PAJAMA DOG! - Sewing a Vintage Pattern for a Stuffed Dog with a Secret
I know everyone is sick of “a year ago today” posts, but: A year ago today, I posted this dog I sewed on Instagram. But I never posted here on my blog, so he hasn’t been properly celebrated! It’s time for me to remedy that. Before we go any further, let me introduce you. His name is Pajama.
A couple summers ago, Jason and I spent a week on San Juan Island, off the coast of Washington state, with his family. We were delighted to see a little antiques store in town, so popped in one day before meeting up with everyone for lunch. I found the nook with sewing notions, had a flip through the handful of patterns, and decided to purchase this one. Even if I never sewed it, look at that cover! So charming!
Later, when I unfurled the pattern tissue, it became clear that the previous owner had sewn this dog multiple times - the pattern was pretty well worn, with tears repaired by old tape that had long since gone brittle and lost any stickiness. When I see a vintage pattern in my collection has been used, and I have to imagine, loved, I must make it.
The Basket of Doom. (Leopard fabric is only there because I didn’t have anywhere else to store it. It is NOT doomed!)
I have no memory of this decision making process, but I still get how it happened. When I sewed my ultraviolet wool boucle Burda jacket, I saved all my scraps - I didn’t have much, but the fabric was expensive, and the color is spectacular! At some point, I felt motivated to sew the dog pattern, so I took it out, cut the pieces….and then…. I don’t know! I likely got distracted by shiny objects. It is not like me to abandon a project once it’s been cut, but when it happens, those projects are relegated to the Basket of Doom, where this purple baby sat on top, waiting.
And because NYC was on PAUSE orders (staying home was recommended, only essential businesses open), I figured, alright, time to go through this dumb basket.
How I was ever able to abandon this project is beyond me, because LOOK AT HIM! Even just the cut pattern pieces have so much character! Since the main fabric was fancy wool, I wanted to use silk scraps to line his luxurious ears, and for his sweet little nose.
I initially made his lining - inside his zippered stomach compartment - out of silk, as well. But I ended up sewing something wrong and the silk unravelled during seam ripping. So his belly is lined in a sturdy poly satin - probably best for holding up to the zipper in the long run.
Here is that first attempt at the interior belly lining (and a peek at the wonderful instructions) - it creates a large compartment, bigger than I expected!! You are meant to stuff the dog (between the lining and its body) with only a small amount of stuffing, because the body will be filled out when you put your pajamas in the compartment! Too much stuffing, and your PJs won’t fit. I over stuffed him a little, prioritizing form over function.
The drama! Lol he cracks me up. (You can click photos to enlarge.) He’s got silk lined ears, and there you can see the poly lining in his belly, which closes with a zipper. I put a Buried Diamond tag inside, which gives a very professional finish. Overall, he looks exactly like the illustrations on the pattern envelope.
For eyes, I used heart shaped rhinestone buttons from my stash, that I was saving for a stuffed cat that I still haven’t made. I’m so glad I used them here. His nose is more of that silk - great use for the smallest scraps! And I was buying detergent at the 99¢ store when I saw the blue cat collar with a bell. How could I resist? It’s a perfect fit.
People are always surprised by his size. Pajama is a big boy. He’s here to hold your pajamas! I’d say this pattern makes a dog that is roughly the size of a living, breathing dachshund. There is also a poodle variation in the envelope, but you’ll need yarn for that one (I now feel prepared to tackle that version).
And as for holding pajamas. Let me remind you, I knowingly overstuffed him a bit. Still, he can easily hold a slip or a silky set, a nightshirt is no problem. Children’s pajamas would fit easily. If you are an adult and wish to put proper long PJs in there, leave out all but a handful of stuffing, and I think you’d be good to go. You can also eliminate the zipper compartment all together (why tho?), or hide whatever tickles your fancy inside.
Please, please let me know if you sew one. You will laugh you way through the process of stuffing the tail, sewing on the eyes, giving him a hug. I totally get why the previous pattern owner sewed this enough times to batter the tissue! I’m looking forward to sewing the pattern again, too. XO, Martha