Pajama/Lounge Pants
Christmas is huge in my family. Not only do we have time-honored traditions like decorating the tree and baking yummy cookies, but we also have the lesser-known embarrassing traditions that include my mother making my sister and I matching pajamas. Fortunately, we have put to bed this particular tradition, but this year I thought I would bring it back with a few renegade edits.
Necessary Materials:
2-3 yards of fabric – I used 3 yards of flannel fabric
Spool of coordinating thread
Cutting tool – I used a rotary cutter
Cutting edge/clear ruler
Favorite pajama/lounge pants for sizing
Sewing pins
½ in. elastic band
sewing machine
1. Fold fabric in half length wise, and lay on table
2. Lay a pair of your existing pajama pants on top of fabric for sizing.
3. Place cutting edge approximately 1 inch from the edge of the pajama pants and use the rotary cutter to cut fabric. You will not be able to use the cutting
edge on the curved are so you will need to be mindful when cutting this area.
4. After cutting the flannel the cut piece should look like this, but you should have a total of 4 identical fabric pieces.
5. Select two pieces and place the “right side” of the pieces together. This should look like you have folded your pants inside out.
6. Then pin the curved area at the top together as seen in this photo. Please note how I have placed the enlarged area of the pin to the right so when you are sewing the pins are easily removable. If you are left-handed you may want to switch the orientation of the pin.
Repeat steps 5 and six for the remaining two pieces.
It is at this point that I am thrilled to introduce you to my brother. No, not an actual brother my sewing machine
7. Place the pinned piece on the sewing machine. Use a straight stitch and a short stitch length to sew the curved area.
Congratulations! You have completed half of your pajama pants.
At this point in the project your pants should look like this.
8. Repeat step 7 on the other side of your pants
After completing step 8 you will have the front and back of your pajama pants.
Now place the two pieces of fabric together “print side” facing each other.
9. Pin the inner and outer side of both pant legs.
10. Ok, enough pinning for now. Use your sewing machine to sew the pinned side of the pants using a half-inch seam allowance making sure to not sew either the bottom of the pant legs of the top of the pants where the waistband will be placed.
11. Great job! You have completed the biggest part of this project. Now, turn the pants “right side out”
12. Fold the bottom of each pant leg inward, and press.
13. After you have pressed the hem of the bottom of each pant leg stitch the bottom of each leg
14. Measure the necessary length of elastic, and sew the ends together.
15. Now fold the top of the waistband inward in the same way that you did with the pant legs, and press.
16. Place the elastic between the two layers of fabric where you have folded it inward.
17. Last step – Stitch the elastic into the pant by sewing along the bottom edge of the waistband. Meaning if you were wearing the pants the stitch is holding the elastic in.
Congratulations! You have completed your awesome new pajama/lounge pants. Enjoy your less embarrassing holiday wear.
A few notes:
These are not intended as children’s pajama pants, as children’s sleepwear must be fire resistant, and tight fitting to the body in the event of a fire.
