DIY: Pajama / Lounge Pants

 I have owned a functional sewing machine for over a year now, but I'm still very much a novice in the sewing world. Granted, this has a lot to do with having a very energetic toddler and not much free time, but it's also due to a lack of confidence in my abilities and not really knowing where to start. I have successfully repaired elastic on my gDiaper liners, repurposed some bed linens into an apron, and some other simple projects, but sewing my own clothes (or clothing for others) was too intimidating. But sewing my own clothes has always been my dream, so recently I managed to muster up the courage to dip my toe in with a very newbie-friendly project - pajama pants. I figured something with an elastic waistband worn in the privacy of your own home is a good place to start. Hubby needed a new pair, so I was able to justify the purchase of some flannel and matching thread to make him some comfy pants for his birthday. I must confess that his birthday was actually in March, and he ended up getting the promise of some pants for his birthday. But he didn't really need them until this fall anyway, so hubby waited patiently until I was ready to tackle the project.

Internet research led me to this Instructables tutorial, which I studied for quite awhile until I became convinced I could do it. I was a little freaked out about making my own pattern instead of buying one, but the tutorial explained it in detail and provided really helpful photos. It turned out to be pretty simple and straightforward. I took the author's advice and used wrapping paper to make the pattern. It was perfect for the job, and best of all, it didn't cost me anything since I had leftover Christmas wrapping paper in the basement. Tracing the waist was a little tricky, as you have to stretch the elastic completely out and trace that length, then connect it to the leg (which is traced without the elastic stretched out). I wasn't sure I'd done it right, but the pants actually fit perfectly when they were all done!

As for the sewing, everything was also fairly easy and beginner-friendly. The photos were awesome here too. I felt the hardest part was sewing the two legs together, as my only experience with this was making a pair of shorts in my middle school home ec class, and I have no memory of assembling those. It took some time for me to figure out exactly how to tuck one leg into the other, but now that I've done it, this will be a breeze in the future. Since I had a bunch of leftover fold-over elastic from diaper repairs, I decided to use that to minimize costs. Figuring out exactly how to sew the elastic together and insert it into the waistband was time-consuming, but again, this is a skill I will retain for future projects and it'll get easier with time.

I'm so glad I decided to do this project! The pants turned out great, hubby loves them, and I learned some very useful sewing 101 skills that I will be able to apply to future projects. I am already planning some pants for my son as well as Christmas gifts for the family. Check out my finished product - modeled by husband, with special appearance by my son, Jackson - below.

He's a good sport.

I was ecstatic that the plaid print is actually straight.

Perfect for work-at-home parents!

Happy sewing!

DIY: Pillowcase Apron

I've been doing lots of scratch cooking lately, and I love it, but it's a messy business, and I am a notoriously sloppy cook. (It's a good thing my husband is as anal-retentive as I am messy.) Since I recently acquired a great used sewing machine on craigslist, I've been looking for simple projects to hone my skills, and an apron seemed to fit the bill. I've been lusting after this adorable full-size apron I found in a book at Joann's, but I decided to start with something simple and newbie-friendly. Enter the pillowcase apron.

I love this project because it's not only very simple, but it's also free! While you could actually go out and buy some thrift store linens to make this inexpensively, many of us already have some unused sheets and pillowcases in our closet just begging to be repurposed into something useful. Personally, I have a closet full of hand-me-down linens that have definitely seen better days. I was totally psyched to find a use for them, and even more so to find that my apron wouldn't cost a dime. And with free fabric, I don't have to feel bad about my crooked, haphazard seams!

Here is my sweet little apron:

I've already put it to great use in the kitchen, so those pretty blue flowers are now covered in food stains, but I guess that's the whole point really. In the future, I'd like to make one with a contrasting pattern/color for the apron strings and pocket, just for aesthetic purposes. In the meantime, this one suits me just fine.

Happy crafting!