We used to get crop pajamas for my mother, they reached her ankle. But I don't know that that exists for guys..

To not sew, can you try StitchWitchery etc?

can you just hem them with the hem tape (no sew). Its easy

An hour after I posted this, DS called. I'd given our DGS two of DH's old pajama pants, hoping he'd hem them using his sewing machine. That was in June. DS informs me, "They're ready!" (So soon? haha) They'll be delivered this weekend when 'the boys' come to check on DGS's beehives in our back yard.

Thanks, bpath and joann for the suggestions, but it looks like we're OK. Now I'm wondering if I've discovered an unmet need of shorter men -- assuming anyone under seventy still *wears* pajama sets.

I wear pajama bottoms with extra large T-shirts. Of course I hem all of my long pajama bottoms myself, and it only takes about 15 minutes or so, but then I've been keeping my sewing machines handy. In the past, I have also made nightshirts, but mostly to give as gifts.

Most of the time I wear short pajama bottoms, especially in the Palm Springs area, where we keep the A/C at 75°. It does get cool for brief periods from Dec through Feb, but I still mostly wear short bottoms there. I wear long pajama bottoms mostly in Los Angeles.

I find T-shirts more comfortable than pajama tops that have buttons, although I've made those also.

Paying $10 to have pajama legs shortened, if that's the only alternative, isn't much money and is much cheaper than the medical costs that would result if he tripped and hurt himself while wearing PJs that are too long.

To quote T.S. Eliot, "I grow old, I grow old, I shall wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled." How about rolling them up as at least a temporary solution?

DH has been known to take scissors to lounge pants that are too long. no hemming, just scissors.

Ha-ha! Maybe I can find my DM's old pinking shears! She sewed a little, and I *can* sew a little, too, but now I don't see well enough. It's taken me 30 minutes to thread a needle!

DH wants the old fashioned broadcloth pajama sets with a 'shirt' top and matching pants. (Maybe he 'patterned' watching all those old movies, like "It Happened One Night".) At 83, he's unlikely to change. Yes, it's because of the danger of tripping that I want these shortened.

I also gave DGS some king size pillow cases and asked if he could cut four inches off the ends and hem them to use with standard size pillows. IDK if he's done those. When you buy king sheet sets, you get king cases; I prefer three standards.

I had a set of king pillow cases and standard pillows. I folded the case ends in like a Baggie sandwich bag.

Or honestly - just cut them off - just pj's after all.

Don't cut the hems on pillowcases. Just take a piece off the other short end.

I like that your DGS is your seamster.

“Now I'm wondering if I've discovered an unmet need of shorter men -- assuming anyone under seventy still *wears* pajama sets.”

Pajamas are the least of the fitting concerns for those of us who are disproportionately wide for our height. As someone stuck in the he|| between XL waist and L lengh, I’m all too familiar. My kids have the opposite problem, they swim in clothes that are long enough.

Unfortunately having a bespoke wardrobe is beyond our means.

I've run into this with myself (shrunk 3 inches) and my late husband.

For him, I would buy thin sports pants, with elastic waist, draw string and could buy them with tighter or elastic ankles. They were cheap, thin (we live in Florida) and that was his pj's. Walmart, TJMax, Marshalls.

I go to TJMax and do the same thing in their active wear department and clearance rack. I can get either petite length or elastic ankles. That's what I sleep in. Love it because I can run outside in the morning to get something, mail, paper and not worry I look like I'm in my PJ's. BTW, Walmart sells cheap cotton t-shirts which work great with sports pants.

Jane

In my experience, as a rule, pajama pants are all ready "short",( high waters), just as a matter of course. So here in lies the problem. They are already short for the average customer so no one would think to offer them in lengths like regular pants. Safety has to have been the reason all along??? Glad you have a seamstress and that a few easy options were suggested here for those w/o one. It's an issue that will become more and more prevalent as those of us with sewing machines are a dying bread. It's to the point where I do wonder why they still teach sewing in Middle school as a required course....I would be totally frustrated if I couldn't sew up a simple seam/hem/rip.

Yes stitch witchery is the answer I think...just cut the PJs off one inch longer than you want the final product to be and press up the 1" hem. Then you tuck the stitch witchery in between the hem fabric and the face fabric and press. It melts and becomes the glue which holds the hem up. Just be sure the stitch witchery is completely covered by fabric as you don't want to melt any of it to the bottom of your iron. No needles, no thread, no sewing.

FWIW , there is also such a thing as fabric glue - even easier than fusible web.

I once used duct tape to shorten my kid's karate pants. Don't do that.

I'll try to remember all your good ideas 'next' time. At 17, I expect DGS's sewing machine will soon be gathering dust as his world expands. (He likes making things; interested in engineering.)

1. Jane -- Good thought about the ankle pants. I do get those for DH's sweat pants. Thing is, he doesn't want to give up old fashioned broadcloth pajama sets with matching 'coat' and 'bottoms' that he's worn all his life. I did mention that we are *old*. haha (On another topic, I hope you are finding it a little easier to cope with the enormous loss of your own dear husband.)

An actual inseam measurement would be of little use in pajama bottoms. Depending on how they are cut in the seat, that number could vary and still be bringing the hem to ankle length. If the bottoms are long and droop in the seat, it shortens the leg of the pants. A slimmer fit would have a longer inseam.

They could be made/sold by waist and inseam but it would be like trying to fit regular pants and the cost might be prohibitive..

I don't know if they offer it for men, but I have had luck on Amazon when searching for pjs with a shorter inseam for women (I can *kinda* sew, but I'm not great at it... and geez, hemming every single pair of pjs would get old quickly).