Another pair of pants: finished! I used the leftover sleeves from this project to make a very quick pair of sweats. Waste not want not, right? If you're keeping track, that is two pants and one hoodie from one yard of fabric and one discarded adult sweatshirt. There are three things I love about pants from sleeves:
1) They're super easy
2) They're super fast
3) They're upcycled/practically free!
They also seem to be really comfy. And since I spent almost no time or money making them, I don't cringe when they get covered in paint/dirt/grease. Plus, coupled with a black undershirt this pair looks like the perfect ninja training outfit.
Even ninjas need a snack break:
In case you wanted to know how I made these sweet ninja pants, I put together a tutorial.
20 Minute Toddler Sweatpants
You'll need:
Sleeves from one adult sized sweatshirt
Sweatpants that fit your kid (as the pattern)
Elastic
Sewing machine
1. Turn one shirt sleeve inside out, lay flat with seam to one side. Place folded sweatpants over sleeve with hems aligned and crotch rising from the seam-side of the sleeve. On the sleeve draw a line 1/2" inch away from the crotch of the pants and 2 1/2" above the waistline. Repeat with the other sleeve.
2. Turn one of the legs inside out, which would actually make it right side out, and stuff it inside the other one.
3. Make sure the seams are aligned, pin, and sew from one end to the other with a 1/2" seam allowance.
4. Pull the one leg out from the other and they already look like pants. Hooray!
5. To make the rise lower in the front, draw a curve along the top from the sides to 1 1/2" below the center seam.
6. Cut out along the line on the front side ONLY, so that there is a dip in the front. Optional: finish the edge with a serger or zigzag stitch.
7. Fold waistband over about 1 1/2" inches and sew almost all the way around, leaving a space in the back to pull the elastic through.
8. Cut a piece of elastic the length of your kid's waist (add an inch if want, I find making the elastic a little smaller than the actual waist measurement works better). Thread elastic through waistband. Overlap the elastic an inch and sew together with a few zigzag stitches.
9. Tuck in the elastic, sew the waistband shut, and ta da! You're done!
Happy Sewing!