Big Hero 6 Shorts Tutorial

It's that time of year again!!! Time to sew some shorts!!! Now, I have done tons of shorts tutorials but these are a little different. These have a side panel from a different print. 
I went to Joann's and found the Big Hero 6 print in the remnants bin but nowhere else. YILES!!! It was barely over 1/2 a yard. Almost enough for the shorts but we needed some room to grow!! So I found the other print with coordinating colors in the remnant bin. Perfect!!! :D 






What I Used 

Less than 1/2 yard of main 
Scraps of coordinating
3/4" elastic 
Pinking shears


Step 1

I cut long strips from the coordinating fabric for the side panels. 
We didn't need tooooo much extra for the sides so I just cut the print so the whole row would row. 


Step 2

Fold the fabric into fourths. You want 4 pieces, 2 pieces per leg. 

Take a pair of shorts that fits your child well and use them as a guide. You'll want to add a couple of extra inches at the top and at least an extra inch at the bottom. 

Here you have the 4 pieces. 


Step 3

Now, take one of the long strips and pin it to one of the leg pieces with right sides together. 

Sew one long seam.

Press the seam.


Step 4

With right sides together, pin the strip to the other leg piece. 

Sew a long seam and press. 

Here it what you should have now. 



Step 5

Now we're going to go ahead and do the hem. 

Fold and press 1/4". 

Fold and press 1/2"

Sew the hem!


Step 6

Take a leg and put it right sides together, 

You are going to sew the inseam. Just sew between the 2 arrows.



Step 7

Now, take one leg and turn it right side out. 

Slide it down in to the other leg so that the right sides are together. 

Sew the remaining seam. It will look like you have 1 leg with an opening at the top. 



Step 8

Fold over the top by 1/2" and press.

Fold over again by 1" and press.

Sew around the top making sure to leave an opening to insert the elastic. 



Step 9

Take 2 large safety pins and attach one to each end of the elastic. 

Insert the elastic into the elastic casing. 

Sew the ends of the elastic together. 

Sew the opening closed.


ALL DONE!!!!

Now he has shorts to match his Big Hero 6 shirt! ;)


HAVE FUN SEWING!!!

Chevron Knit Pajama Tutorial

Colin really loves his new pajamas! YAY!! Score for mom!! :D 

The fabric I used was some that I won a few months ago from Knits and Giggles. Colin claimed the purple chevron right away. Purple is his favorite color.

What I Used 

1 yard of purple chevron

Less than 1/2 a yard of white knit

Things to keep in mind while sewing with knits. 

  -Use a zigzag stitch or other stretchy stitch. I didn't     always do that here but I should have.

  -DO NOT PULL unless otherwise instructed. It will         pull the fabric all out of shape.

Step 1

I used one of Colin's PJ tops to cut the pattern for the new PJ top. Cut 2 on the fold. 

Step 2 -

Next I cut the sleeves, the cuffs for the sleeve, the cuffs for the legs and the neck. 

I cut the neck and arm cuffs at 2". You will sew them folded over. 

The leg cuffs I cut at 4". You will sew them folded over as well.

To cut the sleeves, use the arm holes on the top that you cut out. You can make them long or short, just measure your child's arm length. 

Step 3

Looks like I forgot to take a picture of the next step. No matter, I can substitute with this one. ;)

Use a pair of PJ pants (or any pants) as a guide to cut the legs of the PJs. 

Make sure to leave 2 1/2 to 3" extra at the top for the waist band. 

Cut 2 on the fold.

Step 4

Next, pin the shoulders, right sides together (it doesn't really matter with a plain knit). 

Sew the seams.

Step 5

Next, pin the sleeve to the arm hole, right sides together. Sew the seam.

Do the same to the other side.

Step 6

 

Next you need to fold the sleeve cuffs in half. Pin the center of the cuff to the center of the sleeve. 

Now, stretch the end of the cuff to the end of the sleeve as you sew. Go ahead and stretch it good! 

Do the same to the other side.

Step 7

Pin the sides all the way from the bottom to the end of the sleeve. Sew the seams!

Step 8

Next, fold over the neckline piece and pin it in place. Now, this time I didn't pull the cuff as I stitched. I think it might have looked better in the end if I had. 

Sew the ends of the neck piece together. 

Next, stitch in the ditch.

Step 9

Now, fold over the ankle cuffs and pin the center in the center of the bottom of the leg.

Stretch as you sew!

Step 10

Now, pin the inseam (lining up those chevrons) and sew from the ankle to the point of the crotch.

Step 11

Now, turn one leg right side out and slide it into the other leg, right sides together.

Pin in place (lining up the chevrons) and sew around, creating the crotch seam.

Step 12 

Now, you're almost done!!

Fold over the top of the PJ bottoms 1", press and fold again.

Sew a line directly across the top.

Sew another line at the bottom but leave an opening for the elastic.

Insert the elastic and sew the ends together.

Sew the opening closed and you are DONE!!!!

Let me know what you think!!

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask!!!

Stars and Stripes Shorts Tutorial

I can't tell you how good it feels to be sewing again!!! I missed it SO MUCH!!!! I just want to sit and sew for days at a time. Too bad the family won't let me. ;)

Colin has grown so much since last year. I had to give all his old clothes away. Most of the jeans looked like they had never even been worn! 

I started to go through his warm weather clothes to see what he had. Well, most of them must still be packed away somewhere... I can't find his Star Wars shorts, his pillowcase shorts or his madras shorts! YILES!!!! I don't even know where to start looking.

I figured that I had better get a jump start on some shorts!!

Cailey informed me the other day that she will also be needing new summer clothes and the ones we just bought her all need to altered. SIGH.....

My babies are growing too fast!! MAKE IT STOP!!!!


ANYWAY!!! I wanted to do something different than plain elastic waist shorts. Sure, these still have the elastic waist BUT they also have a faux fly and inset pockets. I will be showing you how to do both.

I have another faux fly tutorial on here, with those I used denim. 

You can find ALL of my tutorials on my Sewing Tutorials Page! (Including the Star Wars and Madras shorts.)



WHAT I USED

3/4 Yard of a sheet (the main)

1/4 Yard of navy with stars 

1/2" elastic



This was my first time using a double needle!! WOO HOO!!! It was very easy. Not sure why I was so intimidated! LOL


Step 1

You are going to cut the front pieces of the shorts. I used a pair of Colin's swim trunks that I knew would still fit him well. 

When you cut the fronts, you need to cut in the flap for the faux fly. 




Step 2

Now you are going to cut the back pieces. I used the front pieces with the faux fly flaps tucked under. 

Be sure to cut 2. 




Step 3

Now on to the pockets. I traced around Deanna's hand and then cut 4 pieces.

Step 4

For the back pockets, I cut 2 rectangles. Each of those squares in the background are a square inch.




Step 5

I cut 2 pieces for the cuffs. The fold is along the bottom. Once again, the squares are a square inch. 

Now all the pieces are cut and ready to sew!


Step 6

Pin along the faux fly flap and stop at the bottom of the crotch curve. 

Sew the seam!



Step 7

Now, turn right side up. Tuck the faux fly flap in and fold over.

Here is where I used the double needle to top stitch the faux fly in place. 
You do NOT have to use a double needle. Instead, just top stitch 2 rows.

Now you have your faux fly!! EASY PEASY!



Step 8

With right sides together sew the backs together. Sew from the top to the curve of the crotch and stop.

Step 9

Now you need to zigzag the sides of the back pockets. This makes them a little sturdier and you won't have to worry about fraying.

Next, fold over the sides and press. Fold over the top, press, fold again and press. 

Step 10

Line your pockets up, pin and double top stitch in place.

You might want to reinforce the top corners of the pockets.

Step 11

Now it's time to sew the crotch. 

Ride sides together, pin and sew the seam. 



Step 12

With right side facing wrong side, pin the cuffs in place if you already have a hem (which I do since I used the sheet). If you don't have a hem already, fold 1/4", press, fold 1/2" press, pin and sew the hem.

OR you can pin the cuffs right sides together with the pants and sew the seam.
If you already have the hem, top stitch the cuffs across the hem stitches. 



Step 13

I sort of missed taking a picture of one of the steps... Imagine this has one piece of pocket pinned right sides together with the side of the pants....... Stitch in place, fold over and press. Do that to all 4 pocket pieces. 

Step 14

With the pants turned right sides together, pin all along the sides and sew. 

                        Here's what you have so far!

Step 15

Time to make the elastic casing!

Fold over the top of shorts by 1/4". Fold over again by 3/4". Sew all around but make sure to leave a space to insert the elastic!

Step 16

Safety pin the ends of your elastic. Insert one end into the space. Pull through and out the other side, making sure to hold tightly to the ends. 

Sew the ends of the elastic together.

Now, sew the space closed. 

There you go!! ALL DONE!!!

Let me know what you think!! 


HAVE FUN SEWING!!!