D.I.Y. LOUNGING PANT--without a pattern! :)

Do you have that pair of lounging pants that you absolutely love?!  You know the ones! They are super cozy and they aren't too short (I HATE THAT).  Well, my friends, that is how I feel about my "Stewie Pants".  Well, actually, they are my husbands's "Stewie Pants" but that's beside the point. ;)

Awhile back my husband and I made a Halloween costume.  Being that it was our first time, we weren't quite sure how much of the main yellow fabric to get.  Erroring on the side of caution, we ended up getting about 4 yards more than we needed.  Please don't laugh.  To our credit, we did ask the lady at JoAnn's and that is how we were directed.   Needless to say, we had A BUNCH left over.

I have been really wanting to make some comfy lounging pants, especially since I am sad to say, my "Stewie Pants" have almost had it.  Not quite yet, but they are getting there.  Because I had so much of this yellow fabric, I decided to use it as a test.  Worst case scenario, I fail, and this lovely yellow fabric will have to be discarded.  Best case scenario, I have a pair of really cool yellow pants.  Hey, the fabric goes back to what I was saying about being SUPER COZY.  The color may just take a bit of time to get used to. 

This was my first time making something like this without a pattern.  I am actually really happy with the way they turned out.  If you have some lovely fabric you need to get rid of, this is a great way to use it.  

WHAT YOU NEED:

Approximately 3 of fabric 

Thread that matches your fabric

Scissors

3/4 inch Elastic-however much you choose for a comfortable waist band. 

Sewing gauge

Ironing board

Iron

Needle

Large metal paperclip or Large Safety pin

Step 1:  Fold your fabric in half.  Neatly fold your old pajama pants in half. Place on top of fabric. 

Step 2:  Cut around your pants, allowing extra fabric for seams.  Make sure you stretch your elastic of your old pants to give you an idea of how wide you need to keep your new fabric on the top.  You can see I just cut straight instead of curving.  I allowed approximately 1/2 inch on the sides and about 2 inches on the top and bottom.  

Step 3: Lay a new piece of your fabric out, doubled again.  Flip your cut out piece on top and carefully cut around it.

Step 4:  You should now have 4 individual pieces that look like this.

*Note the curved part of the fabric. 

 Step 5:  I used a lattice type setting on my sewing machine here.  I don't have a serger so this is what I did instead to reinforce this area.  You don't have to do this if you don't want to.  I did this just as a test to see if it hold up better when a do this to the edge. :)

Step 6:  Sew the long line on the left, top to bottom.  

Step 7:  Open it up.

Step 8:  With your iron, press the seam open. 

Step 9:  Next, we will start with the bottom hem.

Step 10:  Fold approximately 1/4 inch.  Press with the iron.

Step 11:  Fold again approximately 1/4 inch.  Press with the iron.

Step 12:  Sew as close to the edge as you can. 

Step 13:  Make sure you line it up nice. :)

Step 14:  Now go back to your ironing board.  Fold again, this time fold it to 1 inch.   Press with the iron. 

Step 15: Sew. I did two lines so it was more decorative on the outside.  I did one as close to the edge as I could and the other I just went in a little bit.  That was just my preference. You can do just one line if you would like. 

*REPEAT STEPS 6-15 ON THE OTHER TWO PIECES!!!

Step 16:  Now we will work on the top.  

Step 17: Just as you did before in step 10, fold approximately 1/4 inch.  Press.

Then fold again approximately 1/4 inch (as you did in Step 11).  

Sew as close to the edge (as you did in Step 12).

Step 18:  Return to your ironing board and fold again for your elastic.  I ended up making this a little smaller than I have shown here.  Just make sure you leave enough room for your elastic so it won't roll. 

After determining how wide to make it,  press again.

Step 19:  Sew along the edge as close as you can.  Here, again, I sewed an extra line for decoration. (Once again, I apologize for not getting the picture. I was on a roll. :)

*REPEAT STEPS 16-19 ON THE OTHER PIECE!*

Step 20:  Now lay one of your opened pieces with seams down.  Lay the next opened piece on top of that one with seams up.  

Step 21:  Now you will be sewing both of these curves.  

Step 22:  Make sure you start just below where your waist will be. If you start right at the top you will not be able to get your elastic in. 

Step 23:  After you have completed sewing the curves, it's time to start seeing pants.  Grab the two middle seams and lift up and shake your fabric a little.

Step 24:  TA DA...they are starting to look like pants now. :)

Step 25:  Matching the seams at the crotch, sew the inseam.  That is the U between your "legs". 

Step 26:  Measure your elastic the length that you would like.  Hook a metal paperclip or a large safety pin on the end of your elastic.

Step 27:  Carefully feed your elastic into the waist band.  Once again, I forgot a picture but I have full confidence you understand what I mean. :)

Make sure you don't pull your elastic too :far.  I hate having to redo that part.

When you get your elastic through, grab the ends of the elastic, go to the sewing machine and sew them together.

Situate the fabric to your liking.

Step 28:  At the side seams, fold fabric to look nice and using a needle and thread, sew your sides shut.  As you can tell by the picture, I need a little work in this area.  Give me a break.  This was my first time. ;)

Step 29:  And now you have a great pair of lounging pants--that you made---with no pattern!  FUN!

The Nifty Tote Bag

One of my boards on Pinterest is specifically dedicated for "Bags & Purses". I love cute bags, and when you can make them yourself, it's even better! A lot of times you can use similar patterns, just switch up your fabric, and add a few accents to make many different bags that are easy to sew.

I recently joined Weight Watchers, so I have the books to help calculate and track what I'm eating. Unfortunately, the edges are already getting worn because I keep tossing them in my purse on my way out the door. (Usually that means shoving them in, trying to make room, because it's already jam-packed full.) I decided to make a small tote, with a zipper so my books don't fall out, and came up with this!

I used 2 different prints because I like the contrast of the straps, but you can use whatever you like. 

This tote bag is lined, padded, and has a zipper closure!

You will need:

(4) Ends: 4 1/2" x 11"

(4) Sides: 11" x 13"

(4) Tops: 2 1/2" x 14"

(2) Bottoms: 4 1/2" x 13"

(2) Straps: 4" x 40"

(1) Zipper: 16-18"

****Batting***

Step 1: Cut out your pieces of fabric, and make sure they are ironed flat and ready to go.

Step 2: Beginning with the straps, fold them in half lengthwise so they look inside out. (Like the strap on the left side in the photo below.) Then, tuck in one end and pull it right side out. Iron them out flat with the seam down the center. Repeat with the other strap and set both aside for later.

Step 3: Now add the zipper to the 4 pieces for the top. (I forgot to take a picture of these steps, but below is what it should look like when you're done.) Place 2 strips, right sides facing each other. Lift the edge and sandwich the zipper between them along the edge, teeth side in. Lay the top flap back down. Pin and sew in place. Turn right side out so the zipper teeth are now on the outside edge, and the right sides of the fabric are facing outward, and sew along the edge closest to the zipper. Repeat on the other side of the zipper with the 2 remaining strips. Set this aside also.

Step 4: Take 2 of the side pieces. Place them facing right sides together. Place a piece of batting on top that is the same size as the fabric.

Step 5: Sew along all four edges, leaving a gap.

Step 6: Turn it right side out and push the corners out. (Don't worry about the gap right now. You will fold it in and sew it shut later.) Repeat steps 4,5, & 6 with the remaining sides and the bottom and end pieces.

Step 7: Once you're done, this is what you should have. Lay the pieces out to be sure they line up correctly. The bottom section is in the center, the ends north and south, and the side pieces west and east.

(Be sure to have the gaps towards the center, not on the outsides.)

Step 8: Fold the gaps inward and lay the bottom piece on top of the long edge of the side piece. Sew in place. Repeat with other side piece.

Step 9: At this point, you should be able to lay your "bag" out like this. Grab your straps that you had set aside and arrange them like so. Bring them around to meet in the center of the bottom panel. (This is the outside of the bag.)

Step 10: Fold the straps inside each other to make a clean line. Pin in place.

Step 11: Sew along either edge of both straps, being sure to leave a 1/2-3/4 inch gap at the ends.

Step 12: Now line up the end pieces and sew in place.

Step 13: Begin folding the pieces up like a box and pinning the edges. Sew in place. Repeat on all four sides until it resembles a bag.

Step 14: Now grab the zipper section. Fold in edges and iron until smooth.

Step 15: With the bag turned right side out, lay the zipper section across the open end of the bag. Tuck the ends into the bag, and pin in place. Repeat on other end. Do not sew it closed yet.

Step 16: Continue pinning the two long sides of the zipper section to the bag. Sew ONLY the long sides in place at this point.

Step 17: Open the zipper and flip the bag inside out. (Now is when you'll finish the ends of the zipper section.) Sew across each end. Trim off excess fabric. (This is the inside of your bag.)

Step 18: Now turn the bag right side out again, and finish off the ends of the zipper section by sewing along the edges.

That's it! :)

HOWEVER...

I always seem to add extra steps to my projects. {Don't ask me why. I know I'm crazy.} You can choose to forego the last two steps, if you'd like. Totally up to you!

Step 19 (optional): Lay the bag on it's side so you can have access to the straps.

Step 20 (optional): Fold the strap in half lengthwise and pin in place. Sew along the edge until you get about 1/2 inch away from either end. Repeat on other strap.

Okay.....NOW you're done. :)

Perfect for my books!

Now go make your own! :)