Pillowcase Pyjamas Part 1

I have been inspired to get the sewing machine out in recent days. I so enjoyed making the dresses and skirts for the Girls this summer, and have quite a few random pillowcases lying around which I bought when making dresses for Sew Scrumptious’ campaign. I was keen to use them to make some sweet pyjamas for the Girls to wear at Christmas, and was beyond excited to see a pin which used pillowcases to make pjs.

Step 1 is to launder your pillowcase.

Step 2 is to find a pair of pyjama bottoms that currently fit your child, then fold them in half. Line up the outside seam of one leg with the outside long edge of the pillowcase (with the foot seam along the open edge of the pillowcase: in this way, your seam has already been sewn for you!) Once you’ve got them correctly lined up, then you need to cut, leaving a 1cm gap to allow for the seams that you will need to sew. Do the same with the other side of the pillowcase and pyjama leg so that you are left with a pair of legs.

Step 3 is to sew. Turn your trouser leg so that the right sides are together and sew a seam along the straight edge, stopping before you get to the curve. Use pinking shears to stop the sewn hem from fraying. Do the same with the other leg.

 

Step 4 is to pin and sew the crotch of the trouser legs together. Turn your trouser legs right side out, and fold in half so that the two seams line up in the middle of the leg (as if you were folding a smart pair of trousers.) This should give you a ‘u’ shape crotch. Pin this to the other ‘u’ shape, then sew and finish with pinking shears.

Now you should have something that looks exactly like a pair of trousers, only with an unfinished waistband. The next step is to finish it. I chose to cut a long strip of fabric about 4cm in width from the remaining fabric, sewing pieces together so that I had a strip long enough to go round the waist. Fold in half length ways and iron.

Step 5 is to pin the waistband, right side to right side, to the pyjama bottoms, then fold over and pin to the inside of the waist. Stitch in place, leaving a small gap to allow you to thread elastic in.

Step 6 is to measure your elastic, attach a safety pin to one end and thread through the waistband, then grab the child you intend to model said product for your blog you’re making these pjs for, and check for size. Tie the elastic in a knot, trim off the end, tuck into the gap in the wistband and then sew it closed. And that, my friend, is that.

Tune in next time for a lesson in how to make a horribly matching beautifully co-ordinated pyjama top. And hopefully a child modelling the finished work.