inside: How to sew sleep shorts with this FREE pajama shorts pattern and tutorial. Use a free pattern to create comfy cozy shorts for sleeping. Simple and easy sewing project.
My boys love mom made sleep shorts. They stopped wearing cute pjs years ago and now just want a soft pair of shorts. I made some years ago and both boys have worn them and passed them down and now they are literally falling apart. {photos below}
The boys are sad I didn’t have the same fabric to make more exactly the same, but I found some other really soft fabric to sew these sleep shorts.
Free Pajama Shorts Pattern
ok… I can’t wait to share the photos of the shorts my boys have worn to shreds! You can see the original shorts when they were fresh here. My oldest wore them for a few years, then passed them down. They were made in 2016 and have been worn since then {when not in the wash} I guess I can’t be too surprised they fell apart.
My son put these on the other night and the back had the huge hole, so I said it was time for these to go in the trash and I would make him some sew him some new sleep shorts in exchange. And… if I’m sewing for one, I usually sew for both of these crazies.
You really can use any of my boys pants/shorts patterns for sleep shorts, but I wanted something loose and cozy for theses. I found some super soft Bamboo cotton in my stash and used the family pj pattern for the base. I shortened it for shorts, but I’ll show you how to do that below.
Other free PJ patterns to check out
Sewing pattern for pajama shorts
Supplies needed to sew this free pajama shorts pattern:
- Soft fabric {Some of my favorites here}
- Bamboo Rayon Spandex {similar to what I used here} on Fabric {dot} com or
- Amazon
- Stretch Jersey {on fabric.com} OR
- Amazon
- Free sleep shorts pattern {I used the family pj pattern – shortened}
The family pj pants pattern was made for flannel, so it ends up baggy when you use knit. I don’t mind at all for these pajama shorts, but you can always size down if you wanted a bit more fitted too. I sewed the boys their sizes on the size chart, but you can see the shorts could be smaller and still be great.
How to sew sleep shorts
Ok! So let’s talk about putting these shorts together. You can always get the full tutorial over on the family pj post, but I’ll show you a few things here and write out the steps.
First, let’s talk about shortening the pattern to create shorts. I printed the pattern as seen here. I traced the size I needed for the first pair of shorts on tissue paper. Due to the size of my tissue, I didn’t get the full leg length, but I just added it when I cut my fabric. You can measure the inseam of a pair of shorts your kid has to determine inseam… or measure child, or cut fabric and then try on before hemming.
In order to make my two pairs slightly different I added a colored waistband to one of them. My boys don’t take the time to check the size, so I have to make it obvious that one is different. In order to add a waistband I removed the two 2″ from the top of the pattern. Then cut a 3″ piece of fabric for the waistband. Trim the waistband to match the same size as the top of your shorts.
With right sides of fabric together sew:
- curved front and back crotch seams
- match center seam and sew leg inseam
- turn right side out and add waistband
- sew short end of waistband together
- fold long side together with wrong sides touching
- pin/clip the waistband in place around the top of the shorts
If you aren’t added a separate waistband, just fold over the top of the shorts 1.25″ and sew to create the casing.
Either waistband option, leave a opening to thread elastic. Thread elastic, sew in a circle and then close the opening.
Hem the legs to finish the sleep shorts.
Here are my finished too options. SO super soft and comfy!!! My boys are wearing them in bed right now as I type this up and that makes my momma heart happy.
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