Drop Bottom Baby Pants

Ever since my Ben was born almost 4 years ago, I have had an obsession with drop bottom baby pants. I made them for him when he was a baby, and they are among my favorite keepsakes that I have of his as a newborn.  For three years now I have made these adorable pants for newborns and toddlers, and everyone loves them.  So when I heard my friend Amy, the incredibly talented author behind This Heart of Mine blog, had a new baby a week ago…named BEN, I knew she simply needed these in her life.  It was time to get the drop bottom baby pants DIY up on the blog, as part of the ‘This Baby of Mine’ Baby Shower. Honoring Amy’s little bundle of joy, Ben.

Faux Drop Bottom Baby Pants, with Free Pattern.

Sizes 0 – 3mo, thru 2T

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MATERIALS:

• FREE PATTERN DOWNLOAD HERE
• Knit T-Shirt (for fabric)
• Scrap piece of knit fabric (for Text)
• Wonder Under
• (2) Buttons
• 1 yd. 3/4″ Elastic
• Basic Sewing Essentials

*Please note – pattern includes a 1/2″ seam allowance. Pattern does NOT include hem allowance, as these pants were made to be sewn with a thrifted T-Shirt. If hem allowance is needed, add to the bottom of the pants as desired.

 

Step One: Gather supplies as listed.

Step Two: Line up the pattern with the bottom of your T-Shirt’s hem. Pin and cut around the pattern. This will give you (2) pattern pieces.

Step Three: Cut out your butt flap pattern piece as well, on the fold. Make sure to pay attention to ‘stretch direction’ when cutting.

Step Four: Following the instructions on the Wonder Under, Iron onto the wrong side of your scrap knit fabric. Draw your text onto the wonder under, making sure to draw it on backwards.

Step Five: Cut out text.

Step Six: Fold Butt flap right sides together, with the fold on top. Pin sides together and sew. Turn right side out and press.

Step Seven: Following the Wonder Under packaging instructions, peel away the paper back of your text letters, and iron directly onto your Butt Flap front. For added security, if desired sew around each letter.

Step Eight: Place your (2) leg pattern pieces right sides together. Pin and sew the back crotch seam. (The back crotch seam has a slightly higher waist). Open up and press seam.

Step Nine: Line up the butt flap right sides together with the pants back seam, with the unsewn edge on top. The unseen edge should be about 1 – 2″ above the bottom of the crotch seam. Pin and sew, using a stretch stitch or zig zag stitch.

Step Ten: Lift butt flap up and press. Pin in place to secure. (Do not sew.) Please note, the butt flap will seam very low underneath the waist. This is to allot for sewing the waistband in place.

Step Eleven: Fold pants right sides together, pin and sew Front crotch seam. Press open.

Step Twelve: With pants still right sides together, pin and sew the inner leg seam. Turn right side out and press.

Step Thirteen: Measure around your baby’s waist when they are standing or laid out flat, and cut elastic to size. You want it to be comfy on a newborn’s tummy when sitting with their adorable little belly rolls. Here is an approximate elastic size chart, in case you cannot measure baby:

• 0-3 mo: Cut 17″
• 6 – 12 mo: Cut 17.5″
• 2T: Cut 18″

Step Fourteen: Overlap elastic ends 1/2″, pin and sew.

Step Fifteen: Slip elastic inside the top of the waistband, and pin in 4 strategic places – the front, back, and 2 sides. Please note, the elastic is smaller then your pants waistband. Sew around the top of the elastic, using a zig zag stitch or stretch stitch, stretching the elastic while you sew so that it is the same width as your pants.

Step Sixteen: Fold elastic under towards the inside of your pants, enclosing the elastic. Pin in the 4 strategic places again, and sew around the bottom of the elastic, using a stretch stitch or zig zag stitch – once again, stretching while you sew.

Sew on buttons, and you are finished!

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As you can see, I have made and loved the faux drop bottom technique for years now. Here is my Ben wearing various drop bottom pants or onesies throughout the years…

It is my sincerest hope that these pants bring as much joy to Amy and her baby Ben, as they did me. You can see more baby posts honoring Amy from the ‘This Baby of Mine’ Baby Shower below…

Congratulations Amy!

Wishing you so many blessings and joy with your new baby boy. You couldn’t have picked a better name :).

 

Thanks so much for stopping by, and until next time…

Happy Sewing!