M. really needed new pants. Over the summer he got by with a combination of shorts and 18-24 month size knit pants which basically became capris (including the grey pair I made him, which we already let out the hem of once.). But now that it’s cooler we need new pants!! I find store bought pants don’t adequately cover his bottom when he squats or sits on shoulders. So off to make some pants using some old logo tee shirts!
1) traced a pattern from a pair of pjs that fit well and were close to the same fabric weight as a tee shirt. Some tips: match inseam lengths, Back is more generous than front. Can make back of pants higher. Don’t trace too close to the edge of your paper- Leave room for adding seam allowances when tracing! After tracing, smooth lines and add seam allowances ( i like 1/2 inch). Add 1.5″ for waistband and 1.5″ for bottom hem.
2) prep tee shirt : dark color, barely enough for a med size tee, better with large or xL.
3) cut right sides together will save time, use tee shirt hem for bottom hem of your pants! Then don’t need extra 1.5″ unless you plan to lengthen then when needed. Downside is that this usually moves the logo of the tee shirt into an awkward spot.
4) sew seams: two halves of back together (only the top part!) and two halves of front. Then front to back inseam and outsides of legs.
5) waistband elastic about 1″ less than waist. ~18-19″. Make casing slightly wider than elastic. Leave opening to sew. Add tag to identify back. Topstitch 1/8″ (ie very close) to top gives a nice look and also helpful if your casing is too wide.
6) try on for length and waist fit
7) finish
Knit fabric won’t unravel so I didn’t finish seams, but did double stitch the crotch area.
Photos to come:
AgaMatrix tee, buds too (both size m!)
Practical Bean 