baby back pants tutorial

Materials:
.5 yard knit fabric. 
Larger scraps and recycled t-shirts are perfect for this project.
-.5 yard 1-inch elastic
-Pattern PDF
-Knit, stretch, or ballpoint needle for your machine

*****If you’re unfamiliar with sewing with knits, here is some basic information to go over before starting*****

Take your ruffle strips

Sew a basting stitch down the center length of each strip

Pull the thread, gathering the strip

Pin the ruffled strips to the right side of the bum panel, right side up, within the section indicated on the pattern piece

 

Sew down the center of each strip, securing the ruffles in place.

Alternate idea:  use freezer paper to stencil a graphic to the bum panel, staying within the section indicated on the pattern piece (Not where I’ve put things in this picture.  Learn from my mistakes!)

 

Right sides facing, lay one back leg piece on top of the corresponding side of the bum panel

Sew all along the curve  (HERE is some info on sewing a curve seam, from back when I first learned.)

Repeat for the other back leg piece on the other side of the bum panelLay a front leg piece on top of the corresponding back leg piece, right sides together, matching long straight edgeSew in place and repeat for other front leg pieceAlternate Idea:  if appliqueing on legs, do so at this point before sewing inner leg seamMatch short, straight inner leg edges of each leg, right sides facingAnd sew inner leg seamTurn one leg right side outAnd place inside still-wrong-side-out other leg, matching raw curved edgeSew the seamSo you should now have this, if you were to turn things right side outHem the legs with a double-rolled hem. 1/4 inch for first fold, 1 inch for second, finished.

Alternate Idea:  use a rolled edge on serger to hem the legs.  If doing this, trim the legs by apx. one inch first.

Fold the waist 1/4 inch, then another 1.5 inches, sew along bottom edge of waist band, leaving a 1-inch gapThread elastic through gapSecure elastic ends after threading, and finish the waistband by closing the gap

* a special thanks to my baby models: Drew and Chloe, and my own little Ivy.

 

Check out my other baby tutorials and projects HERE!