Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Homemade Kid's Cotton Pants

Well, I slipped up and didn't get around to posting the third pair of pants for a few days, but that's life.  I can make the pants, just not everyday.  These are the pants (or shorts) that I make most often for my kids.  This is a no pattern pants as well.  There is a bit of guess work for width and length, but I've never had a pair that didn't fit.

The fun thing about these pants is you can choose your kids' favorite character or color and make them pants that they will really love!  I usually make each of my kids at least one pair of pants each year with this method.  They are light weight, easy to scrunch up into a tiny ziploc for travelling purposes, and most often chosen from my kids' wardrobes.

To start, find a pair of your kids' pants that fit them now.  I usually try for something with a slightly wider leg and an elastic waist.  For a 5 year old and under, 1 yard of your desired fabric is good, for older, you need 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 yards of fabric.

Take the fabric and fold it in half width wise- right sides facing.  Turn the pants inside out, fold them in half along the crotch area, and lay them flat close to one side of the fabric. Trace, leaving about 1/2 " on the sides for the seam, 1 1/2 " on top for the waistband and another 1" on bottom for the hem.   Then flip them over and trace again-leaving the same allotments for waist and hem.
With right sides together, sew the curved inner seams of the front and back pieces, zigzag to finish the edges and help stop fraying.
Open up the front and back pieces and lay them on top of each other, right sides together.  Sew along the outer pant leg edge on both sides.  Use a zigzag afterwards for a nice finish.
Sew the inner leg/crotch together.  Make sure to go over the crotch area twice to make it stronger.
Iron down the top of the waistband about 1/4" all the way around and then again 1" to create the waist band.
Sew around the waistband and leave a 2 " opening for threading the elastic.
Thread in the elastic, then sew closed the opening on the waistband.  Hem pants to desired length.  When hemming, fold raw edge in about 1/4", then again to desired length.  Sew in place.  Pants are done!
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