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.