Make the Perfect Loungewear Set by Following This Tutorial

Tools and materials:

• Pattern
• Measuring tape
• Elastic
• Scissors
• Tape
• Fabric (I used 3 yards of a cotton and linen blend)
• Sewing pins
• Sewing machines
• Ruler
• Pen
• Safety pin
• Iron
• Marking chalk
• Buttons
• Needle and thread
• Seam ripper

To get started, you’re going to need to purchase, download, and print your pattern. You can do this all online, and if you check out the video, there’s a link in the description for the pattern I used. Once you’ve printed it out, you’ll need to put the papers together to create one large pattern. Then you’re going to use the guide that came with the pattern to take your measurements and trace the appropriate pattern to your size on a separate paper. 

If you want to create your own waistband, like I did, you’ll need to measure the width of the front of the shorts and the width of the back of the shorts on the pattern. Now take some paper and draw a rectangle that is 4” long and the width of the sum of the shorts. Add ½” seam allowance to both sides, then cut it out. 

I improvised and made my own pockets for this pattern, so if you want to do that as well, here’s how: Take some paper and draw a straight line, then draw a half-circle around your hand, connecting to the line. Cut it out and trim the sides, and there’s your pocket! 

Lay out your fabric, folded in half. I used about 3 yards of a cotton and linen blend. Then place your pattern pieces on the fabric and cut out the fabric around the pattern. You can use bottles or a plant or anything at all that’s weighted to help you cut around the pieces. 

Load your sewing machine with thread. The first thing you’re going to be sewing is the pockets. So take both the front and back pieces of the right leg and lie them down so that the sides are mirrored. Then take the pockets and place them in the middle of each piece, right sides together, with the flat sides of the pockets facing out. Then sew just the ends of the pockets to the leg pieces.

Now you’re going to take both sides of the leg and sew together the two pocket pieces. Go down the side seam, around the pocket, and all the way down the rest of the side seam. When you turn it right side out, you’ll be left with your pocket. Then line up the inner legs together and sew them in place. 

To connect the legs, you’re going to sew together the center front and center back seams. The easiest way to do this is by turning one leg right side out and placing it inside the inside-out leg. Then pin them along the center and sew. I know this sounds confusing, it was confusing for me at first, too. So if you need a visual, go to minute 5:07 in the video to watch me do this. 

Take your waistbands and place them right sides together, then sew them down at the sides. Unlike me, you want to make sure to leave a slit in the waistband for the elastic to go through. If like me, you didn’t do that, a seam ripper is your best friend. To make attaching the waistband easier, lie it down flat and fold up the bottom and top of the waistband ½” and then fold it in half. Now iron on the fold to get creases. 

Take the waistband and unfold it. Then pin it around the top of the shorts, right sides together, and sew it all around. Then you’re going to fold the waistband over to the other side of the shorts and pin it down. When you sew this part, you want it to be as close to the edge as possible. 

Wrap the elastic around your waist to see how much you need. Add an inch for seam allowance to whatever measurement you decide on. Then take a safety pin, the bigger the better, and pin it to one side of the elastic. If you lose your safety pin, make sure to check your hair…that’s where I found mine. Insert the safety pin into the opening of the waistband and feed it all the way through. When you reach the end, pull the two ends of the elastic and overlap them, then sew them back and forth a few times to keep the stitch secure. 

Take the pocket and fold it down by about an inch and press it with your iron. Then topstitch that down. Take the other four sides and fold them in, and press them as well. Then put the pocket down onto the shorts where you want it, and sew down the four sides. Reminder, don’t sew the top part because that’s where your hand goes. 

The last step for the shorts is going to be to hem the bottoms. Fold it up once, then a second time, and sew it down. Once you’ve done that, you’re ready to move on to the shirt!

Take the back piece of the shirt and lie it down. Then take the two front pieces and place them on top of the back piece, and sew them together at the shoulder seams.

Take your two pieces of facing, which is there to bind your fabric neatly, and sew them right sides together at the center back. Then you’re going to attach the facing onto the shirt by lining the part that you sewed with the center back and pin it all around. Then take it to your sewing machine and sew where you pinned it.

Take your scissors and cut little triangles around the neckline of the shirt. This allows the neckline to be able to stretch more. Then you’re going to press the seam allowance up toward the facing and make a seam on the seam allowance right above your first seam. Then fold down the facing and press it with your iron. 

Loungewear shirt with sleeves

Step: Add the sleeves

To add the sleeves, take the pieces and line the back of the sleeve piece up with the back of the shirt. Pin it into place and then sew it all around. 

Making the cuff is similar to the waistband. Fold it down ½” on both sides and press the folds. Then fold it in half lengthwise and press it again. Then unfold the cuff and pin it to the wrong side of the sleeve, finally sewing it in place. Then fold the cuff over to the right side and sew it down really close to the edge. 

To connect the front and back of the shirt you’re going to sew under the sleeve and down the side. So grab your shirt and fold it down, right sides together, and pin and sew along the sleeve and down the side seams. After you sew that down, just do another rolled hem at the bottom. 

Use marker chalk to determine where you want the buttons to be on the front of the shirt. Then take your buttonhole foot, set all the settings on your machine to buttonhole, and sew your buttonholes on the shirt. Then use your seam ripper to rip open the middle of the buttonhole. Lastly, hand-sew the buttons in place. Wow, I am officially sick of the word buttonhole. 

You guys! I am obsessed with this loungewear set. It is so cute! I absolutely love how it came out and it’s so comfortable. Am I allowed to just live in this forever? Keep in mind that you get to choose the fabric you use so it can be any material you like and in any color or design you like. So really go crazy and make this your own. Can’t wait to see your versions of this loungewear set so drop me a pic in the comments section!