Simple Summer Tank and Shorts Pajamas Tutorial

Hi, all!!! How's the weather where you are?? Here it has been HOT!!! BLECK! I am NOT ready for summer. SIGH... We won't be spending any time around a pool this year and let's face it, that's the only good thing about summer. 

Anyway, Cailey was complaining to me the other day that she didn't have enough summer PJs. Well, I knew exactly what to do about that! Time to make some!!!!

I got that cute print from The Fabric Fairy and it was on SALE!!!!! Can't beat that!!! 

It's such a light weight knit that I knew it would perfect for some summer PJs. I just needed to decide what KIND of PJs. 

Since the print is sorta busy, I decided to go with something simple. 

I am SO GLAD I did. I LOVE IT!!! I can see myself making more like that and for Colin, too!!! This is absolutely unisex! 


WHAT I USED

Light weight knit fabric (less than 2 yards)
3/4" elastic
Coordinating thread 
2 large safety pins

Let me start out by saying this: I had started out using matching thread. I thought I found this great deal on Etsy.... Yeah, you've heard if it sounds too good to be true it probably is???? Yeah... That's what happened... This thread was a NIGHTMARE. It kept breaking after every few stitches. GRRRR!!! So I had to go with a coordinating thread. Oh, well. The print is busy enough that you can't really tell anyway. LOL

Ok, here we go!

*NOTE* Make sure to always press your seams after you've sewn them!!! I always forget to say that! ;) 

*NOTE* When sewing knits, it's always good to use a stretch stitch. 

*NOTE* The only "special" thing you need to sew knits is a ball point needle. ;) 


STEP 1

Grab a shirt that fits your child well. Just make sure yours is cat fur free, unlike mine... YEESH!! It didn't look THAT bad in person. SIGH...
Use the shirt as a guideline to cut your pieces. 

When you cut the front piece, make sure the neckline dips in a bit more. ;)



STEP 2

Take a pair of shorts that fit your child well and use them as the guide for cutting your shorts legs. 
Make sure to leave about 1 1/2 inches extra at the top for the elastic casing! 

This is what they look like. 



STEP 3

Cut 3 strips that are 2" in width and at least as long as your arms holes and neckline. 





STEP 4

Now, with right sides together, pin and sew the shoulder seams.



STEP 5

With right sides still together, pin and sew the side seams. 



STEP 6

Now, fold the hem of the top about 1/2" and press.
I then turned my right side out and pinned. Then I top stitched the hem. In my opinion it just looks nicer that way. ;)



STEP 7 

Fold your fabric strips in half and press. 

Now, starting at the center back of your neckline, pin the strips with right sides together and raw edges touching. 


As you sew them together, pull gently. It will give the neckline a nicer look. 




STEP 8

Do the same thing with both arm holes. 
Start your pinning at the side seam. 
That is what it looks like when they are done. 



YOUR TOP IS DONE!!! YAY!!! Time to move on to the shorts! :D


STEP 9

With right sides together, pin the inseam.
You are just sewing from the bottom of the leg to the beginning of the curve of the crotch. 

Sew the seam. 
Repeat on the other leg. 



STEP 10

Take one of the legs and turn it right side out. 
Slide it down into the other leg. (Right sides will be touching.)
Make sure to match up the seams. 
Pin in the place and sew the curve. 



STEP 11

Time to make the elastic casing!
Turn your fabric down 1" and press. 
Sew close to the bottom edge. 
Make sure to leave an opening to insert your elastic.



STEP 12

Take 2 large safety pin and pin one to each end of the elastic.
Push the elastic through, holding on to the opposite end.
Pull both ends out of the opening and sew them together. 
Push it back inside the casing and sew the opening closed. 




STEP 13

Almost done! We just need to sew our hems!! 

With the shorts right side out, fold the bottoms in 1/2" and press.
Pin in place and sew the hem!
You CAN do this wrong side out, I just think the hems look neater when they are top stitched. ;)


ALLLLLLLL DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now you have some cool and comfy summertime pajamas!! YAY!!!!

The great thing about this is that you can make them for anyone of any age. I think I might make myself some! ;)

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask!!!!


HAVE FUN SEWING!!!!!

Big Hero 6 Shorts Tutorial

It's that time of year again!!! Time to sew some shorts!!! Now, I have done tons of shorts tutorials but these are a little different. These have a side panel from a different print. 
I went to Joann's and found the Big Hero 6 print in the remnants bin but nowhere else. YILES!!! It was barely over 1/2 a yard. Almost enough for the shorts but we needed some room to grow!! So I found the other print with coordinating colors in the remnant bin. Perfect!!! :D 






What I Used 

Less than 1/2 yard of main 
Scraps of coordinating
3/4" elastic 
Pinking shears


Step 1

I cut long strips from the coordinating fabric for the side panels. 
We didn't need tooooo much extra for the sides so I just cut the print so the whole row would row. 


Step 2

Fold the fabric into fourths. You want 4 pieces, 2 pieces per leg. 

Take a pair of shorts that fits your child well and use them as a guide. You'll want to add a couple of extra inches at the top and at least an extra inch at the bottom. 

Here you have the 4 pieces. 


Step 3

Now, take one of the long strips and pin it to one of the leg pieces with right sides together. 

Sew one long seam.

Press the seam.


Step 4

With right sides together, pin the strip to the other leg piece. 

Sew a long seam and press. 

Here it what you should have now. 



Step 5

Now we're going to go ahead and do the hem. 

Fold and press 1/4". 

Fold and press 1/2"

Sew the hem!


Step 6

Take a leg and put it right sides together, 

You are going to sew the inseam. Just sew between the 2 arrows.



Step 7

Now, take one leg and turn it right side out. 

Slide it down in to the other leg so that the right sides are together. 

Sew the remaining seam. It will look like you have 1 leg with an opening at the top. 



Step 8

Fold over the top by 1/2" and press.

Fold over again by 1" and press.

Sew around the top making sure to leave an opening to insert the elastic. 



Step 9

Take 2 large safety pins and attach one to each end of the elastic. 

Insert the elastic into the elastic casing. 

Sew the ends of the elastic together. 

Sew the opening closed.


ALL DONE!!!!

Now he has shorts to match his Big Hero 6 shirt! ;)


HAVE FUN SEWING!!!

Stars and Stripes Shorts Tutorial

I can't tell you how good it feels to be sewing again!!! I missed it SO MUCH!!!! I just want to sit and sew for days at a time. Too bad the family won't let me. ;)

Colin has grown so much since last year. I had to give all his old clothes away. Most of the jeans looked like they had never even been worn! 

I started to go through his warm weather clothes to see what he had. Well, most of them must still be packed away somewhere... I can't find his Star Wars shorts, his pillowcase shorts or his madras shorts! YILES!!!! I don't even know where to start looking.

I figured that I had better get a jump start on some shorts!!

Cailey informed me the other day that she will also be needing new summer clothes and the ones we just bought her all need to altered. SIGH.....

My babies are growing too fast!! MAKE IT STOP!!!!


ANYWAY!!! I wanted to do something different than plain elastic waist shorts. Sure, these still have the elastic waist BUT they also have a faux fly and inset pockets. I will be showing you how to do both.

I have another faux fly tutorial on here, with those I used denim. 

You can find ALL of my tutorials on my Sewing Tutorials Page! (Including the Star Wars and Madras shorts.)



WHAT I USED

3/4 Yard of a sheet (the main)

1/4 Yard of navy with stars 

1/2" elastic



This was my first time using a double needle!! WOO HOO!!! It was very easy. Not sure why I was so intimidated! LOL


Step 1

You are going to cut the front pieces of the shorts. I used a pair of Colin's swim trunks that I knew would still fit him well. 

When you cut the fronts, you need to cut in the flap for the faux fly. 




Step 2

Now you are going to cut the back pieces. I used the front pieces with the faux fly flaps tucked under. 

Be sure to cut 2. 




Step 3

Now on to the pockets. I traced around Deanna's hand and then cut 4 pieces.

Step 4

For the back pockets, I cut 2 rectangles. Each of those squares in the background are a square inch.




Step 5

I cut 2 pieces for the cuffs. The fold is along the bottom. Once again, the squares are a square inch. 

Now all the pieces are cut and ready to sew!


Step 6

Pin along the faux fly flap and stop at the bottom of the crotch curve. 

Sew the seam!



Step 7

Now, turn right side up. Tuck the faux fly flap in and fold over.

Here is where I used the double needle to top stitch the faux fly in place. 
You do NOT have to use a double needle. Instead, just top stitch 2 rows.

Now you have your faux fly!! EASY PEASY!



Step 8

With right sides together sew the backs together. Sew from the top to the curve of the crotch and stop.

Step 9

Now you need to zigzag the sides of the back pockets. This makes them a little sturdier and you won't have to worry about fraying.

Next, fold over the sides and press. Fold over the top, press, fold again and press. 

Step 10

Line your pockets up, pin and double top stitch in place.

You might want to reinforce the top corners of the pockets.

Step 11

Now it's time to sew the crotch. 

Ride sides together, pin and sew the seam. 



Step 12

With right side facing wrong side, pin the cuffs in place if you already have a hem (which I do since I used the sheet). If you don't have a hem already, fold 1/4", press, fold 1/2" press, pin and sew the hem.

OR you can pin the cuffs right sides together with the pants and sew the seam.
If you already have the hem, top stitch the cuffs across the hem stitches. 



Step 13

I sort of missed taking a picture of one of the steps... Imagine this has one piece of pocket pinned right sides together with the side of the pants....... Stitch in place, fold over and press. Do that to all 4 pocket pieces. 

Step 14

With the pants turned right sides together, pin all along the sides and sew. 

                        Here's what you have so far!

Step 15

Time to make the elastic casing!

Fold over the top of shorts by 1/4". Fold over again by 3/4". Sew all around but make sure to leave a space to insert the elastic!

Step 16

Safety pin the ends of your elastic. Insert one end into the space. Pull through and out the other side, making sure to hold tightly to the ends. 

Sew the ends of the elastic together.

Now, sew the space closed. 

There you go!! ALL DONE!!!

Let me know what you think!! 


HAVE FUN SEWING!!!