Making PJ Pants: The Cheater Way

With the cost of most things going up, finding way to cut spending is becoming a necessity. I love sewing, I make and have been making most of my clothing for over a decade. Sewing for so long I have found many ways to cheat my way without having go out and buy patterns, which sometimes can cost as much as new clothes.

I though I would create a series of the cheater way to sew yourself a new wardrobe using clothing you already own as patterns!

My first post in the series is going to be a simple one, pj pants.

You Will Need:

Pj Pants you want to copy

Fabric (thrifted, new, curtain, blanket, anything you want to turn into pj pants)

Elastic

Thread

Sewing Machine

Scissors

Step One

*Cutting*

I start by folding my pj's in half, I then fold my fabric in half so that on one side the there is only one fold of baric but on the other side it is two center folds. Place the pants folded in half on the center fold of the fabric. We are going to cut both pant legs at once. (This is the cheater way.) Make sure to place the inner crotch of the pjs completely out to cut. I cut with a half each of fabric for seam allowance. Stretch the elastic to see how wide you will need to cut the waist then add a half inch for seam allowance. As pictured below. For the hem leave and inch and half for the finished hem.

Step Two

Sewing Seams

Now we sew up the wrong side of the fabric, I start this by sewing the half inch of the hem first then sew up the inner seams. Making sure to leave that half inch of seam allowance.

Step Three

Sewing the Crotch

When sewing the two legs together at the crotch, you will need to fist flip one of the pant legs right side out. Place the right side out leg into the wrong side out leg so the right sides are facing each other.

Sew from the top to the other side. Make sure to back stich this will prevent unthreading. I also like to back stick the crotch seams to make sure the crotch seams don't break during wear. Once the seam is sewn now you can flip the pants right side out. I usually do what I did with the hem of the pants and sew a half inch of the waist band. We are almost done!

Step Four

Elastic

To cut the right amount of elastic I use the pj pants that we used as our pattern to determine length. Just make sure to add half and ich for seam allowance.

There are many different ways to sew in your elastic. The way I prefer isn't the standard way to place elastic but I like it. You can find the way that works for you. I like to sew my elastic into the hem of the waist instead of sewing the waist casing then leaving an opening and pulling the elastic threw. You ad your elastic the way that is easiest for you.

Finial Step

The Hem

Lastly we finish the hem. Fold over what we already sewn to create a finished edge. That completes our cheaters way to create pj pants!

What fabric are you making your pj pants out of? I love the fleece for winter! I have been living in these pj pants since I made them!