Big Pocket Pants (tutorial)

Wear these for those special occasions…

or just for FUN!!

 

Here we go with the Big Pocket Pants tutorial

items needed:

                                                  -sewing machine

                                                  -approx. 1/2 yard fabric or less (depending on the size you make) & matching thread

                                                  -elastic for waistband

 

Cut your pants from your material. I used a pair of pants that Beckham currently wears. I also made the legs a little wider, you can choose how you want them to look. Make sure you cut 4 pieces~ 2 for the front/ and 2 for the back. You will also want the waist taller then normal so you have enough to fold over and make the waistband.

Sew butt seam on both the front and back pieces. So now you have two pieces that actually look like pants.

This is what the two sections should look like once you sew them together, don’t forget to serge or zig zag to keep the fabric from fraying.

Now that we have the main pant put together we need to make the pockets.

Let’s make the FRONT pockets first.. cut 4 of these pockets.

The next step is to make the pocket by sewing 2 pieces together. As you can see in the picture below you only sew THREE sides.

NOT all four sides.

Flip the pocket right side out and iron flat.

After you iron flat TOP STITCH just the top ‘curve’ section.

This is the part of the pocket that your hand goes into. The left side of this pocket will go directly into the side seam of your pants.

Now lets make the BACK POCKETS.. It’s a different shape of pocket, but we use the same steps.

                                        Cut 4 pieces.

Place two pieces right sides together and stitch around 3 sides, leaving the top ‘flat piece’ open.

Flip right side out/iron flat/ top stitch only top ‘flat’ part of pocket

WOW…we are getting close. Those pockets take a lot of time, but are you still with me?!?

Lets sew them onto the pants now!

FRONT POCKETS first.. Pin the pocket with the ‘curved’ section toward the top of the pant.

Pin pocket in place

(remember you still need to fold the waistband down, so don’t place the pockets too high)

Top stitch pocket in place by starting at the point of the top ‘curved’ section, continue down the pocket, and back to the outside seam

Does that make sense to all?!?

Complete front section with pockets attached

Now onto the BACK POCKETS..

Place on the back section where you want

(yes this picture was actually taken AFTER I sewed everything together..your pants won’t look like this just yet)

Once you have pinned in place sew 3 side (MAKE SURE YOU DON’T SEW THE TOP /straight section CLOSED)

Top/straight section should already have a top stitch done on it, this might help you remember to not sew it a second time.

Let’s finish this and put them on that cute child…..

Put front and back pant piece, right sides together.

Sew down each side of the pants, then through the crotch/inside leg.

Serge, zig zag, (or leave raw if need be)

turn pants right side out. Slightly cut the front of the waist a little lower then the back of the waist.

Then serge around, zig zag, or leave raw

Fold over waist band to make casing for the elastic.

Stitch around casing leaving a small opening to thread your elastic through.

Attach you elastic to a safety pin. Thread through your casing. Once the elastic meets up stitch it together, and top stitch your casing closed.

Serge or zig zag the bottom of your pants

Fold up and top stitch.

(if you leave raw, fold leg up 1/4 inch first then fold a second time so your raw edge is cased in.

Enjoy and pat yourself on the back for making it through my tutorial

 

Now go outside, and enjoy the last of these warm days!!

Don’t mind the runny nose. It was a little chiller then we thought.

Happy Halloween to all!!!

Hope you had a great Halloween…we sure did!!

sadly: This is the best picture I have of these rug-rats!!

Beckham: Little Lion (made by my mother- she saved me from having to make two costumes..thank you! thank you!)

Makella: Princess Tiana (made by me)** I wish I had her with her coat off

*** For those waiting- The Big Pocket Pants sneak peak I showed will be up TONIGHT!! Pinky promise

 

Stay Tuned…

    Tutorial in the works

and hopefully coming tonight!!

Comfy Lounge pants (tutorial)

With fall here in full force, and winter to soon arrive, who doesn’t want some comfy lounge pants?

I know my little ones sure love them.. so if you are ready here we go with my first ever tutorial!!

 

First I started with an old men’s T-shirt! Knit can be hard to find and this is the easiest way for me to get my hands on some comfy knit fabric.

You then need to trace your pants, or use a pattern (if you have one) I grabbed an old pair and began to cut. You can trace with a fabric marker, but I like to make it quick and just cut right around my pants.

These pants are too short for my daughter. Therefore I don’t have them lined up at the bottom of the shirt. You also want to leave a seam allowance, so don’t cut right against the old pair.

Both front and back of pants are cut here.

You then want to sew the crotch on both the front and back pieces. I also serge my seam after, but you can zig zag or leave raw especially since knit won’t fray.

 

Dont mind the dishes drying on the counter :) Someday I will have a craft room, someday!!

 

Then I line my front and back together and sew, then serge the inside leg.

Repeat the same steps to the outside leg. Now your pants are almost complete. Time to add the elastic waist band

This picture shows that you want to cut the front of the pant a little lower then the back. I just eye ball it.

 

Next you want to measure the waist of the person you are making the pants for. These are for my 4 year old daughter. Her waist is about 20in. I cut the wide elastic 21” so you have 1” to over lap and sew together.

This next step is my favorite. I hate when my comfy pants have elastic in the waistband and it get’s twisted inside the casing. With these pants you won’t have that issue. Find the back seam and line up your elastic seam with it, and pin in place. Do the same thing with the front seam and approx. the front of the elastic.

Then you sew around the elastic and pant. I like to serge my elastic to my pants all in one step, but you can always sew close to the edge with your normal sewing machine. Make sure as you are sewing you pull the elastic taunt. This is why you pin the back and front of the pants and elastic together. You pull the elastic and pants at the same time while you sew. Once you get to your pin remove it and continue to stretch your elastic as you finish sewing.

The finished product will gather slightly, which means you did it correctly!! good job

You are almost done.. fold over the elastic

Make sure you fold it over nice and tight. You don’t want any extra fabric on the top. See in the picture below how my elastic is right up against the fold? From here you can sew around the casing and call it good, or you can follow the next step to add a tie in the waistband.

Once you have folded over the fabric find the front and approx 1”-2” from the center seam create a button hole. (FYI- my machine is very old and passed down from my mom. The manual has been lost and I have not been able to figure out how to use the button hole feature) My ‘buttonholes’ are actually just cut’s I made in the fabric with sharp scissors. I then stitched around the hole, just to give it a little extra strength. Either way works just fine in this case.

Once your ‘buttonholes’ are made, fold the elastic back over and sew all the way around your waistband, pulling the elastic taunt while you go.

I did a double stitch on these pants. I first sew around the waistband with the inside facing me. Then flip them over and sew around again approx. 1/4” from your first stitch line.

Completed pants. I then cut 3 thin strips. (if you dont have enough fabric to make long strips, then cut multiple strips and sew them together)

Once my strips are cut I tie them in a knot and begin to braid the fabric. Once you are down at the bottom tie another knot.

Then attached a safety pin to your braided tie and pull through your casing. Sew a label on the bum and you are DONE!!! Wahoo bring on the comfy pants and hot chocolate