Toddler Training Pants Tutorial

Potty training is a continual adventure in our house. My daughter will be three in February and is bright, articulate, creative, but less than in touch with her bladder! (Luckily, bowels are fairly consistent at communicating the need to sit on the potty!)

I experimented with some patterns that I found online but they were too big and didn't stretch right. My picky daughter wouldn't wear them. OK, to give her a little credit, who would want to wear uncomfortable undies!

I've never done an actual tutorial because most of what I make is from other's ideas. However, I did invent what I think is an ingenious training pants "pattern." I haven't seen it on anyone else's blog or in a google search, so I'd like to think that I invented it!

I started with a onsie that still fit, but was heading for the goodwill. I cut it off at the waist. Then I cut the snaps out of the crotch.

And sewed them to the side. I cut out the whole "strip" of snaps, not individual snaps. I only did one side, but later realized I could have used snaps from the back of this onesie for the other side. In my next pairs I omitted this also because my daughter insisted on unsnapping them and then snapping the side each time she pulled them up and down. They were just more hassle then they were worth!

I initially intended to just sew up the crotch as as but, I wasnt sure without the snaps if the legs would be big enough so I added more length to the crotch. I found out after I finished making them that extra length wasn't necessary, so on the next 3 pair I made, I omitted that. I used PUL as the extra fabric.

I made padding for the panties with 6-8 (depending on the pair) layers of flannel. I also included a layer of PUL (cloth diaper fabric) for some leak protection.

I sewed the flannel together first, then to the panties. I made half the layers smaller and the other half a little bigger so it wasn't so bulky everywhere, but still had protection.

I finished of the top and sides with foe (fold over elastic used to make diapers or diaper covers). The next ones I made did not need foe on the side because I didn't add any extra fabric.

Lucky for me my daughter wears them and likes them! Also usually when she has an accident her pants stay dry most of the time. If her pants do get wet the pee doesn't make it to the floor.

This is my daughter in the second pair that I made her. I think they turned out better than the first.

If you try this, please let me know how it works out or if I can make the instructions better. The whole reason I started this blog was because other peoples blogs and tutorials were so helpful to me I thought if I could help someone I'd love to!

Post Edit: With the top of the onsies, I've been using them as tees for my 1 year old to wear at night with her wollies under her fleece PJ"s since onsies aren't an option.

Knitted and Crocheted Goodies and a COMMENT!

My hands have been busy, busy, busy. My husband and I hosted a party tonight and gave small gifts to our guests. I forgot to take pictures of all my goodies before I gave them out so you'll have to imagine with me.

I made a hat with this yarn, (the berry color) using this crochet pattern (without the huge pom-poms). Another with a very thick acrylic yarn (can't find it on line) and a modified version of this pattern, and a purse with the same yarn. The purse was first intended to be a scarf, but I forgot that knitting in stockinette pattern does not work for any item you wish to have flat, so I sewed it up into a purse instead.

I have had my first comment since I started my blog! To reward this dear person, I will put her blog on my side bar so all my readers (ha ha) can become one of hers too! How about this, if you comment on a post, I promise to link to your blog!

Simplicity 5317

More Pants

If you thought the last ones were easy, you should see this pattern. It has one-- yes one piece! (for the pants that is)

We went out to dinner the night this was taken so she wore her cute red boots. I also made her a matching headband (that she hasn't worn since. . . toddlers!).
When she looked at herself she said, " I look like a Mommy!"

Cakes, my two year old, has decided that she doesn't want to wear jeans during the winter, they are too cold. She doesn't have enough pants without jeans so it was a great excuse to sew. I substituted the 1/2 inch elastic waistband for a 1 1/2 inch and then added 3 inches to the top of the pattern to accommodate for it. (I originally wanted a one inch waist band, but joanns was out.) I think a thicker waist band looks more professional.

When I got these out she wanted "soft pants" instead (fleece) so I had to bribe her with gum that you can see in her hand.

I made the size 3 (with a shorter inseam, my girl is short and as my mom like to remind us, doesn't have much of a chance at height). Eventually I'd like to try the hat and shirt in this pattern. They are made out of a light-weight corduroy. I fell in love with the brown flower pattern.

Cakes with her huge wad of gum and Bug with her obnoxious ugly binky. She just can't stand to be left out!

Simplicity 5316

Admittedly, its hard to go wrong with waist band pants. This type of pants are probably the easiest article of clothing to sew. I made two pair of fleece for my Bug and a matching hat to go with them. Super easy, Super cute, and Super comfy! I used anti pill fleece from joann for the print and blizzard fleece for the solid. I originally had the strings on the hat, but didn't like the look, so I removed them. I attempted to make a matching hat for my older daughter by altering the pattern. It turned out horrible, it was very misshapen. I got a new pattern for an older kid and will try that one out soon!

Escaping up the stairs in her yellow pair!

Reclaimed Wool Longies

I've been intrigued by wool and its waterproof, yet breathable properties. Wool longies are very expensive so I decided to make some myself with a thrift store sweater. There are lots of tutorials out there on how to do it, but this one was the easiest to follow (plus anyone who can call themself a dork is my kind of person!) Instead of putting in the elastic casing I used the bottom of the sweater as its own elastic. It looks great, but after a couple of wears I realized it wasn't too functional. Infact one night she wiggled out of her longies. Did I mention she was in our bed! Ya, gross! I ended up adding black fold over elastic (foe) to the top and it works great. The first time I lanolized these I didn't use enough lanolin and she leaked after 4 hours. I found the right amount and now she wears these or the other pair I made her every other night. With these as a cover and fleece pj's over the top, you can guess that she stays dry and warm!

An Yard and an Eighth of PUL--Part Two

With the rest of the pul, I made a three identical diapers for my almost-30-pound 2 year old. I used the Ottobre Design diaper pattern. This is not designed to be a pocket diaper, but rather a contour to be used with a cover. I used the large size and cut out both the pul and the suedecloth. Then I stictched them together with a 3/8 inch seam allowance. I put in the elastic at the waist and legs, turned and topstitched and them finished the pocket.

I forgot to add a casing to the pattern piece for elastic so I cut a "pocket" in the seudecloth and finished it with bais tape. It works well and was easier than the diaper I made previously.
This pattern is very trim. So much so that I had to make separate inserts. Those I have for other pockets work, but they bunch up a bit. I use two double layer terry inserts each time I put on a diaper. You can see these are contoured to fit the slimmest part of the diaper. I got the "fabric" for my inserts from Value Village. Only $.99 for a bag of old towels. Thanks to my personal goodwill shopper Glen for picking that up for me!

My daughter complained about the velcro hurting her the first couple times she wore these so I had to zig-zag around the velcro several times. I hate changing my bobbins if not necessary, which is why the white thread is so obnoxiouly obvious. Since I went back and stiched all the velcro down nice and tight she hasn't complained.

The seudecloth dries fast. It has pilled a little (I suppose that can be expected since I used a fabric that says hand wash only for a diaper!) But overall I like it and will use it again (I even bought some more during an awesome sale shh don't tell my husband. I've promised him I'll only buy fabric I have plans to use soon!)
You'll notice much of what I'm making as far as diapers goes is in blues and greys, this being no exception. My husband isnsists we are having a boy next, so I figure I'll get ready!

I also made a wet bag. Sorry there's no picture, but its a really basic bag with a zipper. So out of my yard and an eighth I got:

2 medium pocket diapers
3 large pocket diapers
1 wet bag

Not bad for less than $10.00!

PS for anyone interested in sewing with reclaimed wool hang tight for my next post and check out this blog (by Kris at Resweater) for tons of ideas on what to do with reclaimed wool and for an awesome give-a-way. Someday when I can actually verify that anyone is reading my blog I'll have a give-a-way!

Baby Legs

Cake and Bug in their new Babylegs!

When browsing at cloth diaper sites, I can't help but look at all of the adorable babylegs for sale. As much as I want to purchase some, my thrifty nature won't allow me to. Thanks to this site and target, I made three pair for $4 and a few minutes at the sewing machine. I made three more for my cousins baby and gave her three matching onesies to go with it. I think that may be come my new standard baby gift.

They really were as easy as the tutorial makes it sound. Only 10-15 minutes per pair. I'll be keeping my eyes out for knee socks on sale and snatching them up!

Unfortunately, Cakes doesn't like them too much, but of course she is close to three. Bug however, can't argue yet, so she wears them!

Check out the cheesy grin! I can hardly get a picture with her eyes open!

An Yard and an Eighth of PUL--Part One

The finished product

Like I mentioned earlier, cloth diapering inspired me to start sewing again so shortly after I began I promptly purchased some PUL to begin making my own diapers. I didn't want to pay for shipping, so I purchased some pul locally at Fabric Depot for $9.49. I'm not familiar enough with pul to know if it is one or two mm. I suspect it is two. The quality of the pul is excellent. (Of course the only thing that I have to compare it to is the pocke diapers I bought from ebay.) The only downside is that they only carry white. (Anyone know if you can dye pul?)

The inside (my husband calls this the "decoy" or "false alarm" diaper
because with all the browns, you tend to think she's poopy!)

I made my own pattern and then used this tutorial as a guide. I used flannel rather than fleece because I had some scraps around. I also topstiched. I can't imagine making one without topstiching. I had a hard time with the elastic in back and if I do it again, I'll sew in the elastic before sewing the two pieces together. I made 2 the way she suggested and just couldn't get it right. It functioned OK, but its not pretty! When I made my older daughter's diapers I did something else, but you'll have to wait until I post part two to see that!

Here are some action pics!

Sorry about my foot. I was trying to get her to hold still!

My 15 month old, 19 pound goof ball !

What About Bob?

In September, I was looking on the jacket cover (is that what they are called?) on a DVD and saw costumes of Bob and Larry and Larry-Boy from Veggie Tales being advertised. They were adorable, but $25 plus shipping. When I asked Cakes if she wanted to be Bob or Larry, she insisted on Bob. Personally I was hoping for Larry, he's so much more likeable. I think in the end, Bob was eaiser than Larry would have been. I'm happy to say with a little time and creativity, I made Bob for less than $4.
After buying the felt at Joanns (on sale of course, does anyone pay full price at Joanns?) I went to work. First thing I did was search the internet for a picture of Bob. Next I took his "measurements." He was one-and-a-half inches tall by 2 inces wide. Then, based on Cake's height I decided to make her costume 21 inches from top to bottom, so my ratio was 1.5:21. Next I just did a lot of math (I used a calculator of course) to figure out how wide he should be, the size of his features and distance between them. When I had them cut out, I just used a zig zag stitch to attach everthing to the front piece. I attached the front a back with a zig-zag too (felt is just to heavy to turn and topstitch) leaving an opening for her head and feet. She put it on so I could decide where to put the arm holes. I cut a single slit and finished it with red bias tape.
Hopefully next year, we'll add Larry to the cast!

In the Beginning

It all started with cloth diapers. Yup, that's how it began, at least the latest streak of creativity. For a while I have wanted to put my girls in cloth diapers, but I was afraid. Afraid of dunking and swishing. I looked into a diaper service thus avoiding the "hands in the poopy toilet" part. Problem was, a diaper service cost more than twice as much as I was spending on disposables. Finally when my oldest was 2 and a half and my youngest just one I couldn't help myself. My morbid curiosity got the best of me and after consulting with my husband, I went the cheapest route possible to begin, and purchased prefolds and proraps. Well, I loved it and wanted more. I have learned that cloth diapering can become an obsession. There are those who spent much much more on cloth than they would have on disposibles. I am frugal by nature, so this was not an option for me. The internet statistics say that you will spend $2000 diapering a child from birth to 3 years in disposibles. According to my calculations (and I've kept track of every diaper I've purchased since my first was born) our number is only $900 a child for 3 years. I suppose in theory that means I need to spend sixty percent (or so) less on cloth to gain the same savings that those $2000ers are gaining. Instead of buying $20 pocket one-size diapers, I turned to ebay and china and only spent $4. Instead of spending $20-$100 on wool longies, I made my own for about $4. I have also made a wet bag and 5 pocket diapers. This has reawakened my love of sewing. The machine has been out for about 2 months now, with no plans to return to the closet soon. And I've made much more than diapering related supplies. Stay tuned to find out what!