I realized that it’s been a while since my last sewing project. I started sewing years ago when my son was a baby.
He has to wear the first clothes I saw, and honestly, sometimes he has to wear some strange outfit!
Fortunately, he was too little to remember anything. Nine years later, I had time to improve my sewing skills.
Our little girl deserves some custom made outfits, so I start to sew baby clothes again.
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Babies are growing so fast that the clothes don’t last very long, so I wanted to do something budget-friendly, nothing better than upcycled baby clothes.
I used one of my t-shirt that I don’t wear anymore and turns it into baby pants and a matching headband. Can you believe that each year in the USA people throws 15 million tons of clothes in landfills!
So if you’re into making clothes yourself, upcycling is one of the options we have to reduce our textile consummation and contaminate less.
Making DIY baby clothes is one of my favorite thing to sew, it’s fun and quick to achieve.
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Materials you will need to make baby pants with a t-shirt
- Used t-shirt (or any other garment made with knit fabric)
- Matching thread
- A sewing machine
- Elastic band
If you don’t have any used t-shirt to upcycle, you can use any garment made out of knit fabric or buy knit fabric by the yard (check these cute baby designs).
In this case, overlay two layers of fabric to make your baby pants.
This is the plain tshirt I upcycled, the fabric was in good condition except for some small holes on the bottom edge.
Turn the t-shirt to have the wrong side out. Take newborn pants you already have and report the shape on the t-shirt. I place it that way because I didn’t want pants with small holes in it.
Pin both sides of the shirt together and sew the pants following your drawing.
Leave the bottom of the legs and the waistband unsewn. As you work with jersey I suggest you sew with zigzag stitches.
Remove the pins and cut the pants out of the shirt.
Leave about 1 inch (2cm) of extra fabric on the waist and on the bottom of the legs.
I like to have the legs bottom finished with an elastic. That way even if the pants are a little too big it fits well and you don’t have to make several folds to see the baby’s feet.
Make a fold with the legs bottom, pin and sew along the edge.
Leave 1 inch unsewn and pass an elastic into the fold, then make a knot with the elastic ends and close the unsewn gap with a few stitches.
Repeat for the other pants leg.
Adjust the front of the waistband by cutting out the fabric, you just have to report the shape from the pants you used as pattern.
Make a fold with the waistband, pin and sew.
As for the legs, leave an unsewn gap to pass an elastic thought the fold, once you are done, sew both elastic ends together and close the gap with a few stitches.
Turn the pant right side out and done!
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And a pic of the matching headband.
I forgot to take pics of the sewing steps, but I can make a tutorial if it’s something you are interested in, just leave me a comment.
I was a very easy sewing project to make and as I used an old t-shirt it didn’t cost anything…sounds like the perfect combo, right?
Sewing baby clothes is fun and easy, I hope you will enjoy making this simple project.
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You will find all the tutorials featured in the video on my “Best DIY” page.
Amaryllis
Veronica Perez
Tuesday 1st of September 2020
I love these pants. Do you have a tutorial for the head band??
amaryllis
Tuesday 1st of September 2020
Thanks Veronica. I don't have a headband tutorial but you can find one here https://www.doityourselfdivas.com/2014/05/diy-twisted-headband.html It's super easy and quick to sew.
Susan
Thursday 20th of August 2020
When cutting out the pants do you add anything to the waste band for gathering
amaryllis
Saturday 22nd of August 2020
Hello Susan, I did add a seam allowance of 1 inch on the waist and the leg. So there is enough fabric to make a fold and to slide the rubber band in.
Sarah
Friday 3rd of November 2017
Such a great idea, I've been wanting to get into sewing clothes myself. Great inspiration. Thanks!
amaryllis
Sunday 5th of November 2017
Thanks! I wish I have more time to sew...it's such a relaxing craft!
Belinda
Tuesday 3rd of October 2017
I would love to see a headband tutorial....what a clever upcycle
amaryllis
Tuesday 3rd of October 2017
Thanks Belinda! I want to upcycle an other t-shirt into a baby dress, so I will add the headband tutorial to the list :)
Mamyca
Monday 2nd of October 2017
Il reste encore du tissus pour lui coudre de jolis rubans qu'elle portera comme sa grande soeur !
amaryllis
Tuesday 3rd of October 2017
Oui il y a encore quelques t-shirts a découper ;)