First, I’ll give credit where it’s due:
The author of redcurrent.com gave a clear tutorial for how to make these toddler pants, and the author of tinyhappy 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:
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Here from Balancing Everything. Love this! I wondered why I bothered to pack and move all those t-shirts that I don’t wear. Ta-da. And here I was wondering if I should spend that Carter’s gift certificate on day clothes or jammies. Bah! Now off to search for pj tops to sew. Lalala!
This is just terrific. I gave it a try this morning. I didn’t get it quite right (the pants are a little snug), but it was easy enough that I’ll try it again!
This is totally awesome!
Also, I’m guessing you could use old sweatshirts to make some heftier pants for when the weather is a bit cooler!
I don’t sew, but I’m going next door to borrow my neighbour’s sewing machine!
So I’ve just tried my first pair. But how do you determine the length of elastic to use? I mean, I guess, how do you allow for the scrunch factor?
I’m lost at #6 above. It looks like you sewed down the middle of this, but it just says to sew the curves areas. Also, what does “reorient the pants” mean? Fold it inside out? I haven’t tried this yet, but I am confused as I look at how you got from step 6 to 7. Thanks for any information.
These are totally awesome!! I made my daughter’s from her uncle’s old buttoned shirt and instead of cutting the pieces from the side seams, I cut them from the front and back so I got one side seam (on the pants) from the placket (with the buttons). It adds a nice detail at no extra effort
……I think I am going to go on a pant sewing spree.
Thanks for sharing
thanks, its great idea…………….
Hi!
How do you get to the cut out for the crotch? Seems like that part of the instructions is missing? I am a little confused over this part, can you help?
Found you via a google search and made pants out of a tea towel: http://dollarstorecrafts.com/2009/04/dish-towel-shorts/
This is exactly what I was looking for to make some outside ‘play shorts’ for my 2 year old for the summer. I’ll try to share the finished product!!
THANK YOU! This was so much fun!!! I had bought a pattern for pants earlier today and didn’t understand a word of it! I found this site and ta-da! Pants are done!
Thanks for the tutorial! This is the first thing I have ever sewed that actually turned out right! I can’t wait for the baby to wake up from his nap so he can try these on!!
Just made some pyjama bottoms for my little girl using this method, as she has outgrown the bottoms but not the tops. So quick & easy, and saved me some ££ buying new PJs!! Thanks!
Great tute! Here’s my baby wearing her red hot pants
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2497/3718225237_20e6456c2f.jpg
I had to do this again! This time I decided to take a hand-me-down onesie and put an applique on it with some baby pants to make a complete outfit. Total cost to me? $0!!!
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3448/3729515080_d859b53f05.jpg
Those are adorable & look super easy! I’ll HAVE to do some of those when I’m done w/my 5 projects currently on the table, LOL
thank you for the tutorial… it’s so quick and easy. and cost next to nothing! i made one for my 2 year old, and she loves it! i will definitely make more.
http://www.avocadolite.com/expiration/archives/002215.shtml
wow! fantastic. you are so creative!- i luv it! im on a little sewing journey, again..well.. i try..every once & awhile.. thanx for sharing this..my little ones are always rough on their clothing.. so this will be great, even for shorts for my 7 year old! Glad to find this on google:)
ha HA!!!!!!! I GET it now!! Thank you SO much for posting the video. I never attempted this project b/c I didn’t understand how you got from sewing along the curves to suddenly having something that looked like pants. I can’t WAIT to try this now!
http://thehargettfamily.blogspot.com/2009/10/bekahs-new-outfit.html
Thanks for the easy tutorial! I used fabric to make a pair, then added an applique to the behind and ruffles to the bottom. Turned out super cute!
Thank you!
thank you! will use this tonight to make pants for a monkey costume.
hello! i made these and they were perfect. you could also use some of the left over fabric form the shirt and sew on a pocket on the back. i also made a scrunchie for my hair i always loose the darn little black ones.
next, i am making some thicker pants from a pair of my old pants that dont quite fit so well and they will work for winter for my son!
Wow! Thanks for the video instructions! What a great way to upcycle!
jennine
Oh wow. What a great idea! My husband has so many old tee shirts, and I think these are the cutest pajama pants for little boys. Just like the picture– that is SO adorable. I’m in love! Trying to make these ASAP!
-Sylvia
adding it to my favs right now- amazing tut- so simple yet cute- thank you so much!
Oh my gosh u totally rock. I blogged about this page on my blog too…I’m excited to try these! My son is potty training and he needs more pants to easily come off and on…minimize accidents. THANK YOU!!
I admit, I’ve used this tute before…but I just wanted to come say thanks as I just used it again to make leggings for my daughter this morning!
This is such a fun idea! I plan on making about 100 of these.
PS–I just found your site, and it’s wonderful. Thanks for the great resource!
Thanks for the video. I made a pair of srub pants in no time.
So cute, and I might even be able to do this! Does it require any kind of special stitch? My sewing machine is pretty basic (as is my knowledge of how to use it).
Seriously… why are patterns so hard when this is so easy?! I adapted this to regular fabric – and yes you have to sew hems but… easy! Thank you so much!
Fab idea! I’m off to the thrift store right now!!
I am going to make each of my kids a pair of these out of my husband’s T-shirts for them to sleep in while he is deployed. They will love to have him close to them. Thanks for the great idea!!
Oh my gosh, I did these as my first sewing project today. He actually sat next to me and was fascinated my the whole process. It took not quite 30 minutes and they fit PERFECT. He’s about to have a whole drawer full of these. Now he’s running through the house yelling “Hi New Pants!!!”
I can’t get over how cute these are… I must make some!
It is a very nice idea!!! I am going to make this project today for my baby sister who is not born yet…… this is my first sewing project….. and i am a little bit scared… but soooooooooooooooooo excited
I just made my first pair of pants, before seeing this, and didn’t realize I could have left it folded over so I wouldn’t have to sew up a side seam. I actually cut the fabric and then sewed it together! It’s great the way you’ve shown it. I’m going to make many more pants from now on, and it’ll be even faster now that you’ve shown me how to skip that step.
Just made a pair for my daughter and your tutorial was perfect! Love it and will be making more!
seriously great tutorial.
My first real sewing project (besides a pillow in middle school home-ec, and some handsewing w/Grandma)!!! First project with a sewing machine, and it turned out ok! I don’t know how it fits JT b/c he’s sleeping, and I didn’t follow the directions that well and I screwed it up at first. I think it might be a little short. But no worries! It cost me NOTHING to make these pants. Now I know what to do in the future, and I’m sure I’ll be making more. Thanks so much for helping a Mama on a budget!
Absolutly brilliant…
This truly was as easy as you said. I’m experienced at sewing, but don’t have a lot of patience for tedious/annoying projects these days. I blogged it, with pictures (and of course, gave you the credit!):
http://momsdailyadventures.blogspot.com/2010/09/make-toddler-pants-from-t-shirt.html
This is a great idea!!! I love to make pants for my baby. Some times it’s easier and cheapper to buy them lol.
Just wanted to say thank you for posting this! I’ve made 3 pairs for my almost 3 year old, and she loves them! I linked you in my blog as well!
I also used the left over middle part to make her a pair of undies today! I love re-purposing things!!
I was wanting matching pjs for my two children but because they are so far yet so close in age, couldn’t find any. I asked around for pricing on someone making me a couple sets and OMG! Found this and just made the baby (6 mo) her pair and despite a few mistakes…they came out super cute! I used ribbon instead of elastic for a feminine touch.
Thanks…though I would like to see more of a tutorial for sewing hems or sewing up the top of the pants…
I didn’t use a t-shirt, but I used this method to make regular pants out of fabric. Thanks! Heading to JoAnn’s to get fleece later this week for lounge pants for the entire family.
This is a great idea!!Love it!! I would like to know if I can link your site to my blog.
Let me know if thats ok, thanks (o:
Made these over the weekend and just posted about it on my blog.
They came out super cute and I’m going to make some more this week! Thanks!!
could I use a kids shirt for a baby?
I have only very recently started sewing and today I managed to make myself a pair of pyjama pants out of an old doona cover, inspired by this post. You can see them here: http://mamassewingroom.blogspot.com/2011/04/mamas-baggy-trousers.html
Thanks for sharing!!
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