huge pants

"Beth In Alaska" wrote in message news: snipped-for-privacy@corp.supernews.com...

I'm not sure where you got the idea that 'length' was a primary measurement on which to base a pattern size. The Vogue site (in the Tech Center) has some really good charts:

the "Standard Body Measurement Charts, then the Children's link. The ease chart on that site (granted it's for misses sizes, but still...) shows an ease measurement of 4 1/8" - 6" for pants, so for a hip measurement of 22", you *might* add 4

1/8" for a total of 26 1/8" excluding seam allowances. For future reference, you might want to measure your child, then add some ease, and compare that measurement to the pattern pieces *before cutting*. Making alterations to the pattern is way easier than having to alter cut fabric. It occurs to me that you might have purchased an "infant" size, and if so, there is probably additional ease to make allowance for diapers?

Beverly

It IS a toddler size and he is in diapers. Although I measured him in his diaper. So 22" includes diaper butt.

You just learned a very important lesson: Pattern sizing has NO RELATION to Ready to Wear (cough) sizing. You really do have to take actual measurements of the person/child and use them as your guide to choosing pattern sizes. This is true of children and ESPECIALLY true for women's sizes. Really, measure then compare to the body measurements chart on the back of the pattern.

You measurement should have been of *him* without diaper. The pattern builds in ease for the diaper. So if his actual measurement (without diapers) is 19" or 20", then probably you should have chosen a smaller pattern size. Live and learn. ;-)

Beverly

Hokay. I know I've heard it but I guess I like to live dangerously.

As ALWAYS.

(a little scared at the idea of measuring naked toddler)

Living dangerously is fine if you don't mind sacrificing perfectly good fabric... ;-)

Just flip him on his tummy so the implement is pointed away from you.... ;->

Beverly

You can always measure before during or after a bath. And if he's wiggly and you have a hard time getting him to hold still, measure while he's sleeping.

When my kids were little, I made lots of clothes by combining sizes in multi-sized patterns. Since it sounds like he's tall, find his waist/hip measure on the pattern size, then find his length. You might try then cutting out the width you need to fit his hips and waist, but make them as long as the length you need. Make sense? So you might end up cutting the pants as say a size 2 for the measurement around his hips, but instead of cutting it a size 2 in length, you cut a 4 in length. I hope that makes sense. If not, let me know and I will try to explain better. ;)

Sharon

If this is the pattern you posted about earlier, I think that it is the style of the pattern, not the size you chose that is the big problem. Unlike adult patterns, in the infant/toddler sizes, clothes tend to get longer, but not much wider as you go up the sizes. If it is that wide in any of the small sizes, it is designed to be pretty baggy.

Fleece pants in toddler sizes are pretty forgiving. You could just try making them thinner at the sides. This may cause a problem with the crotch since they were designed to be more baggy, but it may not be too much of a problem.

since there is so much fabric there, you may also be able to just take a pair of pants that fit well, then recut the crotch to match those pants.

I sometimes sew dangerously too and haven't bothered with patterns when making toddler fleece pants or sweatshirts. I just cut them like ones we already have and like.

--Betsy

I'm going to have to. I measured the kid naked. He's 20" round both his waist and hips and has an 13" inseam (18" from natural waist) The size 1 on the pattern is 30 inches at the waist. 30. Thats huge. But its only 12 inches at the inseam. I'm wondering if I shouldn't have bought an infant pattern... in any case, I am going to cut down the big pants and sew as practice and start again.

I saw a fabulous tutorial on doing this but was too chicken. But think that might be what I do next time. This has been frustrating.

while in bathroom wearing raincoat! ;-)

"Beth In Alaska" wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@corp.supernews.com:

are you sure this isn't a snowsuit pattern designed to go over another complete set of clothes? there's no *way* a size

1 is going to have a 30" waist, even *with* a diaper! my son is a kid's 7 & he's nowhere near a 30" waist. for that matter, *i* didn't have a 30" waist until i had him...

out of curiousity, what pattern are you using? is it designed for knit or woven? if the pants are that huge, maybe you can pick them apart & reuse the fabric? lee

If you have a pair that fits him nicely, measure that and use as a sample to cut it down properly. If you don't, you can take his closest-fitting pair and guestimate how much ease you need.

Learning to do this is a valuable skill.

oh, yes, I'ms sure. McCalls 9603

Yep. You're not kidding. It even says a 1 is a 19 1/2" waist on the body, but a 31" waist on the pant. How big of a diaper they planning on????

I will tell you that I've found some of the McCall's patterns for womens clothing to be fine. HOWEVER, IME, the children's patterns stink. I had a shirt pattern for my DS that was McCall's. The collar was something like

2" or 4" too short to go around the shirt. Yeah, that ticked me off. Of course I made a new collar that would fit, but I didn't have enough fabric to match the pattern as well as the too little one. *sigh*

I had a lot of good luck with New Look patterns when the kids were little. Here's a link to the children's section of their catalog:

exactly like what you've got, but look at 6667. It's closer. Thesize 2 pattern says it's for a 20 1/4" waist and finished measurement onthe pant at hips is 23 1/2". I know you're stuck with the pattern you havefor right now. But that one might be better down the road?? Sharon

>

That would be quite a load.

Oh, that would piss me off to no end.

you!!!! good to know that new look is good. I've actually found a kwik sew pattern I adore but no one in town carries kwik sew. I'll order it online today, I think.

I'm done with this pattern I think. I came, I saw, I hated but I learned. Thats a success in my book. The pants, after being cut down, do not look too bad, except that I hate those cuffs, and will construct them differently next time.

I'd need help getting rid of the stupid drawstring bottom, but have no doubt that I will have substantial help from all of you!

Beth, I think you'll find KS's children's patterns are sized much more accurately than McCall's or Simplicity's. I really enjoyed using them for my DGKs, as well as their Sewing for Babies, Sewing for Toddlers, and Sewing for Children books. Be sure to note that KS's seam allowances included in the patterns are 1/4". You can always add extra to the s.a. when tracing off the size you're using, or when cutting your fabric, if you prefer. The 1/4" is nice in many instances, though, such as enclosed seams, because it cuts down on trimming and saves a little fabric, too.

Doreen in Alabama

The sizing did look more appropriate and I really like the design!! Thank you !!!