Img_0205Hi-ya. So that took a little longer than expected (as do most things in my life at this point.) The other night, whilst stapling the L-shaped tear in my lounge pants shut, I decided it was time for some new ones. It’s sad that it got to that point, isn’t it? Don’t ask why I didn’t just sew the tear in the old lounge pants. Stapling seemed quicker and more logical, although the staple weaseled it’s way out by nights end, so clearly that was no better solution. But it was quicker than having to change the thread in my machine. You know I’ve had those lounge pants forever. Every time Chris witnessed me in them, he’d ask why I didn’t just buy some new ones. I have people. And they shrunk and  yaddy-ya-ya. I’d seen these Amy Butler lounge pants popping up all around blog-land for a while and it was one of the last things on my to-do list before the baby comes. I thought they’d be perfect for taking to the hospital, etc. Plus they were all wide-leggy and comfortable looking.

Img_0182 I had some old vintage sheets that I wanted to make them out of. The first pair, were these white ones with blue flowers. They have about a 2 foot border of flowers and the rest is this crisp white cotton. They are sooo soft.

Img_0197 The second were these pink ones with pink roses. I picked up this sheet at a thrift shop when I was in Utah in February. I just love the print and thought they’d make the most perfect lounge pants. The great thing about using sheets for these particular pants is that they are the perfect weight for summertime. Light and airy, comfy and cozy.

Img_0198 The great thing is, if you match the pattern up right, you can line-up the bottom of the pant leg with the border of the sheet and avoid having to hem them (one of my least favorite things.) I was so thrilled and spent the evening extending out the pattern (the pieces in the book are small and so you’ll need freezer paper to extend them for the length), cutting, sewing, catching up on TiVo, getting more and more excited for my new lounge pants. Sacraficing my sleep for said lounge pants. Working my little fingers to the bone until well after midnight. I was so excited to try them on, so I did.

Bad idea.

Very bad idea.

Even worse idea at 1:30 a.m.

Note to self: Don’t make clothes when you are 10 months pregnant, especially when they are in your pre-pregnancy size. Seriously what was I thinking? I’ll tell you what I was thinking. I was thinking that they looked very generous and loose-y goosey in size and that they’d surely fit. Never mind the 50 pregnancy lbs I’ve gained (did I just say that out loud?) 50 lbs. Does that really have an effect on your clothing size? For reals? You mean I’m not just 50 lbs of belly? I should start preparing myself now, that I won’t be having a 50 lb baby? Now you know why the pictures are taken from the knees down. I couldn’t get them past my giant rear-end (or thighs, or belly or..okay anything north of my quickly disappearing knee-caps.)

Heidi says, "Hey, at least you’ll have something to motivate you to get that baby weight off."

Looks like I’ll be seeing you in 2009, lounge pants (if I’m lucky.)

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46 responses to “The (tragic) tale of the lounge pants”

  1. alisa spear Avatar

    Love your cute blog-
    and I think you make a darling pregnant momma!
    I don’t know why we do that to
    ourselves…trying things on when we are about to have a baby. I did the same thing with each of my 4- you would think I would learn!
    You will be in them soon-

    Like

  2. jessi Avatar

    I did this same thing with a skirt that I made right before baby #2 was born. I thought it would be perfect for the summer time weather. It still doesn’t fit – baby #2 turns 2 years this week. I hope you get to wear your lounge pants sooner than I’ll get to wear my skirt (I’m working on it!).

    Like

  3. Bonnie Avatar

    They are adorable pants. I love them both! I NEVER find such cute things in thrift stores.
    And I’m not sure if you were exaggerating or not but I gained 45 pounds with my middle child. And I only weigh 120 pounds. So I get it!!

    Like

  4. Kathryn Johnson Avatar

    Don’t feel bad-I gained 80lb with each of my boys!

    Like

  5. Morgan Avatar

    I wish I was joking about the 50 lbs. I think I’ve gained a few more since then. I gained 65+ (I stopped counting at that point) with Henry so I guess I should be glad I haven’t hit hat point. That is unless I gain 15lbs this week! LOL!

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  6. erin Avatar

    you’ll be wearing them in no time, i am sure! they did turn out cute.

    Like

  7. Mom Avatar
    Mom

    Oh, sweetie ….. I am laughing my head off.
    It IS tragic. And I do undestand … when I was pregnant with the twins, I only had 1 dress I could fit into and wore it EVERY STINKIN’ DAY for the last 6 weeks I was pregnant.
    You are so beautiful …. you’ll be out walking it off in no time.

    Like

  8. em Avatar

    hehehe! i love this. and these. and YOU!!

    Like

  9. melanie Avatar
    melanie

    You are too funny! I’m sorry they didn’t fit. Even with an excuse like pregnancy it can still be a little disheartening! I love the idea of making them out of sheets! Genius!

    Like

  10. Megs Avatar

    I think you’d best just send these to me until post-baby 🙂

    Like

  11. meg Avatar

    Aw, poor thing. Yeah, these pants are real loose and forgiving and all…but only in the legs. If you were, for some reason, carrying the extra 50 in your calves, say, you’d have no problem. But! I bet you’ll be sittin’ pretty in your new fancy lounge pants before you know it. And you’ll be so much more comfy with that beautiful baby on the outside!

    Like

  12. Mama Urchin Avatar

    Well your ankles look cute! Can’t wait to see that little girl who makes your pants not fit.

    Like

  13. Amy Avatar

    I recently found your blog and love it! I noticed someone else posted a similar message, but I have 4 kids and with each pregnancy I have done the same thing; trying on clothes that somehow I am sure are going to fit and alas, they NEVER do! You would think I would have learned my the first, second or even third time, but no, I continue on with what seems to have become an obsession with getting into my old clothes for many months postpartum until finally, when my baby is two, I realize I will never fit back into my size 2 pants I have not worn since before my first pregnancy!

    Like

  14. BID Avatar

    Awe, I’ve been there! I took a pair of pre pregnancy pants to the hospital to wear home with my last one. I was positive they would fit. They didn’t.
    They do look positively adorable though!

    Like

  15. Lindsay Avatar
    Lindsay

    You are hilarious!
    “See you in 2009, lounge pants!”
    So friggin’-pee in my pants funny!
    I’ve been waiting since 2003 to get back into my pre-pregnancy weight. (60 pounds- YIKES!)
    They are beautiful! I love the idea of using sheets. Complete greatness!

    Like

  16. Danielle Avatar

    Oh Meg. You are beautiful, and frankly, looking at your pictures you don’t look like someone who has gained 50lbs. Wish I had looked as good as you pregnant, I was like Barney the scary dinosaur, blotted and purple. Now go and put the evil pants away with the size 6-12 onesies. Your sweety will be here soon :O) Thanks for sharing. Danielle

    Like

  17. Mom Avatar
    Mom

    So, maybe I could wear them whilst I’m there and you can admire them in action.
    Yes? No? Maybe so?
    :>

    Like

  18. Amy Avatar

    I totally understand what you are going through, seeing how I just went through child birth 9 weeks ago. Post pregnancy I have only had one skirt and 2 pairs of pants that I could fit into that weren’t maternity and I haven’t wanted to buy new stuff because I’m going to loose the weight right? On Sat. I gave in and went and bought some new stuff because what I had is so worn out. Good luck with going into labor! It will be so totally worth all this uncomfortableness when you first get to see your new little one.

    Like

  19. Kim Avatar

    Uuuuuuh, ya. I made that same mistake last week when I TRIED to put on a pair of pre-baby jeans. “They were my FAT pants before– surely they’ll still fit!! And I’ll just wear a dress over the unzipped zipper!”, I thought. Nope. Couldn’t even get them past mid-thigh. Even the ankles were tight! I fear I’ll never be able to wear them again!! I sooooo feel your pain.
    At least your brain is still working brilliantly! The border idea is downright genius! Excellent job. You’ll be in them in no time, lounging away. 🙂

    Like

  20. Domestic Chicky Avatar

    Oh Morgan, they turned out so cute!I have a similar sheet to the white one I was saving for just this project! I bet you’ll be wearing those before you know it!!

    Like

  21. Jaime Avatar
    Jaime

    Morgan,
    First of all, you do not even look like you’ve gained any weight besides the baby! I was looking at your profile pic the other day and you look great!!! I’ve been surprised how quickly I’ve shed a few pounds. Hurray for breastfeeding!!! I love the pants BTW. You’ll fit into them sooner than you think?

    Like

  22. miss chris Avatar

    Love the pink sheet. LOVE it. That would motivate me. And those 50 lbs will be gone before you know it. Promise.

    Like

  23. Stacie Smith Avatar

    Sheets… great idea. Now all I have to do is learn to sew.
    I gained 50lbs with India. It’ll come off. Don’t worry!

    Like

  24. Dianna D Avatar
    Dianna D

    Morgan,
    You crack me up! I just wanted to pop in, say hi and warn you, as the mother of a 5 month old, to SLEEP NOW, while you can! Repeat after me – “sleep, don’t sew.”:-) In between babies I forgot what it felt like to be so sleep deprived (didn’t help that I got less sleep at the hospital than at home!) Anyway, I’m sure you’ll fit into the pants soon. Oh, and I never gave you my vintage baby name ideas – Hattie, Eloise, and… I can’t remmeber the other one. My brain has still not recovered from being pregnant. Good luck!

    Like

  25. Emily Ess Avatar
    Emily Ess

    I love the lounge pants!! Especially the ones with the blue flowers. I love to wear lounge pants and I can’t wait to have the baby just so I can sit in lounge pants all day guilt-free!

    Like

  26. Jacy Avatar

    That is so sad, but I totally feel your pain. I remember trying on my jeans a few weeks after Libby was born, thinking I was so proud of myself for already having lost a few pounds. And they weren’t even my normal pre-pregnancy jeans– they were the ones I’d bought a size up so I could wear them until I was about 5 and a half months pregnant. Surely they’d fit, right? I mean, I’d lost the belly, right? Alas, I obviously hadn’t lost the hips, thighs, or butt because I couldn’t get them much past my knees, either. But don’t worry. I’m not a sweat-it-out-at-the-gym kind of person, just a leisurely walk and breastfeed kind of person, and those same jeans were eventually too big. It will happen.
    When I went to the doctor for the first time with this pregnancy, he told me he only wanted me to gain 20 pounds. I tried to stifle the laugh….

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  27. Rebecca Avatar

    What!?! You certainly don’t look like you gained 50lbs!!! So sorry about the lounge pants … but you’ll be in them in no time!
    Hang in there …

    Like

  28. Traci Avatar

    I always gain at least 45 and have such a warped perception of my body. I sometimes tend to think even my husband’s XL’s will fit (pj bottoms) to no avail. Your’s are beautiful and definitely something to look forward to after the hospital stay. You need those lounge pants for a few weeks right after. Mine became my uniform and I even attempted to wear them out to Target thinking I was all dressed up! Your’s look worth the effort.

    Like

  29. Heather W. Avatar

    I gained 75 with my first and 50 with my second…I feel your pain. It is funny how pregnancy changes your perception of self…for some reason I still look at size 4’s when I’m shopping….then reality hits me and I go to the 10’s….oh well kids are so worth it!

    Like

  30. matt Avatar

    i totally agree with lindsay:
    ‘see you in 2009, lounge pants.’
    funniest thing i’ve read all day.

    Like

  31. Erica Avatar
    Erica

    Just wanted to say how cute those lounge pants are and how bad I wish I had a sewing maching to make some. I’m also pregnant. Due in July and that’s about all I want to wear lately is my pajama pants, but they are all too heavy and I get too hot. I’m jealous. I feel like a cow, and don’t even want to be seen in public. I also have nothing to wear. I feel absolutley disgusting in everything I put on. So…you are not a lone! Oh, and I LOVE LOVE LOVE your blog. Glad I fell upon it.

    Like

  32. Kimberly Avatar
    Kimberly

    Love the pants, you sewing goddess.
    Can’t wait to hear about the fast and painless birth of your daughter! 🙂
    Triple love her apron, will send pictures.
    xxoo

    Like

  33. michal Avatar

    you are do adorable, 50 lbs or not. maybe you need to make another pair in a slightly larger size so that you don’t have to wait? i know how much that stinks to think about, but it takes me a very long time to wear my pre-prego size again.
    i adore you. can’t wait to hear what you name baby computer.

    Like

  34. Jules Avatar

    I did the same thing with some lounge pants and was just as bummed. Sorry! Don’t worry girlie, they will fit before 2009, don’t panic. It’s amazing how much of that 50 lbs is water weight, I love when that stuff comes off. Hope you’re feeling alright. I’m trying to busy myself with stuff too, otherwise I’ll freak that this baby hasn’t come out yet.

    Like

  35. Amanda Avatar

    My darling dearest husband bought me that Amy Butler book for Christmas. I’ve yet to make anything out of it. I’m a bit intimidated, I think. I just love Amy Karol’s “Bend the Rules” so much b/c it seems so common sense-y and easy to follow. I’ve been admiring those lounge pants pattern for awhile. Maybe I need to bite the bullet.

    Like

  36. Kelly Avatar

    just plain too funny…i might have to have me some of those lounge pants! good luck with the delivery!

    Like

  37. heather Avatar

    just had to say that I totally love you blog, and regularly stop by here to enjoy your posts. And can I just say I am so impressed your toe nails are painted! at the end of my pregnancies I gave up on even trying to see my toenails, nevermind trying to reach them with a good brush of polish! Wishing you the best of labors, definitely sooner rather than later!

    Like

  38. heather Avatar

    oh, and I forgot to add how much i love your idea using bedsheets to make lounge pants, they turned out just beautiful!

    Like

  39. Kirsten Avatar

    I just had to chime in – those are so stinkin’ cute – bedsheets! My personal favorite way to play with cheap fabric and find a happy accident. Don’t worry, the pounds melt away…you’ll be wearing them pulled all the way up long before 2009! And belated happy blogiversay – I’m so happy I found you through Em’s 🙂 Best baby wishes, too…

    Like

  40. vicki grobels Avatar
    vicki grobels

    I love these pj’s you have made from sheets – what a wonderful idea!! I’ll look at sheets differently now when shopping the flea market.
    V

    Like

  41. val Avatar

    I love reading your blog….the baby will come, the weight will go and your lounge pants will be divine!

    Like

  42. patsy Avatar

    morgs…
    i know this is a little past the fact but i had a few questions about the lounge pants. i got invited to a homemade christmas party and i’d love to throw a pair together. what size of sheets did you use? does it matter? they look so fab. where did you find your sheets? p.s. i’m a blogger now! haha. just barely and just keep your expectations very low. i adore you and your motley crew.
    xo.

    Like

  43. patsy Avatar

    morgs…
    i know this is a little past the fact but i had a few questions about the lounge pants. i got invited to a homemade christmas party and i’d love to throw a pair together. what size of sheets did you use? does it matter? they look so fab. where did you find your sheets? p.s. i’m a blogger now! haha. just barely and just keep your expectations very low. i adore you and your motley crew.
    xo.

    Like

  44. patsy Avatar

    morgs…
    i know this is a little past the fact but i had a few questions about the lounge pants. i got invited to a homemade christmas party and i’d love to throw a pair together. what size of sheets did you use? does it matter? they look so fab. where did you find your sheets? p.s. i’m a blogger now! haha. just barely and just keep your expectations very low. i adore you and your motley crew.
    xo.

    Like

  45. patsy Avatar

    morgs…
    i know this is a little past the fact but i had a few questions about the lounge pants. i got invited to a homemade christmas party and i’d love to throw a pair together. what size of sheets did you use? does it matter? they look so fab. where did you find your sheets? p.s. i’m a blogger now! haha. just barely and just keep your expectations very low. i adore you and your motley crew.
    xo.

    Like

  46. patsy Avatar

    morgs…
    i know this is a little past the fact but i had a few questions about the lounge pants. i got invited to a homemade christmas party and i’d love to throw a pair together. what size of sheets did you use? does it matter? they look so fab. where did you find your sheets? p.s. i’m a blogger now! haha. just barely and just keep your expectations very low. i adore you and your motley crew.
    xo.

    Like

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