RBD Flannel Hop ~ Pajama Pants & Faux-Piped PJ Pillow!

It's Day 2 of the Riley Blake Designs Flannel Exhibition Blog Tour!

When I was a kid, it was a tradition to get a new nighty or jammie bottoms to wear on Christmas Eve.  So soft and warm to snuggle in on the night before Christmas.

Oh, my...  We are all just little angels!

Last Christmas Eve, after an Über-busy season, I finally had a minute to make pajama pants for my own family.  I made 5 pair that night.  They were mostly Riley Blake Designs' flannels, with a little Zombie Apocalypse cotton thrown in...

I'd previously made a pair for my dear husband, and still needed to make some for my son, but his legs were toooo long for the amount of fabric I had, so he got shorts.  Which he wore over his long thermal underwear.  You'll just have to imagine - I was laughing so hard, I forgot to snap a picture!  But with this hop, I have the perfect excuse to make some for my little boy.

He is working on an aviation degree...

... and I just HAD to use the Fly Aweigh flannel that features little airplanes and helicopters... Awwwww.

PJ pants are one of the first projects I teach my 4-H kids at summer sewing camp (for the past 15 years), not to mention the million pair of pants and PJs made for my own brood when they were little.  I've learned a few tips:

1)  No Surprises:  Prewash.  I don't normally prewash fabric for quilts, but if I'm sewing articles of clothing, I want to be sure that I don't get any shrinkage after construction.  Allow extra yardage for shrinkage and a bit of raveling.

And this high quality, soft flannel is even more luscious after washing and drying.  Even after nearly 9 months of use (yes, I quilt in my jammies), mine are as soft as ever.

2)  Save Stitches:  Nothing fancy.  I like to use a pattern with no side seam. If it does have a side seam I've been known to pin the front and back together at the side seam.  I skip the pockets too.  Sometimes I use elastic, sometimes a self-tie at the waist, sometimes both.

3)  Pattern Usage:  Unless you are using an old pair of pants or PJs as a pattern base, use the markings on the pattern to align on grain.  They'll look and hang better if you do.  Add length or shorten on the indicated lines.  Then lower the waistline by about 3" for today's fit.  Your kids will thank you.

4)  Clean-Finish:  That's a fancy way to say finish the edges of your fabric so the seams won't ravel. Serge or Zig-Zag the edges.

5)  Get to Know Your Buttonholer.  Practice making buttonholes on scraps.  Mark the line, hook up the fancy foot or press the right buttons.  Even most old machines have a buttonhole dial.  Be sure to use stabilizer - a bit of heavy-weight fusible interfacing does the trick.

6)  Double-Stitch the Crotch Seam.  'Nuff said.

And... just because...  I made a PJ pillow to match.  Applique'd with fusible adhesive (Heat'n'Bond Lite) and a blanket stitch.  The back is a double flap overlap (skip the zipper; button and buttonhole also optional.  Can you tell it's my quest to simplify?)  Machine-bind with a simple faux-piped binding (see complete TUTORIAL << here) and you're all set!

Quick PJ Pillow with Faux-Piped Binding

1) PILLOW TOP:  

Cut an 18" x 14" rectangle for the pillow top.   

Applique' the biplane pieces as pictured below.
Download applique' pattern >>  BIPLANE APPLIQUE' TEMPLATES

2)  PREPARE PILLOW BACK:
Cut one 18" x 20" rectangle; fold in half (18" x 9")
(Optional:  Stitch a buttonhole in the center, about 1" from folded edge)
Lay out with raw edges at the top and sides, folded edge toward you.
Cut one 18" x 16" rectangle; fold in half (18" x 8") and lay out over first flap
with folded edge overlapping at center to create an 18" x 14" rectangle.  Pin at overlap.

Layer pillow top over prepared pillow back, wrong sides together.    

Match raw edges and pin, then stitch to baste edges.  

3)  PREPARE BINDING:

Outer color:  Cut 2 @ 1-1/4" strips;  Piping color:  2 @ 1-1/2" strips.  

Sew each color at the short ends, then sew both strips lengthwise together using 1/4" seams.  

Press in half, lengthwise.  This will form the flange that will become our faux-piping. 

4)  STITCH BINDING to back side of basted pillow, accent color UP.  

Form miters and finish seam as with any quilt binding.
Here's the Basic Binding TUTORIAL <<

  

5)  QUICK MACHINE FINISH:
Bring binding to the pillow front and pin, clip or use a glue-stick to hold in place.
Stitch-in-the-Ditch by machine, pivoting at the cornes; overlap beginning stitches, clip threads.

Cute pillow top...

...and the back.

Stuff your jammies in the back of the PJ pillow for storage, like we did as kids.

Love me some soft flannel jammies!   *Ü*  

Fly Aweigh Flannels by Samantha Walker for Riley Blake Designs

 Flannel nighties, Christmas 1971.  Oh, yeah.

Don't miss the rest of the schedule for the RBD Flannel Exhibition Blog Tour.  The hop started last Friday, and new projects will be showcased every Tuesday and Friday from now until November 4th!

9/5 Julia - Riley Blake Designs - Flannel Play Dress

9/9 Deonn - Quiltscapes - Pajama Pants & Faux-Piped PJ Pillow

9/12 Bonnie - Fishsticks Designs - Reversible Button Bibs

9/19 Remona - The Stitching Scientist - Toddler Nightgown

9/23 Paula - Sassy Quilter - Patchwork Dog Bed

9/26 Liz - Simple Simon & Co. - Flannel Pajamas

9/30 Heidi - Fabric Mutt - Seat Cushion

10/3 Carol - Just Let Me Quilt - Nightgown & Quilted Cape

10/7 Amanda - Jedi Craft Girl - Baby Blanket & Burpers

10/10 Rose - Rose and Odin - Christmas Pillowcases

10/14 Mdm. Samm - Sew We Quilt - Newborn Nightgown

10/17 Marni - Haberdashery Fun - HST Baby Blanket

10/21 Karen - Leigh Laurel Studios - Personalized Pet Bed

10/24 Julia - Riley Blake Designs - Chenille Baby Blanket & Pillow

10/28 Sara - Flannel Queen - City Gym Shorts in Flannel

10/31 Lucy - Lucy Blaire - The Cora Dress

11/4 Riley Blake Designs Final Post + Giveaway