semi-homemade: how to applique & make baby pants

Once you start doing these appliques you won't be able to walk around your house without seeing something in "need" of enhancement. :) Remember the tie shirt? That is one of my favorite appliques. These directions start with the legs to some pants that I made into shorts for my seven year old son. You can use any material but old pant legs are really easy to make into baby pants so we will walk through both.

For the pants:

1). Once the legs are cut off, measure the length of your desired pants and add one inch ( for the waist band).

 2) Cut the pants so that you have a "U" shape cut out when they are side by side. Turn the fabric good sides together and sew together.  Turn the pants right side out and fold down the top to create a waist band. You can add a little elastic or a flap of velcro. So easy and (kinda) homemade. :)

For the applique:

1) With the scraps (or any fabric you would like to use), iron on wonderunder. Ask for it at the fabric store if you haven't used it before. Trace your design (backwards) on the paperbacking and cut out your design. For a world of great ideas try etsy. 

2.) Remove the paperbacking and iron it to your shirt. Stitch around the design, you can use a zig zag like I did for this one or a straight stitch like I did on the tie shirt.

We are headed to VBS this week and just hate to pass up an opportunity to dress for a theme.  So the oldest boys and I went to a local thrift shop and found these camo pants for $4.  I stopped by a craft store and picked up the thread, velcro, and onesies for $12. Then grabbed a t-shirt from Jo Jo's closet. $14 spent, and we get to enjoy two matching onesies with a coordinating big brother t-shirt, one pair of shorts, and one pair of baby pants. Not bad!