Scissors and Pajamas Don't Mix

A little while ago, I was folding laundry, and discovered there were some very intentional holes in the pant's leg of one of my oldest's jammie pants.  It was very clear that these holes had been made with scissors, and I was not a happy Mama.  As it happened, my son had already fallen asleep, and I am glad for it because it gave me time to calm down before I talked with him about it and to decide on a consequence that would be appropriate.

The next day I was able to talk to him calmly about the problem.  One of his biggest concerns was whether I was mad at him, and I was truly able to say that I was not mad.  It was a good feeling and allowed me to make the points below with a calm, matter of fact demeanor.

1. The pajamas needed to be pulled out of circulation.
2. This means I have to wash more often to get his pajamas back for wearing or buy another pair.  This costs Mama time and/or money.
3. There is no punishment for this first time, since he didn't know the ramifications of his actions.  BUT the punishment for cutting up any clothing in the future would be the loss of one of his prized Lego sets, and it would not be returned.

Now, I was relegating these guys to the junk pile for upcycling, when I thought about how I might just save them with relatively little effort.

Step 1
Cut off the affected area, including the cuff and cut off the unaffected cuff so I can add back longer matching cuffs.

Step2
Take one of the million giving blood t-shirts that my father gives me after he gives blood to use for the new cuff.  Plenty of material!  I made them just a little bit wider, since they had to match up with a larger hole - the legs get wider the higher you go up and due to the damage, I had to take off an extra 3/4 of an inch. 

The material used was approximately 9 inches long by 6 inches wide.  Basically, I guesstimated and made to pieces of equal length and width.

Step 3

Fold in half lengthwise with the wrong side facing out if you have a patterned fabric, pin and sew together with a zigzag stitch or if you are one of those lucky schmoes (not me) with a serger, serge the edges to maintain the stretchiness of the knit.  Repeat with second cuff.

Step 4

Fold the cuff in half, keeping your stitched edges on the inside, and line up you rough edges.

Step 5

Using 4 pins, divide your cuff into quarters, using your seem as your starting point.  Apply these 4 quarters to the pajama leg, and using the pins already in the cuff, pin the cuff to the pajama leg.

Step 6

There will be some gaping of the pajama leg between the pins in each quarter.  Stretch the cuff until, the gaping is flat against the cuff and apply pins.  While you sew the cuff to the leg, you will stretch th cuff fabric to prevent the leg fabric from bunching.  Again use either a zigzag or serger stitch - gotta still fit a foot through tis sucker.

Step 7

Admire your handiwork.  Ooh, aah!

Step 8

Force you son to put it on and model it, while you hope he stays still long enough to take a few pictures.

Another piece of clothing saved by reusing something (Virginia blood services t-shirt) that frankly the charity stores couldn't sell for a buck.  And the best part, besides being proud of myself, it was 'free'.

Stay tuned for my fix a whole in knit fabric clothing post.  One hole I think I know how he did it, and the other has left me scratching my head.

Kelley

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