T-Shirt to Cropped Pant (or shorts or long pants) Tutorial

So I have a VERY easy little project to share with you!!  I am all about re-purposing and this project is perfect for using up those old t-shirts that have been retired from your collection.  Of course you could always use cheap new t-shirts found on clearance or found at a yard sale or thrift store.

I found a 3 pack of boys shirts marked down to $5 so I snagged them up and brainstormed what to do with them.  A friend of mine's little girl had a birthday approaching so I decided to make some cropped yoga pants.

This method could easily be used to make shorts or long pants as well!  Just make sure your shirt is long enough if your making pants.  The shirts I used were a boys large which was perfect to make them hit below the knee in a size 3/4T.

I am not real familiar with making tutorials but it's pretty easy to follow.

Materials:

newpaper
favorite pants
pen/pencil
scissors
t-shirt
elastic
thread

First you will take some newspaper and lay your favorite pair of pants on top to make a pattern.  A few things to keep in mind while making your pattern.  Fold your pants in half and line up the straight side with the edge of the newspaper.

• Make sure you remember to add seam allowances so the pants will fit once sewn.  No need to measure here, just trace roughly 1/4 inch from the outline of your pants.
• Add about 1.75 to 2 inches to the top of your pants to make room for the elastic casing.
• At the very top (at the waistband) don't trace exactly at the edge, make a bit wider than the waist on the pants so there is extra fabric when the elastic stretches while putting on.
• Slide the pants down the newspaper until they are the length you want.  For shorts above the knee, cropped yoga below the knee and pants all the way.
• Measure your child's waist and add 1/2 inch.  This will be how long to cut your elastic.  For example if your child's waist is 20 inches then you would cut your elastic 20.5 inches long.

Sorry I didn't take a picture of this step, I can and post it if anyone is confused.

Next you are going to line up your pattern on the edge of your t-shirt as shown.  Line up the straight edge with the edge of the shirt and the bottom with the bottom of the shirt.  This will give you an already hemmed and finished bottom edge...with NO WORK!  You want to make sure the top of your pattern comes no higher than the bottom of the armpit.  If it comes higher you need a longer shirt or could always make shorter bottoms.

Here is a close up...

Once you cut out one side repeat on the other side so you have 2 identical pieces, they will look like this...

And here is a picture showing you where the pattern was on the shirt and the resulting pieces.  Sorry if this is redundant I just wanted to make sure people understand what I mean.

Next you will open up your two pieces and put them right sides together, lining them up as best as possible.  Due to the nature of this projects and of t-shirts they may not line up exactly but that is fine.  Try to line up the bottoms as close as possible and any subtle differences can be fixed in the waistband.

Now as you know the finished edge will be the bottom of you pants.  You are going to sew the crotch first.  This is the top half of the pants, sew on either side.

Next you will twist them around so they look like inside out pants.  The crotch seams will now be down the middle just like on real pants.

Now you will sew the inseam of the pants.  You can do this one of two ways: sew up one side then sew up the other or start on one side, sew up one leg then down the other.  I do the latter but it doesn't really matter.  I also sew a zig-zag stitch on the edge when I'm finished although you don't have too.  T-shirt material is great because it doesn't fray!  The first pair of pants I made for my son I didn't finish any edges nor did I make a formal casing for the elastic.  Many wearings and washings later and they are still going strong!  If you don't want to go through the hassle of ironing and sewing a real casing for the elastic, don't!  Just fold over wide enough for your elastic to fit and sew.

Your final step is to make the casing for your elastic (or not).  Making a casing is easy, start by folding over 1/2 inch and ironing.  Next turn down 5/8 to 3/4 inches and iron again.  Pin in place if necessary.

Finally sew around the bottom edge, as close as possible.  Leave about an inch space so you can thread your elastic through.  Sew the ends of your elastic together then sew your opening shut.

Flip them right side out and ENJOY!!