Tips and Tricks for Making Children's Pajamas
Instead of buying a special pattern, find a jogging suit pattern with raglan sleeves. Raglan sleeves tend to make a garment that will fit for a longer period of time.
If you're planning a night gown, consider your child's favorite tee shirt pattern, or peasant blouse pattern. Just by lengthening the pattern you saved yourself the purchase price of another pattern and you know it will fit.
Make a preprinted stuffed toy for bed time. They usually include a completed picture on the fabric. Use a fusible webbing to appliqué the finished picture to the front of the child's pajamas or night shirt.
Even if you use a pajama pattern, try revamping it to use ribbing around the neck and sleeve edges. Most children find it more comfortable.
If an elastic waist bothers your child, try using ribbing on the waist. I did this when I discovered I was out of elastic. It turned into my daughter's favorite pair.
Shop the clearance isles of your favorite fabric store for appropriate fabric. I've found flame resistant fabric in the marked down section for 44 cents a yard. I bought 10 yards and vary the color of the ribbing.
For cuffs on children's pajamas, I use a strip of ribbing that is 4" wide and 1/2" seam allowances.
For a neckline finish on children's pajamas, I use a 3" strip of ribbing and 1/2" seam allowances.
Directions for ribbing application
Use ribbing or self fabric which has a 50% stretch. If you are using self fabric, cut it out of the crosswise grain. (Crosswise grain is the opposite of cutting it horizontal to the salvage edge.)
Use a tape measure, standing on its edge, to measure the seam line of the area you want to attach ribbing to. Don't measure your seam allowances.
The formula for the amount of ribbing I use is: Two thirds of the total number of inches. For example, if the opening is 12 inches, 12 divided by 3 equals 4. 12 minus 4 equals 8 inches of ribbing.
Fold the ribbing strip to find the 1/4 marks. Divide the area you will be applying the ribbing to into 1/4's and mark the points. Match your 1/4 marks. Stretch the ribbing as you sew it on using a serger or stretch stitch.
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