Tutorial - quick 'n' dirty romper

[dooney]

So I finally got my sewing machine home from the machine hospital and I demanded an hour to myself, and this is what came of that.

When my husband saw it he volunteered some of his beloved t-shirt collection, even the shirt off his back (Army of Darkness!)
This was from a YS t-shirt in the recon tub and it's about a 6-9 month romper. The upper body needs some work but I already know how to do that. I was working mainly toward the booty shape.

Step 1 - get a t-shirt and a pre-made romper. See how the crotch puffs up because it's in a shorts shape? I chose to ignore that. Like I said, quick 'n' dirty. Speaking of dirty, those stains show up way more for the camera than real life.

Step 2 - fold both in half and trace like so. You should narrow the sleeves (or take them off altogether, up to you). So basically you're cutting a chunk out of the armpit and then letting it widen for the legs. You'll have to fudge a bit for the bottomy part, because we're ignoring the romper's reality and substituting one of our own.

Step 3 - Don't bother changing the thread in your machine if you're excited. Sew on the armpit line ONLY. Otherwise you'll close the leg up and you could make an oddly-shaped pillow.

Step 4 - Now cut. Go ahead and cut your bottom line too, just make sure you leave enough to hem or you'll get an underwear shape.

Step 5 - Now fold it over and trace what you've just cut onto the othe other side. Be sure to let your cat help.

Step 6 - sew the armpit line on that side and cut.

Step 7 - attach your closure. If you use snaps, I recommend reinforcing your fabric with something that doesn't stretch so they hold up better. I chose yummy green Velcro. Make sure your closures are so that the flaps point toward each other when you go to close it. So both sides should be facing up when laid flat. Or down, I haven't decided which I like better, or if there's a difference.

Step 8 - hem, hem. Cut that little diagonal slit between the crotch flap and the rest of the leg so your corners don't bunch.

Tada! (I bent the Velcro to make the leggy shape.) Wow. I have to check whether the sleeves really are that far off from each other, but I don't think so.

The end!

Mm. Don't worry about the scissors, he's not crawling yet.

[susankg53]

fantastic idea, now if only someone I knew had a baby.

[barbolot]

Great tutorial!  So smart and practical -- and cute!  Adorable baby, too.  

[chattyKathi]

this is a good idea. I have done something like it before, not nearly as nice as yours though!

oh and BTW that is one big cat!! 

[Daneisha]

That is one beautiful baby, almost makes me want another one  ...thanks for the tute, i have a pile of my husband's shirts that I want to reconstruct for my babe!

[Gestalta_Sara]

Thats brilliant!

The shirt looks wicked cute as a romper!

[dooney]

The sleeves are pretty darn even. I don't know what was up with that picture.

I just changed him and he'd peed through it.

Daneisha, I can't wait to get started on the next one! Baby, I mean.

[ammasmama]

 ooooh, awesome idea,  thank you! i have just the shirt, i looked at it yesterday and wondered what to do with it, it's been in a pile of stuff to make baby clothes for months... and your baby looks adorable!

[missmonkeymae]

Perfect! Your tute is not only informative but entertaining as well.  Who knew cats could sew! I think you've got yourself a t.v. show in the making with kitty! The little guy could be his sewing sidekick 

[dooney]

The cat did that on his own, with no help from me. I had just laid the shirt out and turned to put the little guy in the stroller for DH and when I turned back, he was there, even hugging the pen. I thought I'd already gotten a pic of that step so I took one for fun. Turns out that's the only one I have of that.

[PimpyMcPimpin]

that is so cute, I'm gonna try one for my daughter

[norahkate]

okay, i'm sooo doing this today!  and this may seem strange, but i think you have my cat (who has actually not been with us for almost two years now, but noti n the way that he could have run away and become your cat...in the way that it would be really scary if he were!)
i mean, he looks so much like our oliver.  i will have to post a picture when i find one.  wow.
now on to the important thing - your baby is just adorable!  thanks 

[zenobia]

this is awesome!!!

[McJulie-O]

Mm. Don't worry about the scissors, he's not crawling yet.

Oh, yeah, right! When you least expect it your darling will put on a daring act of precocity! He looks very smart!!    

[dooney]

weird. i think robby is just about 2 years old.

[joiedemusique]

Thanks for such a great tutorial! I was going through my summer clothes yesterday and thought I'd get rid of a too-small "Shroeder playing piano" t-shirt, but now I have better plans for the shirt than Goodwill 

Your baby and kitty are so adorable!

[warpedweaving]

Thanks for a tutorial of something that can be used for a boy! Yea!

[mrspilkingtonknits]

GReat project and tute!  You should post in the "gifts/crafts for boys" flickr group!

[usdimama]

oh, yes!  i was just going to get rid of my boo berry and sesame street shirts...i'm totally digging them out of the sally anne bag to do this   

thanks for the great tute...and your baby is just lovely 

[shewolf]

Wonderful! Thanks for the tute.

I've got a bunch of shirts I can do this with, too!

[stacysews]

I love it!  Great job.

[dooney]

Okay everyone, you've had a day and a half! Let me see them!

[jadepearl]

Thanks for the tutorial!  Love it!

[ryepie]

ooooh...dani'. amazing!
thanks! i'll have to do this asap.

[amourxamour]

adorable. & that is a gigantic cat. haha.

[ammasmama]

i was just re-reading it, and this tute is hilarious!

[laminathegreat]

HAHAHAHA! Freeking awesome! More things to make my babies uber cute!!

[tsarnicholas]

nice romper.  supahfine baby.  bitchin' bouncy chair fabric.

rock on.

[dooney]

Thanks! Here's the bouncy chair topic
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=183544.msg1912929#msg1912929

[jutybo]

Great, hilarious tut!!  And kudos for putting it together with a wee one in tow!  (I'm posting my version in another thread and didn't want to double-hit the image... not sure if it matters  )

[RougeRaven]

Thank you for the tutorial! Now I am obligated to make my son some new onsies from his dad's old shirts. Btw, I don't suppose your cat was adopted from the humane society and his given name was Tin-Tin? (He looks like a cat I worked with last summer).

[dooney]

No, he came from the animal hospital as a teeny baby 2 years ago.
*sniff* he used to be cute...

[RougeRaven]

He is adorable lol

[dooney]

sure. we call him Rob the Blob.

[kfitz1984]

omg I looooove it! SOOO going to have to make some of these!! THANKS!

[GBkittyKat]

Oh My Gawsh!  I'm so glad I found this    Now I have another Thrift Store junket in the making.  I was getting worried looking around for onsies I'd put on my kid (I refuse pink or blue- we're Deathrockers our child will be a deathrawk baby LOL) and I'm raiding our T-shirt drawers.  I can't wait *does the giddy dance of sewy joy*  Thank goodness we still have months of sewing ahead before he/she/it arrives!

[HopeF]

This is genuis!!! 

[thankyoulocust]

I just had to show you this.  There was a link to it from my iGoogle home page.  You're internet famous!

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Baby-Romper-from-a-T-Shirt


Screenshot of the google page.  Nifty, huh?  I linked it instead of posting the image because it wouldn't show up big enough on here.

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb7/thankyoulocust/quickndirtyromper.jpg

[tigergirl]

What a fantastic idea!

[mum2five]

Great idea, very cute.

[ansley]

That is a great idea.  I need to hit up dd’s closet for some t-shirts she has outgrown.  My sil gets some of dd's hand-me downs so I don't know what I have left.

[dooney]

I just had to show you this.  There was a link to it from my iGoogle home page.  You're internet famous!

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Baby-Romper-from-a-T-Shirt


Screenshot of the google page.  Nifty, huh?  I linked it instead of posting the image because it wouldn't show up big enough on here.

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb7/thankyoulocust/quickndirtyromper.jpg

Awesome! Thanks for posting that screenshot!

[tuesdaymaybe]

I'm going to make about a thousand of these for summer, I think.     Thanks!

[McJulie-O]

Me, too! Thanks for reviving this thread!

[craftygem]

wow!  thnx this is awesome!  i have a newborn baby boy and have never sewn boys clothes before.  im alwayz making things for my 6 yr old girl..... this is pretty much what i was looking for with warm weather here.  ill have to try this!  thnx for posting the tute!  ps- ur little man is adorable

[MultitaskingMamma]

awesome!! thanks for sharing!

[dooney]

I love that this old thread is being revived. Here's the same little man now:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30094151&l=c45cd81f2b&id=1494336605

[koffeewitch]

Wow...velcro for the crotch!  Why did I not think of that??  I love this tutorial; I just had to hit the "THIS ROCKS" button.  I hope all crafty parents get to check this out.  Thanks so much!