Saturday, June 13, 2009

Recycled T-Shirt Toddler Pants & Gauchos

T-shirt pants have been around forever right up there with pillowcase dresses. There are so many tutorials out there. I have a few friends who are just starting to sew so I thought I'd post my own tutorial with updated measurements and tweaks that I've incorporated into the PERFECT t-shirt pants. (disclaimer: perfect for me, maybe not so perfect for everyone else)


I call them "gauchos" now because as your child gets taller you'll find that you start to lose the length because t-shirts are only so big! These little pants/gauchos are so easy to make and have endless creative possibilities! My tutorial is at the bottom of this post and is easy to download and print!

These were my favorites by far that I made when Sienna was a year old. I made them from one of my t-shirts that featured a cupcake on the front. I attached the cupcake portion using an applique technique on one of the pants legs before sewing the pants together (see my applique tutorial).


These cute little pants were made from a white undershirt and the detail was done using reverse applique. I made a matching t-shirt as well. You can see the detail of the pants here. My reverse applique tutorial is easy to follow as well!


The pair below was made from a black Superman shirt. I cut out the Superman logo and sewed it onto one of the legs before I sewed the pants together.


These gauchos were made from an old Carolina Panthers t-shirt. I originally started making them for a friends son but the length wasn't long enough. They are now Sienna's lounge pants!


Sienna loves comfortable clothes!


A few tips:
1. If you are going to add applique or other detail, add it AFTER you cut the pants out but BEFORE you sew them.
2. Measure your child's inseam first and adjust the length of your pattern to match. You can make shorts, capris, pants.... endless possibilities!

Email me if you have any questions! I'm glad to help in anyway!

32 comments:

  1. OMG! I am so going to try this!!!

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  2. Wow!! You are SO talented!! I'm not sure I can do that but now I know the possibility exists! Man, thanks so much for the awesome tip! And your little girl... too cute! Watch out! ;)

    I found you via SITS by the way!

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  3. Oh my gosh. That is a brilliant idea!
    Thanks for stopping by my blog earlier!

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  4. Wow, you are the queen of re-purposing tshirts! I love it!

    I'm so excited to try this...finally a cute "boy" project! I feel like all the cute projects out there are for dresses and ruffly things. This is great!

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  5. those are awesome! thanks for visiting my blog :)
    You can also make great gaucho pants (using the same technique) with bandanas. My kids would stop traffic in those when they were little.

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  6. Thanks for stopping by my blog. Those are cute I might have to try it!

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  7. Oh these tiny clothes makes me smile big! I love the tutorials you're putting up here. I may try do some of them one day! Thanks for sharing!
    Happy Sunday!

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  8. Have I told you that you are amazing? Because you are AMAZING.

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  9. Im with Sienna, comfortable clothes, rock! popping in from SITS to leave ya' some bloggy lovin!

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  10. These clothes are sooo cute!

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  11. Linked your awesomeness today! http://www.joyshope.com/2009/06/stuff-i-want-to-make.html

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  12. I need to learn how to use a sewing machine!!!!

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  13. I love to make t-shirt pants! Here are some I made. Your superman pants are especially cool!

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  14. These are adorable - I made a pair today and just posted it on my blog, linking back to you. www.naptimecrafting.blogspot.com

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  15. You ROCK!

    I just discovered this tutorial! LOVE it! Thanks so much for the helpful PDF download too! I've linked it from my newest post on my blog too!

    I really need to get up the nerve to sew knit - all the great tutorials you have are a huge incentive for me to learn!

    http://treasuresfortots.blogspot.com/2009/07/tutorials.html

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  16. saw these on nannygoat blog... love them! Will have to try this out! Thanks for the tutorial!

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  17. I saw these on nannygoat, too. Wow, are they cute! I may just have to give this a try. Both of my girls would love these!

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  18. I am now seriously addicted to making these! I linked to this tutorial after I made a bunch today.

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  19. I stumbled on your blog recently, after loving your posts on "One Pretty Thing". Anywho, these pants really intrigued me, and I thought, "hmmm, I wonder if my tall 4-year old (although wears size 6) would be too big. Well I'm happy to report "NO! She's not!" I modified your pattern somewhat and used a large t-shirt, and the capris are perfect!!! THANKS for such a great idea! I'm hooked! CHEERS -- Sonja

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  20. Thank you so much for this tutorial! I was having a hard time finding pants to match a superman shirt I made for my son for Halloween. I was able to go buy a shirt in the same shade and make the pants to match his shirt. Great idea! -kriss

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  21. oh my goodness this is so incredibly cute. I really wish I had a sewing machine!

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  22. Wow, you are the queen of re-purposing tshirts! I love it!
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  23. Such a nice post, it is really interesting, want to admire your work, Thanks.



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  24. I'm going to make one! It seems so easy!

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  25. I really loved to visit your blog. Hope to see more inputs from you in your blog.

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  26. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  27. I think that the Recycled T-Shirt Toddler Pants & Gauchos is really one thing to get know about I think that this is really a good information to have for knowledge.

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  28. Excellent and well planned design, especially how this will be a universal template, thanks for showing that with your template that it is easy to get photo realistic shirt prints.

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  29. That is a brilliant idea!
    Thanks for stopping by my blog earlier!

    Cool Shirts

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  30. Thanks for reading and your encouragement. It was an issue that has been on my heart for quite some time and I enjoyed addressing it to the best of my ability. Glad you agree.Try the most comfortable pants in universe today.

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  31. I really need all of these on video!!!! I am so stuck on understanding! I love all your ideas!

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  32. very pleased to find this site.I wanted to thank you for this great read!!


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