Christmas Pants in an Hour (with kinda tutorial!)

[chasmyn]

I had this fantastic idea that I was going to make my son some festive flannel holiday pants for Christmas - to wear on Christmas eve and on Christmas. He loves the pants that I make for him, so I thought it would be so adorable if I made him some little red ones with snowmen or reindeer or something. So into the fabric store we go, in search of holiday fabric with which to make him some cute holiday pants. And then we saw it - I didn’t even know there was such a thing, but there it was, and there were TWO KINDS of it: the Thomas Holiday fabric. My son is OBSESSED with Thomas the Tank Engine. And it just so happened that they were on sale, buy one get one free, but only by the meter. And as it happens, it takes just under a meter of fabric to make my boy a pair of pants. So of course I bought a meter of each!




In less than two hours, I whipped up these two pairs of pants. Note that they are even lined with terrycloth for warmth and comfort (since they are not flannel as I’d wanted). Kiernen was DELIGHTED with them, and will likely be wearing them for the next week straight. He even, for the first time in his little sweet life, said “Thank you” (well, he signed it to me). WORTH IT!

They are really simple to make, too:

Just find a pair of pants that fit well and fold them in half.

Fold your fabric in half and place the pants on the fabric. Trace around he pants, allowing for a seam allowance and also for the waist to be larger so it will fit over the hips.

Cut two of main fabric and two of lining, if you are using a lining - it is by no means necessary.

Again, if you are using a lining, place wrong sides together of lining and fabric, 1 of each piece. Sew these together with almost no border, sewing all the way around.

Hem bottom of legs - I fold it in about 1/4" and sew.

Then take both sewn pieces and place right sides together, sewing the top seams together (the crotch seams).

Then do the leg seams, making sure to reinforce the seam at the crotch.

Fold waist in about 1" and sew, leaving a 1/2" hole for elastic. To size elastic, take elastic and wrap it around original pair of pants at waist and cut. Thread elastic into waist and then sew elastic together.

Voila - pants!

Let me know if any part of my sorta tute doesn't make sense, or I forgot anything. Thanks - this is actually my first project that I've posted here, after years of reading and commenting on others' wonderful work.

[Astica]

My favourite line?
"Voila - pants!"

But that's AWESOME.

My boyfriend's best friend only ever became best friends with him because he had a name from that show (James). Boys can be so superficial when they're 4 years old  (and well, now too I guess XD depending). I had to laugh a little when I saw these!

And a thank-you too??? You're on a roll 

[Caine]

these are terrific! and I love your tute -- I spent so much time scratching my head over this tute at red current.com http://handyprojects.blogspot.com/2005/04/how-to-make-easy-kids-pants.html and yours is clearer about how to get the right fit ... Thank you! Great pants, sweet idea ... I made a couple pairs from the redcurrent.com tute yesterday but only got so far as the "draft" stage that I made from an old sheet -- because I couldn't figure out the fit.

[chasmyn]

Yay, I'm so glad it was helpful! I've never really done a tute before so I wasn't sure.

[artzy_fartzy68]

Those are great! Your tutorial made perfect sense to me!

[chasmyn]

Today i made pants and a shirt for my son's Waldorf doll that match his Thomas pants. I'll have to take a photo and show you - he was so delighted, it made him want to bring "bebe" everywhere with him. He kept saying, "Bebe pants," and "Bebe shewt (shirt)," and he proudly showed it to his Daddy.

[happyfrog]

nice job! 

noticed you mentioned your kid signs.  COOL! 

We're bilingual household here - ASL/English. 

BettyAnn

[sgtbalderramawife]

Today i made pants and a shirt for my son's Waldorf doll that match his Thomas pants. I'll have to take a photo and show you - he was so delighted, it made him want to bring "bebe" everywhere with him. He kept saying, "Bebe pants," and "Bebe shewt (shirt)," and he proudly showed it to his Daddy.

I figure it was probably fairly easy, but how did you make clothes for his doll?  My son has a wolf that he will not sleep without and I thought it might be cool to dress him up.

[norahkate]

those are so cute!  i wish i had seen that fabric at christmas.  but i do have some plain thomas fabric and i just showed these to little man who is now demanding a pair of "pussy pants"
okay now, before anyone gets upset or offended...my brother-in-law gave him a thomas train set for christmas and just had to teach him that the other train's name is percy - unfortunately we don't say our "r"s well yet and it comes out sounding, clear as day, like something else entirely.  yikes 
good thing he's not in daycare anymore.

[kaymadben]

How adorable. My son loves Thomas too. Thanks for the tute!