Pajama Pants - not so tutorialish

I made some pajama pants for my daughter.  I didn't use a pattern this first go around.   I wanted to see if I could do it with just a pair of her old ones.  It really wasn't that difficult, however I can see how a pattern could help me in a few areas, namely with the waistband.   I just hate to buy a pattern for a size that is only going to last for a few months.   So I think I'll get one for me and then I can use the tips for the kids pants.  

So I tried to take good notes and pictures for a tutorial but I've lost my notes.   So these comments are just for my sake and from my memory.   Plus I'm blogging at 4am on my due date so there is no telling what I might say!

I got the fleece from Joanns but I think I got the thickest fleece there was.  Should have thought about that.   So she can probably only wear these when its really cold.  But it was cheap and good for a first try.

 

Laying out the pants to make a front and back.   Of course the front of the leg should be thinner and shorter in the curve of the waist than the back which goes across your bottom.  When you draw your pattern make sure to leave plenty for an inseam on the sides, go high enough to have a fold over waist band, and long enough for any additional length you want, plus hem.  I always make my pants longer because I love having that problem. 

 

Cut out the pieces and sew the fronts together and the backs together down the middle.

 

tada!

 

Lay the front on the back, right sides together.  Start in the crotch and pin down.  Remember, its the crotch you want to meet.   The back legs will be wider than the front and your waists wont be the same height either.   So start at the crotch so you don't end up with a hole or wad of fabric in between your legs.

 Once you've sewn the pants together down the middle then sew the outside seams.   Next I laid out my example piece to measure out elastic.  I used 3/4 inch.  I'm guessing I did this right.  Since my example was relaxed I just measured out a relaxed piece of elastic.

 

Here is where I had trouble. I tried to sew the elastic down to the fabric, like most of my store bought pants seem to be.   However, what I read online says you have to stretch the fabric and the elastic to do this.   So I don't know if I did that right.  Plus it was the first time I used a stretch seam on my machine.   Lots of firsts!   Looking back I could have just laid my elastic around the inside of my waistband and sewn the fabric down around it, leaving the elastic loose.   Although this might not be the most professional way, it might be the easiest since I didn't have a pattern or the experience needed.  

However it turned out decently well and there is some stretch to it.   I just feel like I stretched out the material.   I also tried top stitching around the top of the pants but that probably wasn't a good idea.  One, you don't want stitches rubbing up against your belly, or belly hangover for that matter, and two, the fleece didn't take the top stitching that well because of the pile.  But oh well!

 

Because the fabric I chose was so booger monster green I added a little embellishment from some quilting fabric I had.   I didn't have to stabilize it or anything because the fleece was so thick although this might have helped it a little.  I tend to avoid extra (but helpful) steps like that.   (i.e. buying a pattern!)

 

I tried some decorative stitches on the hem.  I just rolled up the bottom a little and did a little overcaste seam which resulted in these little bumps.  I really liked this and so now, when its time for my daughter to wear them I can roll them up and don't have to worry about a changing hem.   Since her waist doesn't change as fast as her height this is helpful on a lot of her pants.  I bought big sizes last winter and just rolled up the pants and pinned the hem in place with thread.  Now this winter I'll let that hem down and she can still wear them.