Big marble eyes and tiny toes, bobbly heads and Lilliputian arms, babies’ disproportions are just intrinsically adorable. But for me, the real charmer has always been the sweet baby bottom! I love the way puffy diapers make a baby’s backside so over-sized and perfect for patting.

Since finding out that I was expecting my second child, I knew I would need to celebrate her finest feature with a comfy, cozy pair of Baby Pants. These trousers, with their rear gusset, make room for even the squishiest of tushes!

The curved gusset seam offers a little bit of challenge for this otherwise easy-as-pie project. And with patterns for sizes 0-9 months, you can make a set in every size. You’ll be needing them sooner than you think!

For the fabric I chose Kiyohara’s Linen Blend Solid, one of the softest fabrics out there, and it only gets better with wash and wear. Plus, I couldn’t resist a pop of a beautiful Liberty of London in the back, right on the cute spot! – Corinne

Update: New Fabric

JUNE 15, 2015









To celebrate another new birth (namely that of Purl Soho’s Linen Grid fabric!), I’ve made a new group of Baby Pants! Our Baby Pants in Linen Grid include a new list of materials and special instructions for a bias-cut gusset!

Update: New Sizing

JUNE 6, 2015

We’ve adjusted the pattern for sizes 3-9 months to give a wider leg and a roomier fit! The template and all measurements reflect this change.

Materials

One Materials for Baby Pants kit (available in an Aqua or Pink color way) includes…

Main Fabric: 1 yard of Kiyohara’s Linen Blend Solid in Light Beige

Gutermann’s 100% Cotton Thread to match the fabric

1 1/2 yards of ¼-inch Braided Elastic in white

Contrast Fabric: A bundle of 3 Liberty of London Tana Lawn prints cut in fat sixteenths (9 inches by 13 inches) These are enough materials to make 3 pairs of pants in any size from 0 to 9 months. The Aqua fabrics are, from the left, Moss Kayoko, Aqua Capel, and Mint Mirabelle, The Pink fabrics are, from the left, Moss Kayoko, Pink Capel, and Mirabelle – Pink Light Blue. You will also need…

A Baby Pants Template, printed, cut out, and taped together. It is available for free download here in 0-3 months, 3-6 months, and 6-9 months Sizes To fit 0-3 months, 3-6 months, and 6-9 months.

Notes

Prewash all fabrics before starting.

All seam allowances in this project are 3/8-inch unless otherwise noted.

Pattern

Cut

For each pair of pants, cut one piece of ¼-inch Braided Elastic to 16 inches for size 0-3 months, 17 inches for size 3-6 months, and 18 inches for size 6-9 months.

Using the free template, cut out the following pieces:

From the the Main Fabric

One Front Piece. Cut this piece by folding the fabric and placing the template edge along the fold. Cut around the template.

One Back Piece. Cut this piece in the same manner as the front piece, placing the template on the fabric fold.

From the Contrast Fabric

One Gusset. Again, cut this piece by folding the fabric and placing the template edge along the fold. Cut around the template.

Pin the Back Gusset

With right sides together, pin the right-side-up Gusset to the upside-down Back Piece at the midpoint of each piece (marked by the fold), as shown above. (The fabric I am using for the Back and Front Pieces doesn’t have an obvious right or wrong side, but if you are using a print, it’s important to keep in mind that you are pinning the right sides together).

Moving out from the center, first in one direction and then the other, pin the Back Piece to the Gusset along the curve, making sure to match up the cut notches.

It can be tricky to keep curved seams wrinkle-free. Use a lot of pins to ensure that your seam will come out un-puckered and smooth.

Sew the Gusset

With the Back Piece on top, sew around the pinned curve. Go slowly and take the pins out as you come to them. Backstitch at each end.

Trim the seam and sew along the edge with a zigzag stitch. Press seam out towards the Back Piece.

Sew the Inseam

With right sides together, pin the Back Piece to the Front Piece, starting at the center of the inseam.

Moving out from center, first in one direction and then the other, pin along the inseam curve and down the leg, making sure the notch on the Front Piece matches up with the Gusset-Back Piece seam. Don’t be afraid to use a lot of pins to ensure a smooth seam.

With the Front Piece on top, sew the pieces together. Trim the seams and sew along the edge with a zigzag stitch.

Sew Front and Back Pieces Together

Pin and sew along the side edges. Trim the seams and sew along the edges with a zigzag stitch.

Hem and Finish

Turn up the bottom of the pants’ legs ¼ inch toward the wrong side twice and press. Edge stitch along the fold, backstitching at the end of the seam.

Fold down the top edge of the pants ¼ inch toward the wrong side and press. Fold again ½ inch from folded edge. Press flat. Edge stitch along the fold leaving a 1-inch gap. Attach a safety pin to one end of the Braided Elastic. Insert this end into the channel created by the top hem. Pull through, making sure to not to pull other end into the channel.

When you have pulled the pinned end of the elastic through the other end of the channel, overlap the two ends by 1 inch. Sew the two ends together lengthwise with a zigzag stitch.

Tuck the elastic into the hem and close the gap with an edge stitch. Turn the pants right side out and they’re ready to wear!