Recession-busting baby clothes

A confluence of factors kept me from writing here this past six months: my baby became mobile, forcing me to follow her around as she trawled the carpet for lint and other small items to stuff in her mouth. That left little time for sewing, crafting and writing. Also, our financial situation (a family of three living on one income in Manhattan) continues to be tight, which means no new fabric, yarn, and the various items I covet.

But as you can see, she's walking now — and no longer focused on chokeable minutiae. She talks too and — more importantly — listens. This little person plays with her toys, and enjoys Mr. Dress-up DVDs...and gives me a little more time each day during which I can focus on something other than her.

Except, you know, everything is really about her. Like the reason for this post: how to make baby leggings out of old T-shirts. (Those sweet, skulled green pants to the left are made from a favourite old long-sleeved burn-out Tee that's still just a little too tight in the bust).

I hear this recession is coming to a close, but our family's financial situation isn't getting any better just yet. So with fall bearing down on us, we need warmer clothes for Lucy. I figured all the things I no longer fit could be recycled into baby clothes.

To start, I used a pair of Lucy's pants as a rough guide, laying them down (inside out, and folded in half) along the top of the sleeve, and then cutting around them, adding a half-inch for seam allowance.















But due to the size of my shirt and the shoulder seams, I wasn't left with enough fabric to make the pants loose enough in the caboose. So I laid the pants on the mid-section of the T-shirt, matching up the crotch on each side. Then I drew a V-shaped panel for the booty (if your baby wears cloth diapers, make yours generous), adding a couple inches to the top so I would have the room for adding an elastic waistband. Then cut it out....













So then you have four pieces that look like this. (Two legs -- the intact sleeves -- and two panels, front and back, for diaper room). It really doesn't have to be perfect. I did it all by hand, eyeballing it.














Then sew in the panels, matching up the crotch and along the curves of the sleeves. Sew the sides together, and then fold the top edge down an inch and sew, leaving a small opening to insert the elastic waistband. I attach a safety pin
to one end of the elastic (I used 3/4-inch elastic), so I can easily push it through the opening ,
along the waistband, and out the other side. Pull the waistband taught to the right tightness, and then sew the ends together. Sew shut the small opening, and hem the legs to the right length.
Done!



Next up: a fleece jacket from a cozy bathrobe that I never wear because New York apartments are so infernally overheated.