Handmade cotton pajama shorts

With surplus fabric left over from my summer skirt, I considered making a little top but realised I had the perfect fabric for some lovely lightweight sleepwear for summer. So I got out my tried and true pajama pattern by Closet Core Patterns and whipped up a pair of pajama shorts.

I had intended on eliminating pockets, but I completely forgot to continue the side seams all the way up, and thus I ended up with a front pattern than was cut to include pockets. But that's okay, I had enough fabric for it, and they still look great.

The two alterations I made to the pattern was, first, to make the waistband really narrow. I had enough fabric for the 1.5" waistband the pattern calls for, but the fabric is so whisper-light that I thought it might be nicer to treat the waistband more delicately. The second was to eliminate the cuffs from the legs. I originally included them to add some length to the leg, but felt that the longer leg and thick cuffs looked a bit weird on me, so I removed them; instead, folding up a very narrow hem on each leg.

I am very pleased with the results.

Cost breakdown

I purchased 0.75m of fabric, for $33. I used this to line a tote bag and make a summer skirt, so it served three projects. I used the most for the skirt, but I don't know exact amounts, so I've divided the cost into 3 and attributed $11 of fabric to each. I also used a spool of thread which spanned two projects, and a piece of elastic.

Costs in NZD:

• Fabric: $33/3 = $11

• Thread: $5/2 = $2.50

• Elastic: Approx $2

Total: $15.50

There were competitive prices when I went to see how 'well' I had done, in frugality. Pajama shorts which were 100% cotton were coming up for as little as $7, but I didn't actually like any of them.

I didn't want ribbed, and I don't like the sports style of some, where the hems are rounded off at each side seam.

I also don't suit the very baggy style that almost every pair, cheap or expensive, do. I bought some very luxurious linen ones about 3 years ago, but didn't keep them because they looked ridiculous on me.

I also don't like twisting or bunching, so they need to be close cut, without restricting, and fairly short. A pair I saw in a forest green more to my taste were $60.

That's a no from me...

The results

I love these shorts! I'm really pleased with them. Previously I've opted for a plain black and a plain white set of cotton/linen shorts, and this year I have felt myself looking for more colour.

These shorts look great with black, so for this 'pajama set' I will wear these with a black top, my Vince flats as 'slippers' and if I need to, my black cotton kimono wrap over the top. (Sometimes, even in summer, I find the breeze in the house cool enough to want something to cover my arms just a little bit.)

I think even sleepwear should be both utilitarian and beautiful. Something to look forward to slipping on, but also that doesn't look too much like pajamas. I would have no issue with pottering about the kitchen in the morning in this attire. I like sleepwear to have the slightest nod to regular clothing, but not quite.

The 'not quite' is what keeps them novel for bedtime.

Polished. Tasteful. But not leaving the house.

Handmade cotton pajama shorts