Sew your own stylish sleepwear by learning how to make pyjama bottoms!
Up your loungewear game with this cosy-glam DIY pyjama sewing pattern by The New Craft House.
There’s nothing better than coming home on a chilly winter evening and changing straight into a slouchy jumper, woolly socks and your favourite pjs. This pair will let everyone know you’re officially off-duty, and ready to curl up on the sofa for the night.
We love the swan-print fabric used in the example, but this straightforward pattern would work just as well with brushed cotton for a classic pyjama feel.
You’ll need
- Light to medium-weight woven fabric, 2.5m (2½yrds)
- Matching sewing thread
- Elastic, 1m (1yrd), 0.5cm (¼”) wide
- Ribbon, 60cm (23 5/8“), 1.5cm (5/8“) wide
- Paper for templates
- Templates
- Tailor’s chalk
Sizes
(UK) 8-10, 10-12, 12-14. You can amend the template to create other sizes.
Notes
Use a seam allowance of 1.5cm (5/8“), clipping the curves where necessary so the seam allowances lie flat, and making sure to press your seams open throughout.
If you prefer your sleepwear to be more matchy-matchy, then you might like our pyjama set sewing pattern in the Gathered shop
How to make pyjama bottoms
Step 1
Using the template, trace out your pattern pieces in 8-10, 10-12 or 12-14 onto pattern paper or greaseproof paper. For other sizes you can amend the template.
Step 2
Fold your fabric in half lengthways with wrong sides (WS) facing, then pin your pattern pieces to the fabric, matching the grain line on the pattern to the straight grain of your fabric. Cut around your pattern pieces carefully and mark all notches. Mark the buttonholes and pocket markers using tailor’s chalk.
If you’re using a directional fabric, make sure you cut the pattern pieces in the right direction.
Step 3
Using your buttonhole foot, make a buttonhole on both of your front leg pieces at the markings, ensuring it’s wide enough to fit your elastic through.
Step 4
Fold the top of your pocket piece to the WS by 0.5cm (¼”), then again by 1.5cm (5/8“). Press and sew in place. Fold over the remaining three sides of your pocket to the WS, again by 0.5cm (¼”), and press.
Step 5
Place your pocket on the right side (RS) back leg piece, matching it up with the pocket markers and with RS up. Pin in place, then top stitch around the two sides and bottom of the pocket, close to the edge.
Step 6
Place one front and one back leg with RS together, lining them up along the inner legs with notches matching.
Pin and sew along the inner leg seam, then press the seam open. Repeat for the other front and back leg.
Step 7
Place both leg pieces RS together, lining them up around the crotch seam. Pin and sew around the curve. Sew another seam 0.5cm (¼”) down from this line of stitching, and trim off any excess seam allowance above the first line.
Step 8
With RS still together, match the two side seams of your pyjamas. Pin and sew both sides together along the length.
Step 9
Fold over the bottom of your pyjama legs to the WS by 0.5cm (¼”), then again by 1.5cm (5/8“). Press and sew in place.
Step 10
Fold over the waistband of your pyjamas to the WS by 0.5cm (¼”), then again by 2.5cm (1″). Check your buttonholes are positioned in the centre of the band, then press and pin.
Sew in place along the bottom of the waistband, then turn the pyjamas RS out.
Step 11
Measure the elastic around your hips where the trousers will sit and mark at a comfortable length. Attach a safety pin to one end of the elastic, then push through one buttonhole all the way around the waistband, being careful not to twist the elastic.
Pull out of the same buttonhole, cross the two ends of the elastic over each other so they lie flat, and stitch together at the mark you made earlier. Push the elastic back into the buttonhole so it all sits inside the waistband.
Step 12
Thread your length of ribbon through the buttonholes and tie in a bow to finish. Now you’ve learnt how to make pyjamas you can sew yourself loads of pairs in loads of different fabrics!
Want to adjust some pyjama bottoms that you’ve bought? Check out our how to hem pants tutorial, which explains what you’ll need to do step by step.
If you love loungewear but still need to be able to head out to the shops or pick up the kids, you can always get cosy with this snuggly sweatpants pattern.
