Sew Easy Pajama Pants for Baby (or Anyone Else in Your Family!)

PJ pants are such a classic handmade Christmas Eve present that I enjoy making and giving  to my hubby and kids each year. I “cheat” a little and don’t use a pattern – I simply sneak some of their favourite pants from their drawers and make a simple pattern directly from the pants they have!

If you’re looking for a beginner’s sewing project that would make a practical and heart-warming Christmas gift (or gift for any time of year), you might want to try this method to make some pajama pants for your baby, your toddler, your hubby or yourself. It’s easy and quick and I always have a blast searching for fun fabrics to make these pants with.

Materials:

• 1 yard cotton flannel (for baby pants) or 1 1/2 yards cotton flannel (for child’s pants) or 2 1/2 yards cotton flannel (for adult pants) (for these seriously sweet pants for my one year old, I used
  Mother Nature Flannel Forest Friends Girl Blue/Orange from fabric.com)
• 1 inch wide elastic
• an pair of pants with an elastic waist that currently fits the person you’re sewing these for

Directions:

Making the Pajama Pants Pattern

Wash your fabric. Fold it in half lengthwise (if you’re making adult pants or larger child’s pants you won’t be folding it in half because you’ll only be able to fit one full leg on your fabric’s width).

Fold the pants you’re using as a template in half lengthwise at the crotch, placing them towards one side (as shown in the first picture above). Trace, adding approximately 1 1/2″ inches to the top (for the waistband – pull the elastic taught when tracing this part), a 1/2″ for the length (for the seam allowance) and 2″ at the bottom (for the hem). Mark where the outer edge of the leg is.

Flip the pants over to the other side, keeping the edge of the leg in line with your marking (as shown above) and keeping the pants folded in half. Trace the other side of the pants as you did the first side, adding the extra inches.

You should end up with a shape similar to the above shape. You can use a straight edge to straighten the legs if needed. One side should have a slightly deeper curve – this is the back of the pants that allows for extra bum room! Cut out another piece just like this (using the first as a guide) if you’re making larger pants and didn’t fold the fabric.

Sewing the Pajama Pants

Sewing these little PJ pants is so easy!

Beginning with one piece, turn it in half lengthwise with the right sides together. Sew the inseam together using a 1/2″ seam allowance. Using a serger makes this go super quickly, but if you don’t have one, you can finish the seams with a zigzag stitch. Repeat with the second leg.

Then, pin the two legs together at the crotch, matching up the inseams, and seam them together using a 1/2″ allowance.

Turn the pajama pants right side out, and press them. For the waistband, fold it over 1/2″ to the inside and press. Fold it over another 1 1/4″ and press. For the hem, fold each pant leg in 1″ and then another 1″ and press.

Stitch both about 1/4″ from the fold. Leave about a 1 1/2″ opening at the back of the waistband to thread the elastic through.

Cut your elastic to the same size as your template pants (add 1/2″ for the join). Thread it through the upper casing and stitch it securely together at the ends. Stitch the opening closed.

I like to add another line of stitching on the waistbands of my pants to keep the elastic from rolling and shifting. To do this, pull the elastic waistband taut and sew line in the middle of the casing (as above).

You’re already done your adorable little DIY pajama pants! Now wasn’t that easy?

Whip a few pairs up for your family and friends for a thoughtful Christmas gift (and please comment and share below if you’ve made your own PJ pants)!