3.27.2009

Lounge Pants, Molly-fied

I rarely follow directions. Perhaps this is a common trait of the idle person. Instead I look for efficient short cuts. The faster I can complete a task, the more time I have to play. The word I use for this process is Molly-fication, a play on the word modification.

So of course I had to Molly-fy Amy Butler's Lounge Pant pattern. Like many bloggers before me, I've made myself a few pairs of the lounge pants out of vintage sheets. In order to complete these pants faster and give myself more time to lounge in them, I came up with two tricks. (Excuse my writing and drawing - I don't spend much idle time working on these two skills.)

pj instructions

Trick #1: Overlap the pattern pieces for the front and back by 1/2 inch, thereby eliminating the side seam. Fold your fabric (sheets really work great) in half and cut out the pants in two pieces, rather than four. Sew the inseams, turn one leg right-side out and place inside the inside-out leg. Sew the crotch seam. Complete waist according to pattern.

Trick #2: Skip the hem. Instead, use the hem of the sheet as the hem of the pant. Determine desired length of lounge pants, fold or cut the pattern piece accordingly, and place the bottom of the pattern at the bottom of the sheet.

I've made two pairs of lounge pants this way, taking advantage of the decorative detail at the top of each sheet.

lounge pants

old sheet, new pants

As my mother-in-law pointed out, this shortcut does not create a traditional hem. But I say, they are lounge pants made out of old sheets. Who cares if the hem isn't traditional? I'm way over hems anyways. Being five feet tall, I have to shorten nearly every pair of pants I bring home. For years now I've been avoiding the hemming process by simply cutting my pants to the desired length and letting them fray. I personally like the look.

So there you have it. My lounge pant time saving tricks. You can make a pair in just over an hour (depending on how many times you're called away from sewing to make someone a snack) and lounge in comfort the rest of the day, not to mention the sense of pride you'll have wearing something you've made. Happy lounging!

47 comments:

  1. i've been thinking about this very project for summer. glad it worked for you - cute pants!

    and traditional hems are way overrated. ;)

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  2. Very clever! I'll keep these tricks in mind. I love the detail on the hems...it's perfect. I'm always having to hem up my pants too. at 5'2" it's hard to find even pants labeled "short" that are short enough. I've started just cuffing my jeans...

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  3. Very crafty Mollyfications!

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  4. I love the new banner. Reminds me of the short "For the Birds" on the Monster's Inc. I can't wait to see these chicks.

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  5. I love the deep decorative hems, myself!

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  6. i love how they turned out! very lounge-worthy indeed! :)

    btw, do the chickens ever fight? just wondering!

    have a wonderful weekend! karen

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  7. I feel inspired! I just gave birth to my second child five days ago, so I probably won't be making these very soon. Now, I can hardly wait! Thanks for the mods. I've been looking at the pattern for months, intimidated.

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  8. yes and thank you.

    making these.

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  9. and wow, i am not naomi. i am kristin. my daughter is naomi and she has an email address now....messing me all up.

    sheesh

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  10. thanks for the shortcut tips! i've been thinking about making these and the shortcuts might be just what i need to get going on them.

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  11. nicely done. and, my those hens are getting big!

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  12. Those are wonderful. And the shortcuts make them even more so! So nice to meet you. Have a wonderful lounging weekend!

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  13. these are so incredibly cute! i don't understand how you did them in the least, but i intend to figure it out. ;)

    ~tara

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  14. Love these pants and thanks so much for the info on the almonds. I think I will look into them!!! I love the photos of the girls (our code name for chickens). We have an Easter Egger that looks just like yours!

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  15. perfect! and being of the five foot tall class also, i second your tailoring method.

    now, i just have to go find some sheets as pretty as yours.

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  16. I love the sheet top as hem idea! Especially in the first photo -- so cute!

    I've been cutting pants in just two pieces for a while, and I have one other tip to offer -- instead of sewing the inseams first and then fiddling with one leg inside the other, sew the crotch seams first, as two short seams, and then line them up and sew the inseams as one long straight seam. Not a huge difference from your method, I just find it easier and a bit less fiddly.

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  17. Those are great! I really like the extra touches for the hems; I'm kinda' short too. Thank you for sharing your shortcuts.

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  18. Very fun...I did the same thing with a nightgown...I like my non-traditional hem!

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  19. F.A.B.U.L.O.U.S.!!!! My fiend is about to have her first baby and after having had two of my own, I know the power and seductive quality of loungewear.... In fact, the only way I can get my girls out of their jammies in the morning is to produce their "loungewear". I'll make some of these for my friend so she can escape the horror of my life; sweatpants... So, where are these fantastic thrift shops where you bloggin' babes are finding these incredible vintage sheets?!!!!

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  20. Those look great!! I love the unusual hem and the vintage sheets.

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  21. Oh, my goodness!! Serious cuteness :) Love them.... especially the pink!

    Cute new banner, too. where was that taken? I can't picture that in your backyard.

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  22. I love them, so nice! They look extremely comfy, the new banner picture is so adorable, they are so cute..

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  23. Ahhh, I love your new banner! Beautiful. Like the sign I saw once at Sac. State that said "chicken spelled backwards is love." It's true.
    And, may I put my order in for one pair of lounge pants? Love them!!!

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  24. HA! Mollyfication - absolutely LOVE it!!!

    Ok, so tell me Little Miss Molly - have you a post somewhere on what to do with vintage pillow cases? I have a bunch I am about to Freecycle, but if you can help me find a use for them, I will keep them a bit longer. HELP!

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  25. Excellent! You have the best sheets/lounge pants around!

    And I love your new banner up there, too. Hello laaaaaadies!

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  26. With your instructions I'm so going to try this! And....I tried to hem a pair of jeans - total disaster! But now I feel I have permission to wear them frayed. Yay, You!!!

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  27. Hi There Friend,
    Just popping in to say a quick "hello" and to let you know that I think you are a genius for thinking of that hem trick!
    I might just have to carve out some free time to give this one a whirl!

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  28. How beautiful! I want to make myself a pair RIGHT NOW! And I can't really sew but with your short cuts I might just give it a try. What a beautiful blog you have!

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  29. This is genius! I'm also a 5 foot person, so this trick will be perfect for me. Now off to find some vintage sheets.

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  30. I love your modifications! Both pairs are fab but I LOVE the bottom pair. These lounge pants have been on my to do list for ages, and I have stacks of vintage sheets -- I think I may actually make them now! Thank you!

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  31. You are so cute. I couldn't wrap my brain around how to do the crotch seam (I hate the word crotch...) this weekend when I cut out another pair, but I will be trying this molly-fication. (Love the new word)

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  32. those pants!! they are sooooo cute. I want to make some NOW! My sweats are tired and have holes in them, I need some pretty lounge pants just like that, and I think I have just the right sheets.

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  33. i made my pair in a similar way - using the edge of the sheet for the hem. mine still turned out really long though and i will now have to hem the hem. can't wait to try your shortcut on my next pair(s).

    love your sheets, too!

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  34. How clever! Great idea. =)

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  35. brilliant! i am definitely going to try this.

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  36. genius and quite flowy and beautiful.

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  37. oh! thanks for the shortcut!
    i am totally in love with my lounge pants.
    and on a mission for some new sheets.

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  38. oh i have wanted some of these FOREVER!!!! i have no sewing machine??? can i duck tape a pair??? hmmm probably not. drats.

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  39. mollified. you're cool. i've been thinking i maybe need to add hems to my pants, now, if i'm looking a decade out of date. i don't think i will, though,as that would mean adding hems to every last pair i own. i love the modifications, i'm going to copy them.

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  40. That's pretty much what I did too with the bottom hem, but didn't think about eliminating the side seam. You know me...always looking for a short cut. This is great!

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  41. those pants are about enough to put me over the edge. you found the best sheets! love them molly.

    i fear if i make some i may never wear anything else. ever. again...

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  42. Love your redo on the pattern, very efficient, and I do have some sheets...

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  43. Oh my goodness, those are adorable!!!

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  44. I love these pants! I have a stack of sheets just waiting to be turned into something.

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  45. Wow - great tips and love the idea of using the vintage sheets - thanks :)

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  46. Those look great! I need to give them a try. I love the sheets!

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