How To Sew Your Own Fleece Longies

With fall just around the corner and winter just after that I was in the mood for a project that fit the seasons.  Next up on my list of things to sew for Lincoln was Fleece Longies.  Fleece Longies are great!  They are soft, breathable, warm, comfy, and moisture resistant.  I do admit I'm a bit leery of using the longies as diaper covers since if the poops leaks out of my fitted diaper then I have to pull the longies (and poop) down his legs, but I have never really heard any complaints about this so I'm going to give it a go and see how they work out.  Even if I don't use them for diaper covers, they're still the cutest little pants and they look so comfortable.

When I went to Joann's Fabric Store I found the cutest fleece fabrics.  Make sure you're shopping in the Anti-Pill Fleece section of the store.  Otherwise you'll have lots of pilling after the first or second wash of your newly made pants.  I settled on a monster print, a robots print, and a lime green solid.  Lincoln will look so cute in them!!!  On my first pair of longies I sewed, I cut the waistband in the wrong direction of the fabric.  Learn from my mistake because if you cut the pattern in the wrong direction, you won't be able to stretch the pants wider to fit over your baby's bottom.  Oh well.  I learned from my mistake and now my girls have a cute pair of pants for their dolls.

Let's get started!

What You Will Need:
Katrina's Fleece Longies Pattern  You will need both the longies pattern and the waistband pattern
Anti-Pill Fleece or Polar Fleece
Coordinating Thread
Pins
Washable Fabric Marker
Scissors
Fabric Measuring Tape
Sewing Machine

Step By Step:


**I've included the YouTube videos that I used in order to create my longies.  I was going to make my own video, but why re-create the wheel when you can just use what's already been made.  I think these videos are great and very well done.  Hope they help you too**

- Print out your Katrina's Longies pattern.  When printing make sure you un-check the box that says to "Auto Rotate and Center", and Select "None" on the "Page Scaling" option.  Make sure that the 1x1 square prints out at 1x1 so that it is the correct size.  Cut out your pattern.  Tape the two sides of the pattern together along the dotted line.
- Lay your fleece out flat on your work-surface with the wrong side of the fabric facing you.  Place your pattern on the fleece.  Make sure the stretch of the fabric is going side to side (not up and down) when laying out your pattern.  Trace out your pattern allowing for a 1/4" seam allowance around all sides (*Note: I've added the 1/4" to my printed out pattern.  That's why I have traced my pattern out right next to the pattern).  Katrina's pattern does not give the full length of the leg on her pattern.  It's up to you to decide what length of inseam you would like for your longies.  Just measure your baby or a pair of their pants to determine the desired inseam length.

- Flip the pattern over and repeat the last step to create the other leg of the pants.  Make sure you flip the pattern over or you will just end up with two of the same leg.
- Trace out your waistband onto the fleece.  The Katrina's pattern only shows half the waistband.  You will want one twice as long as what is shown.  Have some fun with your waistband and make it a different color that coordinates with your main pant fabric.

- Cut out both legs of your longies as well as the waistband.

- Fold the waistband in half so that the two short sides are together.  Make sure that the wrong side of the fabric is showing on both sides.  Sew a straight stitch a 1/4" in along the short edge where the two sides come together.  Set waistband aside.
- Fold each of the pant legs in half making sure that the edges of the legs line up.  The tops the longies will not line up because the back side of the longies is higher than the front, but the bottom of the legs and the crotch should line up.  Make sure that the wrong side of the fabric is showing on both sides.  Pin the legs in place from the crotch to the base of the leg.

- Sew a straight stitch a 1/4" in from the crotch of each pant leg to the bottom of the leg.

- Turn one of the pant legs right side out.  Insert the pant leg that is turned right side out into the pant leg that is inside out.  Line up the seams of the legs so they match up on both legs.
- Pin the front of top portion of the pants together.  Pin the back portion of the pants together.

- Sew a straight stitch a 1/4" in along the front of the pants, across the crotch area, and then back up the back of the pants.

- Turn the pants right side out.

- Take your waistband and fold it inside of itself so that the right sides are showing on both the outside and the inside.  Let the seam mark the exact middle of the back of the waistband.  Mark the exact middle of the front of the waistband with a pin.  Mark both the exact sides of the waistband with pins.
- Holding the pants let the seams mark the exact front and back of the pants.  Line the seams up.  Using pins mark the exact sides of the pants.
- Slide the waistband over the top of the pants.  Let the raw edges of the waistband line up with the raw edges of the pants.  Pin the waistband to the pants using your pins as guides.  You want the exact front of the waistband to match up with the exact front of the pants, the back of the pants to the back of the waistband, and the sides of the pants to the sides of the waistband.  You can even add additional pins in between the pins you've already placed if it helps you to keep everything in place.

- Sew a straight stretch stitch around the top of the pants attaching the waistband to the pants.  Make sure to stretch the waistband as you do this to evenly distribute the waistband around the pants.  Do not stretch the pants fabric.  Go slowly so that you can make sure that the fabrics all match up.

- Flip the waistband up.  You're almost done!

- Now all you need to do is hem the pant legs.  Turn the pants inside out.  Measure the inseam and fold the pant legs up to the inseam length that you want.  Make sure both legs match up.
- Sew a straight stitch around each leg opening a 1/4"-1/2" in. (not across the leg opening.  You don't want to sew the openings closed).

- Turn the pants right side out.

Voila!!!!!!  You're done.  You've just sewn your first pair of fleece longies.  I'm sure if you're like me, then you'll be addicted and sew a whole bunch more of these cute little pants.  I've already sewn 3 pairs of newborn longies and 3 pairs of small longies.  I can't wait till Lincoln gets here so he can wear them.  They are just toooooo cute and oh so soft.  They are sure to keep him warm this coming winter.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial as much and I have.  I know it's a bit more time consuming than the other tutorials, but when they're all done it's oh so worth it.  I just love being able to say that I made them and pick out the exact fabrics that I want to use.  Be sure to post pics of your fleece longies that you create using this tutorial on my Facebook page.  I'd love to see them.  I'm definitely going to post pics of Lincoln in his when he gets here.  Till then keep checking in for more informative reviews, fun DIY projects, and exciting giveaways on Adventures In Fluff.