Fancy Pants Leggings by Titchy Threads

So how hard is it to find a pattern for boy’s pyjama leggings? Apparently VERY hard! I could not find one single pattern for knit leggings for boys. Sure, there are many girl patterns out there for leggings. But a boy’s shape is different. I wanted to find a pattern with an extra panel in the bum.  One where I can have cuffs at the bottom with an elastic waist. I am sure I could draft one myself, but I did not feel like. Hey, it’s not like I don’t have a Zillion and one things to do in my life, n’est pas?

So to the internet I troll. Searching websites, googling boys leggings. NOTHING. Until I found Titchy Threads. They have exactly what I want, Fancy Pants Leggings. I can make long PJ bottoms of short PJ bottoms for the summer. P-E-R-F-E-C-T. Except it is online download only and PDF. I am not a fan of taping my pattern together, but at 47 pages long it is well detailed. This pattern is like a sewing class in itself. If you never made anything with knits or elastics, you would have ample information to guide you expertly through. 

Their website describes this pattern as:

"The Fancy Pants Leggings are close fitting leggings with a separate bum panel. The panel gives extra room in the rear for little ones in nappies and a chance to use contrast fabrics and treasured scraps or to feature your own designs. Suitable for both boys and girls, the leggings can be used for daywear, an extra layer in winter or pyjamas."

The pattern includes two different ankle finishes, Shorts, two different waistband styles and width adjustment. If you print in color it is like the new Jalie patterns. Each size has a different color. And the sizes 0-3 month to 4T are in one pattern cutout and sizes 5 - 10 are on another pattern cutout. 

I did a test with the size 7. It was a good thing as the size 7 was a bit snug. A size 8 would be best. When I was sewing the kids were jumping up and down screaming for attention. I did not read first and it turns out you need to cut the fabric out on a single layer. The leg pattern you are supposed to cut out the 2nd on flipping the pattern. This was just a test, so no biggy. 

This time I cut out a size 8 and I cut 2 leg pattern pieces. This is the great thing about digital patterns. I can print it off and cut the size I need. NO tracing! Yippee! 






 The cut out and sewing took about an hour.I made one mistake, I put the elastic on backwards. The material is too delicate to remove the stitches.

These are the first attempt and they are PJ bottoms. I have enough material leftover from the grey for shorts and I have the blue material.

These PJ bottoms are exactly what I was looking for. Funny this pattern would be so hard to find. None of the Big 4 companies have them for boys. Then again, they have NOTHING for boys!

 

Halloween PJ's Simplicity 9499

So I made Tyler some Haloween PJ bottoms using our graveyard fabric. I used Simplicity 9499 pattern. I traced out the pattern using tracing paper we purchased at DeSerres. It is a good thing I used the tracing paper as this pattern I will use over and over. It is so simple and quick! It took me 1 1/2 hours to make these bottoms and I was going nice and slow.

This time I made sure the graveyard was going in the proper direction. You only make that mistake once, lol! Tyler still asks me why the haunted houses are upside down. Oops.

One good tip is to sew a tag in the back of the pants so when you go to put on the pants, you will know which is the front and which is the back. Kids need a little help sometimes!

And Voila! New PJ pants for Halloween!

Simplicity 9499 Unisex Pajamas

Simplicity 9499 Unisex Pajamas and knit top



This is a great pattern. It has sizes for adults and sizes for children. It has great value. The pants are quick and simple and so is the waistband.
I first did this with Halloween material that was on sale at Fabricville for $1.99/meter. I did a boo boo on Tyler's pants, as the haunted houses are upside down, but now I know how to lay out directional material. We learn best from our errors, n'est pas? Tyler is happy and he thinks I rock.

Now I tried to make another pair for Tyler in flannel and I was super tired and brain dead, and I do not know what I did but I attached all the pieces incorrectly and had finished the pants when I noticed. I undid all the pieces and will attempt it again today. The flannel ones are for PJ day at daycare on Tuesday and he chose the fabric, so I hope I did not goof too badly! I trimmed the crotch area and everything.
So much for wasting my sewing time that Simon helps he have. Another lesson learned, do nt sew when you are dog tired!
Ok, so I went back to it this morning and the only error I did was when I went to assemble the PJ's front to back and sew the side seams, I placed them incorrectly. I do not know how I did it, but I put them together wrong. So I ended up undoing all my seams for nothing, lol.
Oh well, at least I now know how to selvage a project when all goes wrong.