Pattern Alteration – fitting diapers
Allyson
| Posted in General Discussion on
Hi (me again!). I have some cute multisize pants patterns that I would like to sew for my 2 year old daughter. She is still in diapers. I have found that the small sizes do not accommodate for her diaper. (I made one pair of pants for her out of a nice weight stretch cotton and they look great when she doesn’t have a diaper on but don’t fit properly when she’s wearing her required diaper).
Can anyone give me some tips for altering these adorable patterns (which I already own)? Thanks.
Babe with Berninas
Replies
Babe with Bernina,
What you will need to do is increase your crotch depth. I have had three 2 yr olds in diapers and can tell you from MUCH experience that she will NOT let you measure her. Here's what to do:
1) Measure a pair of pants that DO fit her over her diaper, making note of the measurement for the front pants piece and the back pants piece separately. (Note, be sure not to include any waistband elastic casing if there is one)
2) Measure your pattern pieces, making note of how much increase will need to be made to each piece. Make sure your are measuring on the seam line, again not including any elastic casing.
3) You will now make a little rectangular "box" on your pattern. Using a ruler, extend the grain line marking all the way up the the waist. Make 2 lines perpendicular with the grain line, one about 2 inces below the crotch & one that intersects the crotch curve about half way down.
4) Using the white side of wrapping paper, or the smooth side of interfacing for your new pattern piece, tape down your pattern, taping only the top & outside seam. (You may also want to place a small bit of tape on the inseam, below the line you have drawn) Note: I always use Scotch Magic tape, you can write easily over it with a pencil
5) Cut out your little "box" & slide it out, making sure the bottom line of your box stays even with the line you have cut it from. You will slide it over the exact amout of the increased measurement you needed. (i.e. if you need to add 1/2 inch to the front pattern, slide it over 1/2 inch)
6) Smooth out your new crotch seam line & inseam seam line, remembering to add seam allowance and making sure that the front & back pieces "true", or match up in length.
Sorry this was so long, but I wanted to make sure I was making myself clear. I could sketch it out much easier, but I don't have a scanner to be able to post a sketch. I hope this was some help, let me know if you have any questions.
Alisa
Thank you very much for your really helpful reply Alisa. I'll look forward to giving this a shot!
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