Pajama Pants {Make Your own Pattern-TUTORIAL}

I hope your Christmas was merry and bright.  Mine sure was.  Now I am just trying to get back into the regular swing of things.  I have a tradition to make Christmas Eve Pajama Pants for my kids each year.  They really are simple--and you can EASILY MAKE YOUR OWN PATTERN!  Here is a tutorial:

Supplies:
Flannel (or other fabric of your choice)
Thread
Pins
Sewing Machine

Step 1:  Take an existing pair of PJ pants that currently fit.  Fold them in half.  Fold your fabric into the center.  Place the folded pants on the fabric, with the straight side lined up with the fold of the fabric.  Pin in place.

 Step 2:   Don't cut along the folded side.  Cut the fabric.  Along the top and the bottom, add 1 1/2" for your hem and elastic casing.  Along the side opposite the fold, add 1/2" for the seam.  Make sure you stretch the elastic out before cutting around the top, otherwise the waist will be too small.

 Step 3:  Fold in the other side of your fabric to the center.  Take the piece you just cut out.  Line up the  folds and pin in place.  Then cut out the 2nd piece of fabric.  It is important to use the piece you cut out rather than the existing pants to assure your pant legs are exactly the same size.

Step 4:  Take each leg piece and fold right sides together.  Pin from the crotch down to the bottom.  Sew a 1/2" seam where you just pinned.  Repeat with other leg piece.

 Step 5:  Turn one of the pant legs right-side-out.  Then place that one inside the other pant legs so that right sides are together.  Pin the 2 pieces together around the crotch line.  Make sure your center seam lines up.  If your fabric is a little off up at the top, that is okay.  Sew using a 1/2" seam.

 Step 6:  Separate the pant legs.  Hem each leg.  First, fold up about 1/4" of fabric, and then fold again about 1".  Pin this in place and continue folding and pinning around the bottom of each leg.  Sew close to the edge so that your stitch will catch both folds.

 Step 7:  Sew your elastic casing.  This is done basically the same way you did the leg hems.  However, make sure you leave about an inch gap where you will feed your elastic through the casing.

 Step 8:  Measure your elastic.  Measure your elastic to fit comfortably.  The feed it through the casing. This is most easily done by pinning a safety pin on one side.  Insert that end into the casing.  Slide the safety pin around.  Once you get back to the opening,  Overlap the two elastic ends.  Zig-Zag stitch several times over the elastic (only sew the two elastic sides together--don't sew it to the PJ pants.

Step 9:  Sew over where your inch gap was.  And that's it!  You're done.

 Now for fun, you can add a little detail to your PJ shirts.  Love it!  Nothing like a comfy pair of jammies!