Baby Pants
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.
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.
LOVE these! But, the links to the pattern don't work – am I missing something?!
The link does not seem to work for the free templates
I love the baby pants but I can't find the template. Above, it says free template available here but there is no here. Is it available? Denise
These look so cute!!! Where can I download the pattern? I don't seem to find the link on the post. Thanks!
I love this cute design and the fabrics are so beautiful! Its a pity that shipping to Europe is so expensive 🙁
Cant wait to see your next project!
Isabella
So cute! But I think you may have forgotten to add pattern links 🙂
these are completely adorable. can't wait to make some!
… adorable and beyond cute … but no active template link ;( … cheers … Ina + Pokey
Where is the template? I don't find a link.
Another charming project….one of the cutest things about babies is how neat they look crawling away from you…and this project will make the view even more charming!
julie
What a nice baby pants! Looks cute and easy to make.
The pattern for size 6 – 9 months was not in the attachment. Will it be included some where else? I really want to make them. Thank you.
… oops … 6-9 months size is missing … thanks for adding that … there's a wee one that size who needs a pair of those!!!
Those are some fancy pants! So sweet!
These are adorable! Do you think they would work with knit fabric??
Oh these are lovely! My friend is having twins, and these will be SO adorable for them!
So cute! I have 9+ months baby n I didn't see her size, did I missed something here? Thx
This is such a cute idea! I might write about this for the childrens magazine I write for xxx
http://reallyliteral.blogspot.ca/
Adorable! Thanks so much for the tutorial 🙂
Cute! perfect for my son 🙂
so cute! Love the liberty panel!
Hi All-
The template has been added, including the 6-9 month size. Sorry for the delay and thank you all for getting in touch!
Good luck with the project!
Molly
Love 'em. It appears the 6-9 mo size is not in the pattern link above.
Hi Lauren-
The 6-9 month size is included in the link to the template, just scroll through the PDF and it will be there. It was added this morning so if you printed out an earlier version please click on the link again.
Thanks so much for getting in touch!
Molly
Adorable! I only wish you had posted some babies modeling the finished product.
i wish you posted this two months ago! is there any way i could alter the pattern to fit a 12 month old? so adorable, and they would look great with a check fabric instead of the floral for my little boy.
Hi Michelle –
These would work great in a knit fabric and the added stretch would be perfect for an active baby!
Thanks for writing in and good luck with the project!
Corinne
As a mama of two, I love a good cloth nappy bottom pattern. Thank you
Oh too cute. Love the look. Best wishes, Carina
Hi Jovana –
I wish we had a size 12 month pattern for you and your little boy! If you are interested in trying to size up the 6-9 month size, I would recommend the following adjustments to both the front and back pattern pieces as a good place to start:
Add 1/8 inch to the top edge
Add 1/4 inch to the outer edge (leave the side placed on the fold and the inner legs as they are)
Add 1/2 inch length to the legs
Keep Gusset as is
Cut elastic to 18 1/2 inches
Of course, without being able to test the pattern myself, these are all rough estimates, but should be a good starting point.
I hope this helps, and good luck!
Corinne
Hi I'm just looking for the linen blend fabric online/ in aus so that I don't have to wait so long to make these pants and I cant seem to find this blend of 85%cotton 15%linen anywhere. Is this the correct blend? I can only seem to find 85%linen and 15%cotton.
Hi Es-
Yes this is the correct blend but it's not a very common fabric. A thin 100% cotton would work just fine.
Thanks for writing in!
Molly
I just made a pair of these in the 6-9 month size — just a note that they seem to run very small. They just barely fit my 6-month-old, who is in the 10th percentile for weight.
Hi Alexis –
I'm sorry to hear that the pants didn't fit like you expected. When building the pattern, I compared them to a variety of pants in the same size and they seemed comparable. If you want to size the pattern up for additional pairs, I recommend the following adjustments as a good starting point:
Add 1/8 inch to the top edge
Add 1/4 inch (or more, depending on how roomy you'd like them in the hips and legs)to the outer edge (leave the side placed on the fold and the inner legs as they are)
Add 1/2 inch length to the legs
Keep Gusset as is
Thanks for sharing your experience, and I hope these adjustments help!
-Corinne
Thanks Corinne! The length and inseam were ok, it was the width through the lower thigh (the top part of the leg in the pattern) that was snug. I am going to make another pair with some width added; it's a wonderful pattern!
I cant wait to have a baby and make these bad boys!
Chloe
x
Lovely pants, they will come in handy with all the babies around me. But I have a question about the template: do I need to cut exactly around the lines, in the middle of the lines or do I need to cut the lines off? I know it's only a few millimeters difference, but I'd like to know. Thanks!
Thanks for this pattern! Do you print at 100%? Thank you!
Hi Kristel-
Yes, you do print the templates at 100%.
Thank you!
Molly
Hi – the pattern is beautiful – do you know how do they fit a real baby? 🙂
Hi Petra –
Thanks so much for writing in – this is a great question!
The pants are roomy in the waist and bum, but are a little slim in the leg. And, as previous commenters have suggested, the pattern runs a little small.
To make them a little bigger for larger babies, add width evenly along the outer edge of the front and back pattern pieces (leave the side placed on the fold and the inner legs as they are).
I hope this helps!
-Corinne
Hi! Love your creative ideas! Would love to sew these pants for my baby boy but it seems the pattern link doesn't work? Am I doing something wrong. Also checked the other pattern inks to other of your projects on this site and it's always blank. Please help. Thanks! Muchly appreciated
Jane
Hi Jane-
The link to the PDF is working fine on this end. Can you try from another browser? Or try this direct link:
https://www.purlsoho.com/create/storage/pants_template_REV.pdf
If those things don't work please email me at molly AT purlsoho DOT com and I'll email you a copy directly.
Thank you!
Molly
Dear Molly,
Thank you! That's great. The link worked. I'm already on my way to creating them. They are just adorable. Thank you!
Best wishes
Jane
I am going to make these for my 4 month old! maybe I will make the 6-9 mo since some ppl thought the fit was snug.
i really wish there was a photo of these pants with a baby in it!!
I’ve just made one of these 🙂 My son is almost 12 months old, so I had to do the pants much bigger, but they are still adorable! Unfortunatelly, couldn’t make him a foto, because he moves too fast 😉
as soon as my printer decides to work I am making a pair for my CD babe! I have winter fleece on hand do you think it will work alright?
Hi PChan-
It should work alright unless it’s very thick. Let us know if you have any more questions!
Best-
Molly
Is this free pattern still available? It doesn’t seem to be working
Hi Janelle –
The pattern is still available. The link is included at the end of the Materials list. Size 0-3 months is the first size on the pdf, but the rest of the sizes are there as well if you continue to scroll down.
Please let me know if you have any other questions.
-Corinne
Great pattern! I just made a pair for my 3 month old. I’ve been having trouble finding pants that fit over her cloth diapers so I thought it was time to make some. In case anyone else has a similar situation, I used the 6-9 month pattern and added a1/4 inch to the outer sides of the front and back pieces but cut 2 inches off the leg length and a 1/2 inch off the waist. And I used a 17 inch piece of elastic.
Fab! I made the 0-3 size out of cotton flannel for my son (7lb) before he arrived. They fit nicely for the first 8 weeks over cloth nappies. He is now 5 months and it’s autumn downunder, so I’ve made him a pair of the 6-9 mth in merino wool. They sew up really easily and fast with knit. Thanks very much for this great pattern, it’s so nice having clothes with a point of difference and also functional. Cheers Jane