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There's nothing like a new pair of pj pants

For my first sewing project (to get me back into the swing of making clothing AND re-establish my confidence in this whole process), I decided to make something that would be very forgiving and useful that I could screw up on and no one would ever care...pajama pants. My old ones are shredded from being so worn, and new ones are hard to find for some odd reason. So when I was at Hancock Fabric late one evening, I picked up this pattern:

 
 
It is a basic and very inexpensive pattern. And, the pants turned out to be a lot of fun to make! For the fabric, I used a ridiculously soft 100% cotton plaid that I fell in love with and wanted to wrap myself in (also from Hancock Fabric). This picture doesn't do the finished product justice, but how much shape does  pair of pajama pants really have anyway?

 
I adjusted the length of the pants before cutting the pieces out. Another adjustment that I will make on future pants from this pattern is in the waistband. The first step is to add button holes 1" down from the top of both front panels. The waist is finished by sewing a drawstring to each end of a piece of elastic, which then gets fed through the waistband channel so that the elastic runs along the back of the waist and the drawstrings run through the front of the waist and out through each button hole. First, if I use this method, I will move the button holes down about 1/2" to accommodate for seam allowance (as it is, the button holes on these pants ended up facing up, right along the finished top of the waistband). More likely, though, I will skip the button holes all together and just use elastic throughout the entire waist, which is what I ultimately did with these. I find it to be quicker and easier. 

 
I took the opportunity with these pants to try several different finishing techniques as well. I do not own a Serger so I can't make the fancy finishing edges that I so envy. For my side and middle seams, I used a flat felled seam finish, which is so awesome that I am using it on practically everything now! Around the pocket edges, I used a zigzag stitch to keep the edges from fraying and creating great masses of wadded fibers when they're washed (which I find so very annoying).
 
These pj pants are so comfy that I want to lounge in them all weekend! I already have fabric set aside for two more pairs, which I will make as soon as I finish my current project (more to come on that later on).

Comments

  1. SusanOctober 12, 2013 at 9:33 PM

    Thanks for the pattern idea. I now have another direction for the Christmas pajama tradition. One that I am likely to enjoy far more than searching the stores as I do each year.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. BundleOfLimeOctober 16, 2013 at 8:40 AM

      Glad I could inspire you! The most fun about it is the endless options in fabric, so you can make them basic solid, plaid, themed, or even goofy. I have some Edward Gorey fabric that is going to be made into another pair of these sometime soon. Can't wait!

      Delete
  2. BundleOfLimeOctober 16, 2013 at 8:39 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Marilynn KirkpatrickNovember 25, 2013 at 8:12 AM

    So, Miss Alicia is becoming domestic!! Totally understand why you fell in love with the fabric. Can't feel it, but it looks beautiful.

    ReplyDelete

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