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Welcome to belly + baby! This is the first post in our weekly maternity series. I gave you a little preview of these pants last week, and here’s the tutorial! This is a great way to have elastic pants that don’t look like elastic pants. By replacing the front pockets with elastic, you’ll have plenty of stretch for a growing belly, but also enough structure to keep you feeling put-together.



I love that these pants still have the details like belt loops, a button and a zipper. I don’t like feeling like I’m in my pajamas when I’m out and about. (Maybe that’s just me?) These pants only took a few minutes to complete and they are so comfy. Here’s how to make yourself a pair!









Materials:

*1 pair of regular pants

*1/4 yard knit ribbing



Turn your pants inside out. We’re going to cut the back of the pocket entirely out and replace it with knit.

Wherever you cut, make sure you leave a seam allowance of at least 1/4″

*Pay special attention to metal features that might get in your way later. Leave extra seam allowance so you can dodge them with your machine.

Use your cut out pocket as a template for the new pocket piece you’ll be inserting. My pocket is a hack-job, so even out the edges and add enough around the edges for seam allowance. Cut two rectangles from your ribbing fabric. Make sure the stretch is going horizontally. Sew the two pieces together at the top, turn right side out and press.

We’re going to match one edge of the ribbing to the edge of the pants, where the pocket used to be.

Pin it on.

And sew it up. Your pants will look like this:

Repeat on the other side.

Then, sew the bottom edge of the pocket.

Repeat on the other side of the pants and you’re done!

Now you have two new useable and stretchable pockets!

Check out today’s other belly + baby posts by Jess and Shauna







It’s maternity bottoms day…Shauna at Shwin & Shwin is sharing a full-panel maternity pants tutorial and Jess at Craftiness is not Optional is showing off her DIY maternity skirts!



belly + baby will be back next Monday!