I did this project and wrote the post for the first time when my now ten-year old was as pictured above, after being inspired by tinyhappy who displayed inspiring before and after pictures of her tshirts made into pants!
Now, let’s celebrate my success, people. I took this long-sleeved t-shirt belonging to Ryan, and while Julian was asleep, I cut the two required pieces to make pants. About 5 minutes. It’s just a left leg and a right leg. Then, I sewed them together. Now ten minutes have passed. The kid was still sleeping! Then, Heather and Holden came over. Julian woke up, and while the boys wreaked havoc in my bedroom, tossing plastic shovels, cotton balls and Cheerios this way and that, Heather made 75% of a pair of lounge pants for Holden while I coached her and wrangled her baby. Sure, he had to sit in the Pack and Play for a few minutes, but we had a good time. Later that night, I sewed my elastic waist in. The whole project was about 30 minutes.
The full tutorial is here. If you don’t have the patience for my video, just keep scrolling for the instructions laid out in text.
1. Identify an appropriate t-shirt or sweatshirt.
2. Fold a pair of baby’s pants with crotch sticking out and trace. I have outlined what it should look like for you. With this placement of the cut, you will not need to hem the bottom.
3. Cut on your traced line.
4. Cut a second pant leg from the other side of the shirt. Look for the arrow on the left in this picture to see how I used my first pant leg as a guide.
5. You have two pant legs now, right?
6. Place right sides facing each other and pin. Sew along curves.
7. Reorient the pants and you’ll see that you just have a crotch to sew up and a waist to fold over and sew. Leave a space to thread the elastic through.
8. Insert elastic, sew waist closed, and you are done!
Now you can make simple toddler shorts or pants from a t-shirt. Please share your successes with us!
Other t-shirt projects:
- Extend the life of a favorite graphic t-shirt
- Make a newborn hat
- Embellish with felt and buttons
- (or just buy cheap baby pants and move on with your day)
Hiya Gals!
I’m a new mommy & absolutely love your site! I’ve already made a load of pants for my little munchkin & featured your awesome tutorial on my blog! *along with my own showing how to make baby hats out of the leftover scraps: http://awesomesauceasshattery.wordpress.com/2011/10/06/the-funkiest-baby-on-the-block/
=O)
Thanks a bunch for sharing this with all people you really understand what you’re talking approximately! Bookmarked. Please also seek advice from my site =). We may have a hyperlink alternate contract between us
Awesome tutorial! I went to the post you referred to and both helped me so much! Check out the pants I made!
http://madebyniki.blogspot.com/2012/02/flannel-pants-for-my-son.html
I need your help on how to make babies pants. Can’t wait to make one for my baby.
nice, i am going to handsew one for my almost a year old baby.
Love this tutorial. I added a link to it on a little article I wrote about re-using old clothes. Hope that is ok, if not please let me know and I will remove it promptly. you can find it here http://www.chappellavenue.blogspot.com
keep up the good work!
Thank you so much for this post!! I’m learning to sew and I got soooo confused by the diagram on the layout…logically I was thinking to cut out the legs the way you have shown but the diagram was whisking different…when in doubt, I google and found your site 🙂
This is a great idea! I have a question, how do you know how much to cut for the waistband if you’re going to use elastic cord or a band inside? My son is 17″ around his waist standing, 19″ sitting. I want to make some shorts for him, but dont know how much I should cut since the elastic is to it is cinched in. Any help is appreciated, Thanks!
I made 3 from old T-shirts and it was quick and simple. Thanks.