In this tutorial, we’ll be drafting a basic elastic-waist night pants pattern — a comfortable and easy-to-sew wardrobe essential that’s perfect for lounging, sleeping, or even casual wear.
This simple yet versatile draft can be adapted to create pants of any desired length, whether you prefer full-length pajama pants for cozy nights, capri-length pants for warmer weather, or Bermuda-style lounge pants for a breezy, relaxed fit.
The beauty of this pattern lies in its flexibility — by simply adjusting the length measurement, you can tailor it to your personal style and comfort. Whether you’re a beginner learning to draft your first pattern or an experienced sewist looking for a quick and satisfying project, these elastic-waist pants are a perfect choice.
You need only two measurements to draft this pattern:
1. Full length of the pants (from waist to the desired length [usually a few inches above the knee])
2. Hip round
Click the link below to browse all the free PDF sewing patterns for women:
Let's start drafting the pants pattern.
Night pants front pattern draft:
A to B = full length of the pants from the waist.
A to C is the crotch depth measurement. You can calculate crotch depth using this formula: hip round/4 + 2 inches. (You can add 0.5 or 1 inch of ease to this measurement, according to your preference.)
You can also take the crotch depth (or) body rise measurement on your body and add 0.5 or 1 inch for ease.
Draw horizontal lines from A, B, and C.
C to E = hip round/4 + 1 inch ease (or 1.5 inches if you want to have more ease) (C to E is the crotch line)
A to D is same as C to E.
E to F = hip round/12
E to H = hip round/8
E to I = half of E to F + 0.25 inch
Shape H-I-F as shown.
B to G = C to F minus 1 inch (B to G is the hemline)
Shape inside seam or leg seam F-G.
Night pants back pattern draft:
Back pattern can be drafted by adding the following measurements to the front pattern:
F to J = 1.5 inches
F to K = 0.75 inches
Join K and D.
K to M is same as E to H which is 1/8 hip.
Shape J-M as shown.
D to L = 0.75 inch
Join A and L.
G to N = 1.5 inches
Shape inside seam J-N.
Seam allowances:
Add 1.5 inches at the waistline for the casing for the elastic.
Add 1.5 inches at the bottom for hem.
Add 0.5 inches at the side seams (if you prefer to have side seams).
Add 0.5 at the fork (crotch curve) and inseam.
If you’re making these pants using heavier or bulkier fabrics such as wool, fleece, or velvet, you’ll need to make a few adjustments to ensure a comfortable fit.
Increase the crotch depth slightly to allow for the fabric’s thickness and to maintain ease of movement. In addition, add a little extra ease to the C–E measurement (the hip width) so the pants don’t feel tight or restrictive when sewn from heavier materials. These small modifications will help your pants drape nicely and fit comfortably, even with thicker fabrics.
You can find a free shorts pattern for kids' sizes 6 to 12 years at this link on my blog
Happy Sewing!
---Flora
