I’m probably dating myself with this post, but I’m sure some of you remember this hippie craze back in the late 90’s… patchwork pants!!

The idea for these came to me in a flash when one of my best friend’s from highschool, Jay and his wife, Maegen had a baby this Fall.  I wanted to make their little guy a gift but didn’t feel inspired to make my usual set of baby bibs…so these were born.  I thought it would be so fun to modernize these pants… by using some lighter fabrics (there was a lot of corduroy back in ’98!), in softer colors. I think they are perfectly appropriate for a hip little baby!

Maybe you knew a guy like Jay- A really nice/cool/funny guy, who liked Phish, the Dead, etc… went to school in Vermont, now has a super cool job working at Ben & Jerry’s- Bonaroo Buzz? Yeah, he pretty much invented it.  I know…I’m jealous too.  Jay still gets to jam out at shows from time to time too.

He used to wear pants like these back in the day, just… earthier.  😉

So really, Jay (if you are reading this), you are the inspiration for these.  And your sweet little Chet will be recieving a boy version very soon!

Here’s my 9 month old Corinne hanging out in her new duds… munching on some raisins….

oh, and she walks now.  no big deal. !!!!

“divided sky the wind blows high…..”

“Take me where the whispering breezes
Can lift me up and spin me around”

So.

Shall we make some pants?

First, you’ll want to make your patchwork panels.  Cut your scraps to 4″ wide, and anywhere between 2″ and 4″ long.  Sew them together to end up with 2 panels that are 4″ wide and as long as your pants pattern. Make sure you iron all the seams down.  Set those panels aside when you’re done.  These pants are a great way to showcase some of your favorite fabrics, and of course a great way to use up scraps.

Next, using your favorite pants pattern, cut your 2 front and 2 back pieces.  I cut my pants from this thrifted linen skirt- i LOVE this fabric, and the weight of it… I’ve been dying to cut into it and it’s just perfect for these.  (there’s a matching cropped jacket too that is waiting to be hacked up!)

 I’m using the Quick-Change Trousers from Anna Maria Horner’s book, Handmade Beginnings (though i altered the pattern by not using the back panel piece, and just extending the back piece to make them regular pants.)  Dana has a few pants tutorials- i like this one where she shows you how to draft your own pattern from a pair of well-fitting pants you already own.

You’ll want to cut 1″ off the side edge of your back pieces…

…and 1″ off the side of your front pieces.

(these will end up being more wide-leg than your original pattern… adding about 2 inches of “room” to each pant leg of your finished pants).

With right sides together, sew your back pieces (i always label the front and back pieces with tape since it can be hard to tell them apart!) together at the center seam.

Do the same for your front pieces….

Clip the curve…

Next, with right sides together, sew your patchwork panels to your back piece.

Should look something like this… oh, and press those center seams flat!

Okay, your back piece should now look like this!

Now, you can skip the next few steps and move right onto sewing your pants together, but I decided to line these for my baby since there are so many seams.  Lining pants is actually super easy and keeps everything nice and soft on the inside.

I’m using this vintage pillowcase since it’s really soft and thin.

Using your new front and back pieces, lay them (folded) onto your (folded) lining fabric- easy to just use a pillowcase!

Trace the pattern with a marker.

Cut it out.

Sew the front pieces and back pieces the same way you did with your other pieces.  Clip curves at center, and press the seams open.

Your pieces should look like this right about now:

Time to sew up your pants!  With right sides together, pin your front piece to your back piece.

sew the sides first (i’m using a 5/8″ seam allowance).

\

Trim your edges

Next, sew the inside seam of your pants, starting at one leg… and ending at the other.

Voila!  Pants!  Almost….

Press your seams open

Now, put your lining pants together in the same way, sew the sides first… then the center….

Press your seams (on a low setting if you’re using a pillowcase with polyester like i am… i almost melted my center seam. whoops!)

Okay, so turn your outer pants right side out, and keep your lining pants inside out.  Fit your lining pants into the outer pants.

There will be no exposed seams inide the pants… cozy.  🙂

Pin the top raw edges of your pants, and run that edge through a serger if you have it.  If not, you can zig zag stitch.

Nice and neat!

Now, fold your top edge over about 3/4″.  Using 2 pins, leave a 2″ space in the back of the pants to thread elastic.

Topstitch all the way along the folded edge (i’m using an edgestich foot- love it!) as close to the edge as possible.  Then, Stitch along the serged edge to form the casing… just remember not to stitch where you have your 2 pins!

Measure your kiddo’s waist, add about an inch and cut.  Coco’s measurement is 17″…

Slip a safety pin through one end, and thread the elastic (mine is 1/2″) on through your casing….

Once you get all the way around, bring the two ends together about an inch, and zig zag stitch to hold them together.

Pin a piece of folded ribbon into the opening at the back, and stitch then stitch it closed.

Now to hem!  Fold your outer pants to the inside and press (I folded up 1 1/2″). (**you may need to trim up your bottom raw edges first before you fold them under to hem, sometimes they can get a little wonky after sewing the pants together….)

Then, fold your lining up the same amount and press.

It should look like this:

Sew around each leg hole… i sewed about 5/8″ from the edge.

And you’re done!  Your kid is ready to go out on tour!

And play bongos!

With people she doesn’t know!

Or go bouncing around the room! (…or, the parking lot if she’s not so lucky).

(…Just don’t buy a veggie burrito from the kid in the brown Volvo- there’s like one bean, and the rest is just rice and you’ll be jipped out of $3…)

Yeah, I’ve been to a handful of these shows in my 33 years.  (but not as many as my sis though! Caroline- STOP asking me to make you an adult version of these, okay?  Just go put some Jerry on Pandora and make yourself some falafel if you really need to relive those days.  That goes for you too Joanne T!! hahaha…)

I’m kidding… just put them on your little babe, and enjoy the sunset….

“inspiration, move me brightly…”

Anyone going out on Crib Tour 2013?

Coco is!

“Waiting for the time when I can finally say
That this has all been wonderful, but now I’m on my way”

-Erin