Yesterday we talked about how to make a pattern for pajama pants based on your favorite pair. If you missed it, here’s the post. Today we’re going to sew pajama pants, which is much easier than making the pattern. I can whip up a pair of these in under an hour now.
If you’d prefer to make a pajama pants pattern from scratch (without a loved pair to start with) see how to do that here.
It’s time to cut out your fabric. For your first time using your pattern, you should probably use muslin or other fabric you aren’t attached to, in case there is an issue. And remember, use knit fabric if you copied knit pajamas, woven fabric if you copied woven pajamas.
You need to cut 2 fronts, 2 backs, 1 waistband and if you’re adding cuffs, have fabric left over for that (we’ll measure for those in a little bit). Make sure you have your fabric folded while you cut, so that you get a right and left front and a right and left back.
Start by sewing your front pieces together along the rise line, right sides together. Do the same thing for the back rise.
Now lay your pants front on your pants back, right sides together, matching the outseams. Sew down these seams, then line up your crotch seam and inseams and sew down this all in one long seam. Your pant front may be narrower than your pant back, so match the fabric edges.
Sew short ends of the waistband together to form a loop. Line this seam up with the center back seam, and pin your waistband around the top of your pants. Stitch in place.
Iron the other edge of the waistband under slightly, then pin it so it barely covers the seam joining the waistband to the pants.
Stitch right next to the waistband to secure it in place, leaving an opening to insert elastic.
Insert your elastic
Sew your elastic into a loop and sew the opening closed.
Now, you could hem your pajamas and be done, but if you want some variations, keep reading.
If you are adding cuffs to your pants, now is the time to measure and sew. These get made and sewn on the same way as the waistband, without the elastic. Unless that’s the look you’re going for.
You might want to add piping into the cuff seam, or as I did on this pair, a little bit of double fold bias tape peeking out.
To add it, I basted the bias tape with the open end on my seam allowance (so towards the bottom edge of the pants) and then sewed on the cuff piece. I pressed it flat before sewing the legs closed.
What if you want a drawstring waistband instead of elastic? It’s a very easy switch. First of all, if you want a drawstring, you will probably need to make the waistband narrower, and increase the length of the top of the pants by the same amount that you took away from the waistband. Next, before attaching the waistband, you’ll add buttonholes on either side of the center front, like this:
Sew the waistband in the same way you would for an elastic waistband and then thread your drawstring through the buttonholes you made. I also find drawstrings more comfortable when I cut the drawstring in half and sew a couple inches of thin elastic to the cut ends – this gives the drawstring a little bit of give and makes it more comfortable in my opinion.
Try on your pants – you’re done!
And then celebrate by jumping on the bed!
Ajaire
I love that pic of you guys jumping! So cute 🙂
Ann
Hahaha. Fun times in your new jammie pants.
Kristin @ Little Corbin Hill
These are soooo cute! Definitely going to try and make a pair =)
Emily
Love your fabric choices! I’ve still plotting what to do with my polka dot fabric. . . . Great tutorial and fun pics!
Carol Urban
Reminds me of the song I used to sing with my boys, “No More Monkeys Jumping on the Bed!”
Jenny - Seamingly Smitten
I love that sock monkey fabric! Super cute pajamas!!
Jenny
Delia
I love those pics of you with your kids on the bed. Adorable!
Laura
I enjoyed your idea of using the bias tape and adding another fabric. Made the PJ’s I made for my kids super cute!
Alyssa
Hi there – can you explain how you attached the cuffs with the bias tape in a little more detail? did you stitch “inside” the bias tape fold then simply fold it down over the stitches which attach the cuff (any worries when you wash them the “piping” wont lay flat?) – or did you stitch over the tape once folded? Did you layer the pant leg, tape and then the cuff (right side all facing up) when you attached them?? i cant quite tell where you stitched on the bias (is it at the bottom of the bias then your ironed the rest down?) or how exactly you attached the cuff. I am (obviously) a beginner and I am making pajamas for everyone this Christmas with contrasting cuffs and I am interested in hiding the stitching as much as possible (b/c i can never seem to sew in a straight line:). thank you so much!
Lindsey
My question concerns the cuff and the bias strip as well (I too am a beginner). Melly, did you use 1/4 inch double fold bias tape? And if you could explain a little more about how you attach the second fabric, the cuff fabric, beneath the bias tape it would be most helpful. Thank you!
Munira
I love to learn
Janis Dressler
I’m so happy to have made my own pattern for PJ bottoms based on your instructions! My first pair came out just as I had hoped. I actually used a bed sheet for the fabric! I’m going to be making my own PJ pants from now on. Thanks, I loved this project!
Sheridan Anne
Hi! I’m new to your blog but I’m really enjoying what I’ve read so far. Thanks for the great tutorial
p.s your family is adorable!
Amira Leigh
I’m planning to make a pair of muslin “bloomers” and couldn’t find a decent tute. Until now. Thank you for such a well written tutorial. I’ve read many others that don’t explain the differentiation between the front and back of the pants and how to mock the pattern for this.