey t-shirts.

In other news, exhaustion's set in a bit. Work deadlines and volunteer deadlines and weekend trips and decluttering like a madwoman. I'm finishing up the world's ugliest, most unwearable sweater after three months of labor.  If I had my way, I'd lay around and read all day in my nightie.

Wishing you all lots of lounging! :) x