Mama's Flannel Pants

So, enough of making cute things for this tiny being who does not yet have a body to himself!  I made some pants for me, this time!

Don't judge... I haven't taken a shower or finished my first cup of coffee yet today.  

I used the same idea as for Stig's pants, and super-sized it.  My mom had sent me a pair of flannel pajama pants she found at a thrift store (I'm pretty sure they've never been worn, even!  Good find, mom!) that will hopefully keep fitting me as I get bigger this fall.  They are green with pictures of Eeyore all over them.  Not exactly a fashion statement, but they are pajamas, after all, so who really cares.  The only things I wasn't completely thrilled with were the drawstring waist and the fact that they tapered at the ankle (and will probably shrink a bit and be too short for my gargantuanly long legs.

It also so happened that I had about 3 yards of flannel fabric that I've been meaning to make some pajama pants out of, so I decided no time like the present and pulled out the fabric yesterday.  I used the Eeyore pants as a general template, making the legs much wider at the bottom, just eyeballing it.  I really hate to measure, which probably negatively affects my sewing, but I don't really care.  A few LLLLOOOONNNGGG seams, some hems, and some elastic in the waist (yes, I have reams of elastic just laying around my house as well) and we're done!   

And for proof that I really am pregnant, and not just making up this tiny being that has taken over my body and life, a preggo picture:  

Stig's Flannel Pants

 So, I've seen tons of tutorials on making baby pants.  Turns out, since I've made several pairs of pants and understand the basic construction, it's super easy and I don't really need a tutorial!  So, I made some pants for Stiggy today out of an old flannel shirt of my grandma's.  I'm trying to amass flannel shirts to make a baby blanket, but the color on this one didn't really mesh with the other ones I have, thus, pants.  Here is a close up of the flannel pattern.

It's difficult to match that turquoise with other flannels and not have it look totally psychotic.  But it looks super cute at tiny pants!  

I'd like to point out that I almost matched up the lines of flannel perfectly without even trying to do so.  You know that if I had tried, it never would have worked.  Happy accidents lead to adorable pants.  

I was able to whip these out in about 10 minutes.  Because I used an old shirt, I just cut them out on the bottom hem of the shirt, so that I didn't have to hem them myself.  This also meant that I could have a side seam and still only use two pieces of cut fabric. I used a pair of baby pants I had bought on super sale for a quarter at Target as the pattern, so you can pretty much use any pair of pants that fit well to make your pattern.  Just fold in half, place on a fold, trace around leaving about 1/4 inch for the seam allowance and about an inch (or more if you're a messy cutter and ironer like me) for hem allowance at the top. 

Then, basically, place right sides together, sew the crotch pieces together and then sew around the legs.  Iron a top hem, sew it, leaving an opening, and insert elastic (which I happen to have just laying around, because I have problems.).  Sew up the elastic to the appropriate waist length so that it stretches to fit, but won't cut off circulation, and sew the hole closed.  

Easy Peasy, Lemon Squeezy!

Pajama Party!

I've spent my whole life wrestling with pants.

If I ever decide to write the next great American novel, that will be my opening line. But, seriously, it's totally true. I'm too tall for a regular length, to short for a tall length. My booty is too big for one size, but my waist isn't thick enough for the next size.

I ended up buying several pairs of men's boxer shorts back in the late 90's, and, I kid you not, up until last week, I still had all three pairs, and they were my go-to comfy jammies. They never really fit all that well and were always saggy-baggy, but better than tighty-wighty!

And then I put my foot through the seam of the first pair. they were so threadbare that the flannel just sort of disintegrated. Then, last night, I picked up a pair of socks off the floor and there went a second pair. I died a little inside.

So, I decided to bite the bullet and make my own p.j. pants that were long enough that I could lounge around and not constantly be "adjusting," and that had a high enough waist that I wasn't constantly "adjusting," and had an elastic waistband so I wasn't constantly "adjusting"... get the idea? Too much visual?

Anyway, here they are...

They're possibly the most perfect jammie shorts on the planet. I used Amy Butlers "Wide Leg Lounge Pant" pattern from her In Stitches pattern book... mainly because I made a pair of long pants with them a couple of years ago, so the patterns were already prepped on the freezer paper. But also because it really is a great pattern. :)

Apparently at some point, I had bought a whole bunch of this cute butterfly flannel:

By a whole bunch, I mean like 3 yards of the stuff! What was I planning on doing with it? Seriously, what do you use 3 yards of flannel for, other than making the perfect jammie shorts? Who knows.

Anyway, I was glad I had it, cause desperation was setting in, and I was fixin' to cut up a flannel sheet!

One more picture of me being super happy in my new jammie shorts. I didn't want to take them off after the picture. I kind of want to wear them forever:

I will never buy ill-fitting pajama shorts again. Watch out thrift stores... I'm on the hunt for flannel sheets!