Pajama pants are probably the easiest piece of clothing that you can make.
I've been sewing pajama pants for about 14 years now and want to share with you my easy tutorial on how to make them. I promise you, even if you aren't a seamstress you can make these!
All you need to be able to do is to sew a straight line.
I'm even going to promise that you can make these pajama pants in 30 minutes or less or your money back.
What's that?
You didn't pay any money.
Oh, yes, that is the beauty of a free tutorial is it not?!
I promise you, barring any major flubs and time spent with your seam ripper, these pants can be made from start to finish in 30 minutes.
Ready to get started?
Here is what you will need for a child sized pant up to a size 10:
{if you want to make them larger or smaller, you will need more or less fabric. Genius right?!}
7/8 yard for the pant
1/8 yard contrasting fabric for cuff
elastic for the waistband
thread
I started by getting a pair of pajama pants from my daughter's drawer that I know fit her well.
These owl pants are a size 10.
These will act as your pattern.
Fold them in half making sure you line up the edges, particularly the crotch line.
Take your pre-washed fabric and fold the two edges towards the middle.
You will end up with two folds on both sides.
Lay your pattern pants on top of your folded fabric
with the straight edge on the fold line and the crotch towards the middle {non folded} edge.
Cut around your pants pattern allowing about 1/2 inch seam allowance all the way around.
I like to make a cuff with my pants because then I don't have to hem my pants.
I think it looks nicer and actually takes about the same amount of time as hemming your pants.
Keep this in mind when you are cutting your pants.
I wanted my pajama pants slightly longer than my pattern pants, so I cut them about the same length.
If you want them the same size as your pattern, cut them about two inches shorter than your pattern pants.
Flip your pattern pant over and cut another pants leg in the same way that you did before.
Use your fold for the straight leg side and the open middle for your crotch.
Your pants legs are cut out!
Next, we will cut out your cuff trim.
Take your pre-washed trim fabric and lay it out next to your cut pants legs.
Fold the cuff fabric in half {wrong sides together}
and then fold it in half again lining it up with the pants leg.
See the fold at the bottom and the fold on the far left side?
Cut your cuff.
Cut the cuff on the other side just as you did the first cuff.
You should have these four pattern pieces cut out and ready to sew:
2 pants legs
2 cuffs
We are ready to sew!
Open up your pants leg {right side up} and line it up with the raw edge of your folded in half cuff.
If you look at the picture below the fold of the cuff is facing the top wider part of your pants, and the raw cut edge of your cuff is at the bottom of your pants.
Pin them in place.
With a 1/2" seam allowance sew the cuff to the bottom of your pants leg.
Repeat for the other pants leg.
Flip the cuff fabric back and iron your cuff down at the seam.
While your iron is hot,
fold your pants leg right side together and iron the crease.
You are now ready to make the first stitch on your pants legs.
Starting at the crotch, sew down to the bottom of the pants leg.
You should have left the top part of the curve in your pants un-sewn.
This is where we get tricky!
Open up one of the legs of your pants leg.
One will be right sides together, the other will be wrong sides together.
Slip the pants leg that has the wrong side together inside the pants leg that has the right sides together.
Put them in, bottom of the pants leg first.
See the picture below.
Once your pants leg is inside the other pants leg,
line up your curve.
Crazy right?!
You should have right sides together.
Pin the curve and sew.
Make sure you only sew the curve and that you don't sew the back together!
{sorry for the blurry pic}
Once you sew the curve, pull your pants leg out and your pants will look like this.
All sewn together!
It's like magic.
The final step is sewing the waistband on your pants.
Fold the top down about an inch and a half.
Iron flat
Sew with a 1/4" seam allowance leaving a two inch hold so that you can thread your elastic.
Cut your elastic and thread it through your waistband.
Sew the ends of your elastic and then sew your opening in the waistband closed.
That's it!
You should have your completed pajama pants!
And in under 30 minutes!
Promise this tutorial is easy.
My 11 year old daughter made her very own pajama pants following it.
Pretty sweet right?
The perfect project for someone learning how to sew!
No comments