Sewing for Baby {Fitting for Diapers}

We’ve all been there {at least if you’ve done any sewing for babies}… you make some pants or shorts, go to put them on your child… and DIAPER! Yikes! hanging out inches above your pants… it’s not pretty {ha!}I know the kids don’t care, but I do! Sometimes you just add more to the top to cover up the diaper, but there are simple ways to avoid this problem all together. Today I’ve put some tips together to help you make simple pattern adjustments and modifications to help the diaper {butt} area fit better… Fitting the diaper are can be especially tricky if you use cloth diapers… The photos I’m showing today are all cloth diaper butts {cuties!} but you can adjust for a disposable ones too.

 Let’s start with pants option number ONE… these are called monkey pants. I used a pattern for these, but made a couple of modifications. I didn’t use this pattern, but here is one from Onemevintage you can print for FREE. And here’s a link to one in Etsy… {it got a good review from a fellow blogger}You can also do an etsy search.. there were lots of options when I looked.

Back to MY pants!

I made two pairs for my twin nieces… {love them!}Their mom doesn’t like to do matchy-matchy…but she will do this sort of two-colors-of-the-same-thing idea. For this pattern I altered it by making the back piece wider. I had to cut the gusset {the rounded piece in the middle} a bit wider too so it would fit. EASY-PEASY fix… No diapers showing.

 Here’s another option… alter pants you already have.

This above picture is my first son squeezed into his pants. I think this is an okay look for girls, but I don’t love it on a boy. When I had my second son and pulled these pants from storage, and knew I had to make a few changes! I picked out the back seam and added a V of fabric. I also ended up doing the same for the legs {while keeping the same cuff}

Much better! So comfy! {hard to believe this little guy will soon be THREE!}

 and finally, lets take a look at a couple of other pattern alterations.

 My go-to fix, make the crotch area a little bigger by enlarging the pattern as shown. {this is the MADE pants pattern} I’ve been sizing it up and down for my boys since they were 6 months. Here’s my tutorial for resizing her pattern.

 Here’s how to make a V that fits in the pattern as you are sewing. Take another piece of paper and trace the back center seam of the pants.

 Turn the paper over and trace the same line mirror image. Now you have a V shape.

If this is too big a V you can take it in and make it smaller, keeping the same lines and angles as the seam you traced.

I’ve also made a few pocket tutorials for this pattern as well.

You can check them on HERE and HERE

 Those are my tips. What are yours? Do you have any tips of techniques for sewing for babies?

Here’s my advertising plug now {grin} Have you tried any of the CRAFTSY CLASSES they have lots on fitting patterns and really sewing and crafts of all kinds. Several new classes are launching this week. I want to look into the photography one for sure! Click the link above to check out any of these fabulous classes!

Photography – Off-Camera Flash Photography with Neil van Niekerk

Cooking – Homemade Italian Pasta with Guiliano Hazan Cake Decorating – Designer Fondant Textures with Marina Sousa Fine Art – The Classic Self-Portrait with Kerry Dunn

Looking forward to seeing you around the blog…. don’t be a stranger!