Hi Reader,

I couldn’t understand why I couldn’t find anything.

I’d been digging for children’s clothes patterns from the 1940s—surely they existed?

But the search kept coming up short.

Then it clicked.

Of course.

During WWII, fashion barely shifted. Rationing, shortages, and utility over novelty meant styles held steady—and innovation was more about clever mending than creating something new.

That led me to a slim book from the library—Make Do and Mend, a reprint of wartime government leaflets.

Its spine was barely cracked.

It had clearly lived a quiet life.

But inside?

A calm, practical revolution: how to patch, reshape, reline, reuse.

Not flashy.

Just enough.

It reminded me that sometimes the best design comes from working within limits.

Which, surprisingly enough, brought me to pyjamas.

This summer, ’m teaching an in-person Pyjama Making class at Reading Sewing Bee, and it’s the perfect project to explore gentle, practical creativity.

Pyjamas are low-pressure, high-reward—and ideal for upcycling that beloved old sheet or giving that favourite fabric in your stash a purpose.

This isn’t just a sewing class. It’s slow fashion you can sleep in!

(The pattern is McCalls M8056 Bring your fabric—I’ll bring the know-how, and there'll be biscuits and tea/coffee.)

Sewing Tip of the Week 🧵 Need a neat seam finish without an overlocker? Try a folded edge finish. After sewing your seam, take the raw edge of one side of the seam allowance, fold it under once, press, and stitch it close to the fold. Repeat for the other side. It’s a simple, tidy way to prevent fraying—ideal for lighter fabrics or when zigzaging the edge distorts the edge.

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