sew lounge pants

1 Download and print the pattern pieces. Adding a 1cm seam allowance to all, cut two front and two back pieces from your main fabric, with one of each reversed. Then trim one back and one front waistband, plus two front hems and two back hems (one of each reversed) from a contrasting print.

2 Place the left front hem panel on the left front pyjama leg, right sides together, matching up the notches. Pin, then stitch using a 1cm seam allowance. Press the seams. Repeat for the left back leg and hem panel.

3 Place the left front and left back pyjama legs right sides together, matching up the outer seam notches and the hem panel seams. Pin, then stitch together using a 1cm seam allowance. Press the seam open, then press to the back. Add 8mm topstitch to the outer seam, including the hem panel, so both of the seam allowances are stitched to the back panel.

4 With right sides together, match the inside leg seams. Pin, then stitch using a 1cm seam allowance. Turn the raw hem edge under by 1cm and press. Fold the hem panel up in half so that the wrong sides are facing and the pressed hem edge sits just over the seam line. Pin in place on the right side and topstitch the panel down. Press. Repeat steps 2-4 for the right leg.

5 Turn the left pyjama leg right side out. Insert it inside the right leg so that the curved crotch seams and notches match, and the right sides of the pyjama legs are facing. Pin, then stitch together using a 1cm seam allowance. Press the seam open, then to the right. Add 8mm topstitch to the crotch seam, so both of the seam allowances are stitched to the right legs.

6 Iron 3cm x 5cm of interfacing to the wrong side of the front waistband piece as marked on the pattern, following the manufacturer’s instructions. Using an eyelet punch, make two small holes on the waistband where shown on the template and insert eyelets.

7 Sew the short ends of the waistbands together to form a loop. Place it around the top of the pyjamas, right sides together, matching up the side seams. Pin, then stitch together using a 1cm seam allowance.

8 Turn the raw hem edge of the waistband under by 1cm and press. Fold the waistband panel down in half so that the wrong sides are facing and the pressed hem edge sits just over the seam line. Pin in place on the right side and topstitch the panel 8mm from the top folded edge. Press.

9 Pin and bar tack a 57cm length of ribbon to each end of an elastic strip. Place inside the waistband panel so that the elastic is on the back waist panel and the ribbon in the front section. Pull the ends of the ribbon through the eyelets so that they are on the outside. Match the left waistband side seam with one end of the elastic, and pin. Stitch over the seam and through the elastic to secure. Repeat for the right side seam and the other end of the elastic.

10 Fold the waistband panel down so that the wrong sides are facing and the pressed hem edge sits just over the seam line. Pin in place on the right side and edge stitch the panel down, making sure not to catch the elastic or ribbon. Add a second row of topstitching to the waistband, 1cm up from the seam. Apply fray stopper to the ends of the ribbon.