Hazel's New Pants

Last night I finally finished the first of the pants I started for Hazel. She has started to love to have pockets. She loves to put all of her treasures in them. She also continues to grow like a weed and several of the clothes I made this summer look short on her already. So, I added a paper pieced pocket and lengthened them with ruffles.

I used a basic elastic toddler pants pattern. Then I found the pocket pattern on line here. I have been trying to figure out a good way to make the pocket cat shaped and loved this paper pieced pattern. I hadn't paper pieced in awhile, but it is easy. To get started you take a piece of the correct color fabric for your number 1 piece and put it on the back of the paper then cut a piece of the correct color fabric for number 2 piece bigger than the piece and put it on top of the number 1 piece on the back of the paper so they can be sewn on the line between the two pieces and the number 2 piece will fold over that line and completely cover the number 2 shape. Make sure on all of your pieces you have enough to have a border to sew. Continue adding pieces until the block is finished. For a video on doing this you can check out here. After finishing the paper piecing (I had to sew the three separate blocks together to get the cat), I sewed a piece of fabric on the other side to make a stronger pocket and to not have to fold over edges. I sewed it around 3 1/2 sides leaving the hole in the bottom to turn it. Then turned and pressed it. The bottom edge gets finished when attached. I sewed the top before attaching just so it wouldn't mess up the edge (topstitching). Then I pinned it and sewed it. This would have been easier to do before I sewed the pants together, but I hadn't had the idea then.

Then I trimmed an inch off the bottom of the legs and added a no-hem ruffle. I cut two 5-inch strips of full length fabric and sewed each into a loop. Then folded them in half and stitched the tops at 1/4 inch and 1/2 inch in loose stitches. I gathered them up so they would fit the leg cuff and sewed them on. The ruffles are so full that they go out on her now, but will provide a bit more length when needed. She wanted to try them on right away so this is with her pajama top this morning.

The only part I'm not completely happy with is the pocket placement, but I will do better on the next pair. I have several funky pairs started and just need to add pockets, ruffles and elastic. Hopefully you will be seeing more this week.

For those of you with a daughter, check out Tatertots & Jello's Monday giveaway from Downeast Basics Clothing--something for Mom and daughter!
Also check out the giveaways at Raising 4 Princesses. She has some great prizes!