Fitting the Jaimie Pyjama Bottoms and Shorts
Making the Jaimie pyjama bottoms or shorts and want to tweak the fit? You’re in the right place.
The good news is Jaimie is designed to be an easy-peasy (lemon squeezy), relaxed-fitting project. The elasticated waist and loose silhouette mean there’s no need to stress about perfect precision – but a few simple adjustments can help you get a pair you’ll love wearing again and again.
Jaimie is available in sizes UK 4–34 in both printed and PDF formats.
Before you start: a reassuring note on fit
Pyjamas are meant to be comfortable. That’s the whole point.
Because Jaimie has a relaxed fit and a flexible waist, you’ve already got a lot of wiggle room built in. Small fitting tweaks can improve comfort, but you don’t need to overthink it or aim for tailoring-level precision.
If in doubt, sew them up and try them on – you can always refine your next pair!
Choosing your size
Start with your hip measurement, as this is the key area for Jaimie.
- If your waist and hip fall into different sizes, that’s completely normal
- In most cases, you can choose the size that matches your hips
- The elasticated waist will pull everything in comfortably
If your waist is significantly larger or smaller than your hips, you may prefer to adjust between sizes (see “Combining sizes” below).
A flexible tape measure is your best friend here. Measure:
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Waist: the narrowest point (usually where you bend to one side)
- Hips: the fullest part, keeping the tape level all the way around
Tip: stand sideways in a mirror to help identify your true hip level – it’s often lower than expected.
See more guidance on how to select your sewing pattern size.
Lengthening or shortening
Jaimie is drafted for a height of approximately 165cm (5ft 5in), so you may want to adjust the leg length.
1) To lengthen or shorten the full-length pyjama bottom legsIf you have particularly long or short legs, you can lengthen or shorten the pattern along the set of lines marked "lengthen or shorten here" on the lower part of the front and back leg. Here's how to lengthen or shorten pattern pieces.
The inside leg measurement for the pyjama bottoms is 79cm (31in) - compare this to your own inside leg measurement before you decide whether to lengthen or shorten the legs. If you're not sure if you need to shorten them, leave them as they are and shorten them at the hemming stage if you need to.
2) To lengthen the shorts
The inside leg seam measurement for the shorts is 4cm (1 1/2in). If you think you want these a little longer, you can draw in a new hem line to your desired length.
Work out how much you want to extend the shorts by, measure down from the shorts hemline and mark this point. Draw a new line, roughly following the curve of the original shorts hemline, and squaring off the corners into right angles. Bring out the inside leg and side seams just a smidge to retain the shape of the shorts - use the pink lines above as a guide.
3) To lengthen or shorten the crotch or hips (both versions)
The Jaimie pyjamas are designed to sit 5-7cm (2-3in) below your belly button, and the back sits a little higher than the front for a flattering fit. If you are tall or short overall and usually find trousers and pyjamas come up a bit too high rise or low rise for you, you can lengthen or shorten the crotch using the set of lines marked "lengthen or shorten here" on the upper part of the front and back leg. To learn how to do this, take a look at our post on how to lengthen or shorten pattern pieces.
How to combine pattern sizes
As I said above, pick the pattern size that matches your hip measurement, unless your waist is three or more pattern sizes bigger or smaller than your hips. In the latter case, you can "grade" between sizes, or combine the waist and hip sizes that best match your measurements.
We have a blog post with step-by-step diagrams to show you how to combine sizes in more detail. If you do want to combine sizes for the Jaimie pyjamas, start grading about 5cm (2in) below the waistline seam. This will ensure the waistline casing isn't affected too much. In the image above I've shown an example where the pattern is graded from a size 9 waist to a size 6 hip.
Full booty adjustment
Due to their loose-fitting design, you shouldn't have to worry too much about adjusting the bum area (ooh-er) on your Jaimie pyjamas. However, If you have a fuller behind, you might find that extending the back crotch seam will make the trousers fit better and be more comfortable to sit down in. A sign that you need to do this is a back waistband that pulls down, and drag lines that come from between your legs.
Cut along one of the lines marked "lengthen or shorten here" on the back leg, from the crotch seam to 15mm (5/8in) away from the side seam. Cut from the side seam to this point so that the two sections are still attached by a tiny pivot point.
Pivot the top section away from the bottom by the amount you would like to increase the crotch seam by - 20mm (3/4in) is a good place to start. Tape or stick down over a strip of paper, and then redraw the crotch seam with a straight line to neaten it out. Cut away the excess.
For an easy-to-follow guide on other common trouser fitting adjustments, check out our dedicated post!
And that's it! Now you should feel ready to go forth and sew a gorgeous pair of Jaimie pyjama bottoms or shorts. They'll soon be your favourite thing to lounge around the house in, made even better by the fact you will have made them yourself :)
We love seeing your progress shots and finished makes - it really makes our day. Tag us on Instagram @TillyButtons using the hashtag #SewingJaimie.
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Photography: Jane Looker
Gorgeous Models: Megan Valero, Sarah Baillie and Jess Burrell
