My Pj Obsession

I shared this last week over at A Vision to Remember. I'm re-posting in case you missed it!

Today I'm sharing an obsession of mine... making pjs! I just love making pajamas for my little ones. I love how you can use crazy prints, old t-shirts, scraps, and wild appliques! My boys love seeing what I've come up with for them and I love trying out new things. I feel that with "real" clothes (ones that go outside) I have to be more careful, conservative and more polished. Sewing pajamas is fun and stress free.. AND when I use fabric I already have on hand... its a money saver!

It all started with this tutorial... Its hard to find good cotton stretch here in Hong Kong... So I use old t-shirts.  I still save every t-shirt my husband throws away... 

Then the next summer I got a little more creative and tried out drawstring pants and freezer paper stenciling on the pjs.

  

I created these cute pjs for my stint on So You Think You're Crafty. The twist was that the baby pants could be footies or footless with a simple fold... great for toddlers who like to run around. I also tried out making my own striped fabric with this project.

 

Last fall I experimented with a mens long sleeve shirt to turn it into a pair of long pants style winter Pjs. I call it my one hour Pjs, because you can make pants AND a shirt in less than an hour with this tutorial.

And for my latest project... another matchy matchy set of boys Pjs. I had adorable dinosaur fabric and and old blue t-shirt and heres what I came up with.

I'll be using this latest project to share a tutorial on resizing patterns ( a little larger or smaller) today... So come on over and check it out!

My Pajama Obsession! Resizing a pants pattern {tutorial}

Today I'm over at A Vision To Remember helping Bobbie out during her maternity leave. I've done a whole post on Pjs... Go over to her blog and check it out!!!

So.... back here... I'm sharing more on my latest Pjs project and how I took the MADE pants pattern (2/3T) and used it for both my 18 mth size and 4T size pants. I LOVE this free pattern from MADE. I've been using it for my oldest for over a year now... At the moment the original pattern doesn't fit either of my kids... So it was time to make a few changes. 

I started by printing out the original pattern and went from there. Lets start with the 4T (enlarging the pattern).  Pin the pattern on the material leaving some room around all sides. I made this one size larger by adding about a 1/3 of an inch to the inseam, crotch and side seams. I added more at the top and bottom. You can take inseam measurements to see how much to add to the bottom.

 Now, onto the the smaller size (18 mths). Again, I pinned the pattern to the fabric, only this time I cut about 1/3 of an inch less from the side seams. My son is in cloth diapers so I didn't change the inseam (I wanted a roomy butt). I left the crotch seam the same, but shortened the legs (of course!) In this picture I've showed the back side so you can see how the fabric is smaller than the pattern.

 

Oh, and I also added an applique on the shirt to make it more of a matching set!

Shared here:
http://adventuresofadiymom.blogspot.com/2012/04/terrific-tuesday-12.html

Making the World Cuter Mondays-Making the World Cuter

Made By You Mondays-Skip to My Lou

Market Yourself Mondays-Sumo's Sweet Stuff

Motivate Me Monday-Crafts Keep Me Sane

Craftastic Mondays-Sew Can Do

Motivated Mondays-Becolorful

A Marvelous Mess-Marvelously Messy

Creative Me Monday-Southern Institute for Domestic Arts & Crafts

Making Monday Marvelous-C.R.A.F.T
Craft and Tell - Cherished Bliss 
JAQ Studios-Made by ME 
Bringing Beauty-Beautify it Monday
More the merrier Monday-diy Home Sweet Home
Made With Love Monday- Sew Chatty
Craft-O-Manic Monday- Craft-O-Maniac
Metamorphosis Monday - Between Naps on the Porch
Mad Skills - Mad in Crafts
Inspire Me Monday - Singing Three Little Birds 
 Sandy’s Organizing Mission Mondays – Organize with Sandy *
  Sassy Sites – Operation Organization Monday
Manic MOnday- Serendipity and Spice
Busy Monday-A Pinch of Joy

Pocket Shorts {tutorial}

As part of my kids clothing week challenge, I once again used the basic kid pants pattern from MADE and added my own flair. (she should be paying me for all my advertising!) I have made her pattern with pants, shorts, pjs, overalls and with pockets on outside...however I wanted to try and put pockets inside, and I love the result.

 They do look better on the older one...the chubby baby belly isn't as nice in the flat front pants, but they both look cute.

 Want to make your own?

Start by printing your own Made Pant Pattern.

You can see the mark I made on the top of the pattern. You want to take off around an inch from the top. Also, cut the pattern on the line for the flat front. I made my own pocket pattern by tracing the top and side of the pants and making a curve in the middle. You can see above. 

You will also need a waistband 2 and 1/2 inches x by the width of the pants.

Cut 4 pockets

Cut off the corner of the pant front as below..

Start by sewing the front pants together at the mid seam.

 

 Cut two of the four pocket pieces to match the edge of the pants.

 You will have two of each kind.  Make sure you have a left and a right pocket.

Sew around the curve of the pocket.

 With the curve seam facing you, pin and sew the angled edge of the pockets together. Check to see that when you fold the pocket over that it is facing the right way.

 Top stitch the pocket edge seam. (see my pins below)

 

I also basted the top of the shorts (see pins)

 I did this next step after I had sewed on the waistband, but really it should be done now.

Sew the pockets down. I sewed from the backside along the seam edge.

 

Measure and cut the width of your waistband at this point.

 Leaving a 1/3 inch around all side, iron on a piece of stiff interfacing.

 Fold over and sew with right sides together to the pant fronts.

 At this point now you will be working on the back. Sew the back together at the mid seam. The make a casing for the back elastic. Measure the kid.. measure the front of the shorts and figure out how much to gather the back of the shorts. I don't have a serger, so I just zig-sagged, then folded over the casing.

 I threaded the elastic and sewed on both side. (oh add a label before you gather if wanted)

 Sew the inseam first with the front and back. Then sew the side seams.

 

Trim to the desired length and hem. If you have a serger, I would just serge and fold over, but I did a double fold. Then I trimmed up all my threads and I was done!

 

Please let me know if you have any questions or comments, thanks!

 

Linking up to these great parties:

Get Your Craft On-Todays Creative Blog

Sew Cute Tuesdays-Creative Itch

Take a Look Tuesday-Sugar Bee Crafts
Tell Me Tuesday-Me and My Boys 
Talent Show Tuesdays-Chef in Training 
Strictly Homemade Tuesday-Strictly Homemade
Show Me What You Got - Not JUST A Housewife
Terrific Under en Tuesday-At Home With K
Handmade Tuesdays - Ladybug Blessings
Anti Procrastination Tuesday - New Nostalgia
Tutorial Tuesday - Hope Studios
Too Cute Tuesday - Funky Polkadot Giraffe
Tuesday Time Out - Reasons To Skip the Housework
Tip Me Tuesday - Tip Junkie
A Little Birdie Told Me - Rook No. 17
Anything Goes - Type A
One Project at a Time - A Bowl Full of Lemons
Creating A House Of Grace – Twice Owned Tuesdays *
 Thrifty Decor Chick - Organize it *
A Stroll through Life – Table Top Tuesday
The Happy Housewife - Show Me What You Got *
Time to Shine-A Diamond in the Stuff

We Did It Wednesdays-Sew Much Ado

Sugar & Spice and Everything Nice-Seven Thirty Three

Show & Tell-Blue Cricket Design

We're Organized Wednesday-Organize Your Stuff Now

Hoo's Got Talent?-Night Owl Crafting

Look What I Made-Creations by Kara 

 The Thrifty Home – Penny Pinching
  Someday Crafts - Whatever Goes Wednesday
  Bargain Shopping Paradise - Wallet Friendly Wednesday
  Savvy Southern Style - Wow Us Wednesdays
  Wicked Awesome Wednesday – Handy Man Crafty Woman
From Dream to Reality -the DIY Dreamer
Wednesday Wozers-Oopsey Daisey
What we Wore and Made Wednesday-Rae Gun Ramblings
Wow Me Wednesday-Gingersnaps Crafts
Homemade by You Wednesdays-Pincushion Creations

Baked Mexican Eggrolls and Tasty Tuesday Party

 

So, I know I shared rolls last week, but I just tried making BAKED eggrolls and it is AMAZING!! I don't know if I will ever fry these again! A family favorite of ours is to put Mexican filling in a springroll wrapper. Here's what I did:

I made two different fillings. One vegetarian and one with chicken. You will need:
1 can of corn
handful of spring onions chopped
1 cup of shredded mozz. cheese
1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese
2 avacados chopped
pinch of salt
can of black beans
2 chicken breasts (cooked and finely chopped).
if your family likes bean and chicken you can mix this all together, but in our house, some like chicken and some like beans, so I make two mixes. (this makes about 30 rolls, so you can adjust as needed).
Place a couple of spoonfuls of mix on a wrapper, roll and place on a GREASED sheet. When all the rolls are on the sheet, spray with cooking spray or brush with olive oil. Bake at 400 for 10 min, then turn over, sprinkle with more cheese and bake for another 10 min. They should be lightly toasted. Serve while warm. We eat with sour cream, salsa or ranch dressing.

You all made AMAZING food this week. Seriously we had the most links ever!! Wow, I had such a hard time choose a few to feature. I want to feature you all!!! Once again, links are posted to my facebook page and pinned!

Adventures of a DIY Mom-Boston Creme Donuts

Crazy for Crust-Chocolate Dipped Peanut Butter Donuts

Country Mom Cooks-Fruit and Grain Bars

Tessa Domestic Diva-Peanutbutter Cups

Play Eat Grow-Mozzarella Pesto Strata 

 Party on friends!