This post is about sewing pajamas for kids this Christmas.
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Over the last few years, I have been thinking a lot about the type of family culture that I want to cultivate within my home.
I believe that the little moments that we spend with our children turn into their childhood. Their childhood carries with them as they grow. The culmination of these little memories and family rhythms become the legacy that we pass on to them.
Holidays are such a special time to begin crafting your family legacy.
Crafting Your Legacy Through Intentional Traditions
My husband and I have regular conversations about what we value and hope to pass on to our kids. The list is long, but a few of the items on our list include creativity, practicality, stewardship, and an appreciation for quality over quantity.
I hope to pass these values on to my children by modeling them myself. I try to model them in our day to day lives, and homesteading, I have found, has a way of implementing them with ease. However, I see the holidays as a time to intentionally create traditions with these values at the core.
Our Gift-Giving Philosophy
In our family, we value quality time and memories-made over lots of gifts. However, we also believe that gift-giving can add sentimentality and joy when done with intention.
We live in an old farmhouse on a few acres in the middle of the city. Due to the age of our home, we have very limited storage, so we try to keep our home fairly minimal. My husband and I value practical gifts, but we also like to save up for special items that we normally wouldn’t buy throughout the year.
A few years ago, we found a gift-giving system that works well for our family and that aligns with our values.
You may be familiar with this gift-giving philosophy… each person gets something they want, something they need, something to wear, and something to read. We also do a stocking with small gifts and treats in addition to the four gifts.
Four Meaningful Gifts
For something they want, I look for well-made gifts that my children will enjoy and cherish. I’d rather invest in something that they will truly love and that is made to last. This doesn’t have to be expensive… I often shop secondhand for well-made toys.
By limiting the number of gifts, we are able to truly think about each item that they receive and purchase our children gifts that will stand the test of time.
For books, I opt for ones that align with my children’s interests. The something they need is usually a high-quality, practical item that they will also enjoy and use regularly.
I personally love to take the something to wear to another level by making handmade clothing for my kids.
Meaningful, Multi-purpose Gifts
I also love the tradition of Christmas pajamas, so this year I am planning on sewing pajamas for my children that are versatile enough to be worn as play clothes during the day. This makes the gift practical, meaningful, and perfect for limited space all in one!
For pajamas, I love sewing with organic knit fabric. It is soft, stretchy, and extremely comfortable. I opt for neutral colors that can easily mix and match with pieces my children already own.
I find that using a serger makes knit fabric much easier to work with. Plus, it leaves you with finished seams and a professional look. However, you can also sew knit fabric with a regular sewing machine. You just need to use a jersey needle and finish the edges with a zig-zag stitch.
My favorite two places to buy knit sewing patterns for children are Lowland Kids and Brindille and Twig. Their patterns are simple, written specifically for beginners, and easy to customize to your preference!
The Patterns I Chose for Sewing Pajamas
If you are new to sewing, I highly recommend the Raglan Tee pattern from Lowland Kids. I also like the Drawstring Leggings pattern from Brindille and Twig. Both of these patterns can be done with just a sewing machine, and they are pretty simple and straightforward as far as knit patterns go.
The Raglan Tee looks like a classic, fitted pullover when finished. The Drawstring Leggings have a slim fit and knit waistband. I chose these patterns for my son because they will mix and match with items he already has in his closet. For example, I made the bodice of the items out of a cotton slub knit and finished the waistband and cuffs with organic rib knit.
I chose to make the Raglan Romper from Lowand Kids for my daughter because of its versatility to be worn as both loungewear and play clothes. This pattern is a bit more involved than the others and will require the ability to sew on buttons or a snap press to add snaps. I made her romper out of an organic waffle knit for the bodice and organic rib knit for the cuffs and bands.
Note about fire safety: The US has certain fire-safety guidelines for children’s sleepwear including fabric flammability testing and tight-fitting requirements. The patterns that I used are slim fitting but may not meet these requirements. They should not be sold as sleepwear. Please do your own research regarding children’s sleepwear prior to use.
Other Patterns I Considered for Sewing Pajamas
If you are looking for children’s sewing patterns that are easy-to-follow, some of my favorite companies for knit patterns include Lowland Kids, Brindille & Twig, and Petite Stitchery.
If you prefer to sew with woven fabric, Little Lizard King has gorgeous dress patterns and Tiny Design Pattern Co. has adorable patterns that are perfect for linen. While many of these are not suitable for pajamas, they are versatile enough to be worn through multiple seasons!
I love looking for patterns that can be layered and worn over and over again. Handmade clothing takes time, and it is nice if you can make something that will last for more than a few wears!
Here are a few of my favorite patterns for kids and where to find them!
- Sunshine Dress (Lowland Kids)
- Ellie Dress (Lowland Kids)
- Dolman Tee (Lowland Kids)
- Pacific Pullover (Petite Stitchery)
- Pinafore Jumpsuit (Tiny Design Pattern)
- Napa Baby Romper (Little Lizard King)
- Cusco Baby Romper (Little Lizard King)
Creating Family Traditions by Sewing Pajamas
If you want to instill certain values within your kids, find ways to connect with them. Tie those values to tangible experiences that they will remember for years to come.
For example, we want to start the tradition of everyone wearing their Christmas jammies, reading our new books, and making homemade cookies and cocoa together as a family on Christmas Eve.
With this tradition, we will open the something to read and the something to wear on Christmas Eve, followed by the other gifts on Christmas morning.
Simplifying Doesn’t Equate to a Lack of Value
Simplifying gift giving by choosing something you want, something you need, something to wear, and something to read is a great way to choose practical yet meaningful gifts.
In my own experience, simplifying gift giving in this way does not reduce the value. It creates space for gifting with intention and creates a sense of appreciation for each gift. Furthermore, it leaves room to focus on simply being together.
For our family, having these guidelines helps us to be incredibly purposeful with each gift we give. We have found that this model teaches our children to value what they have. Also, it helps them truly cherish their gifts each Christmas.
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