Make Pajama Bottoms Without a Pattern

I love making my own pajama bottoms.  There are so many fun fabrics out there to choose from that you can’t get in ready to wear from children’s fabrics to adult.  So I decided to show you how you can make your own pajama bottoms without using a paper pattern.  You will simply use an old pair of pajama bottoms as your pattern. Believe me that this project is so simple that anyone with basic sewing skills can make these pajama bottoms.

I found this terrific butterfly fleece fabric that I thought would be perfect for my latest pajama bottoms project.  But if you head over to Hobby Lobby and Fabric.com you will find dozens of fun fleece fabrics that you can use for your pajama bottoms. You can order them from the privacy of your own home and get them in just a short time so that you get exactly what you want for your bottoms.  This post contains affiliate links that if you click on them and make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

What you will Need:

• Fleece depending on the size of your bottoms – I used 2 yds for mine.
• 3/4″ Elastic depending on your waist measurement
• Standard sewing supplies

Step 1:  Make Pajama Bottoms Without a Pattern

Find a pair of nice fitting pajama bottoms to use as a template.  Fold them in half lengthwise and lay them on the fold of your fleece fabric.  Make sure that the crotch has been pulled out.

Layout Bottoms on the Fold

Step 2:  Make Pajama Bottoms Without a Pattern

Cut around the old pajama bottoms leaving a 1/2″ seam allowance and 3″ on the top for the elastic casing and 1″ on the bottom for the hem. So your finished cut piece will be larger than the pajama bottoms you used as a pattern.  Repeat so that you have two pieces that are identical.

Cut 2 on the fold

Step 3:  Make Pajama Bottoms Without a Pattern

With right sides together sew the bottom of the leg seams.  Sew from the bottom to where the crotch begins to curve on both pieces. This is the inseam.

Sew the inseam

Step 4:  Make Pajama Bottoms Without a Pattern

Turn one of the pieces right sides out.  Place it inside the other piece so that the two pieces are right sides together.  Sew the crotch.  You will see that it is a big “U” shape.  Sew it from one waist side to the other using a 1/2″ seam allowance.  The Bottoms are together at this point.

Sew the crotch

Step 5:  Make Pajama Bottoms Without a Pattern

Measure your waist and add 1″.  Cut a piece of 3/4″ elastic the measurement of your waist plus 1″.

Step 6:  Make Pajama Bottoms Without a Pattern

Create the casing. Fold down the waist 1/4″ inch and press.  Fold it another 1 1/4 inch and sew the casing all the way around using a 1/4″ seam allowance.  Leave about a 2′ gap to insert the elastic.

Step 7:  Make Pajama Bottoms Without a Pattern

Add the elastic into the waistband using a safety pin.  Attach the safety pin to the end of the elastic and feed it through the casing.  When the ends meet, pull the elastic so that the ends overlap.  Sew the ends together making sure not to twist the elastic.  Slip stitch the opening closed.

Add the elastic

Sew ends of elastic together

Step 8:  Make Pajama Bottoms Without a Pattern

Hem the bottoms.  Fold up the bottoms by 1/2′ and by 1/2″ again and press and sew along the bottoms to create the hem.  You have now finished your pajama bottoms.

Pajama Bottoms

If you enjoyed this project join our mailing list and receive your free eBook of 15 Handbag Patterns and Tutorials.