Toddler Kangaroo Pocket Pants

These pants are a take on my original baby pants, but in toddler size and with the added kangaroo pocket. They can be made of one solid colour or mixed and matched with patterns like the ones I made for E. The possibilities are endless!

Skill level: Intermediate

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​Partly made from 100% organic cotton

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Materials:

• Cotton with some stretch (20% or more)
• Thread
• Elastic

How to Guide:
 
I do not have “ready-made patterns” for download, but these are pretty simple to create. You may have to play with the measurements a little bit to get the right length and width for your little one. You can use any light stock paper to draw your pattern, but stay away from card stock as it will make it difficult to pin to your fabric. I use butcher paper, it is light but durable.

Make your bottoms pattern

• Draw the folded outline of your pants – the basic pattern is two parallel lines, with half of an upside-down ‘U’ at the bottom on one side.
• For 12-18 months the measurements of your pattern should be:
  • Top width: 6.5 inches (making the un-gathered waist 26 inches)
  • Right side: 17 inches long (full length of the pants, without cuff).
  • Left side: 10 inches long (pant rise).
  • Right side edge to half ‘U’ width: 4.5 inches (making the leg holes 9 inches wide).
  • Half ‘U’ width: 2.5 inches (this part is cut out).
  • Cuffs: 9 inches by 6 inches.
• Kangaroo pocket:
  • 5 inches wide by 6 inches high.
  • For pocket opening, measure and mark 4 inches across top width and 4 inches from bottom length, cut a semi circle between those measurements.

*Tip - Make sure that the pant legs are wide enough for feet to easily slip through.

Count it and cut it out

• Lay out your fabric on a hard smooth surface, right side up.
• Fold right sides together.
• Pant pattern – place the the shorter length edge (pant rise) of your pant pattern along the fold line, pin and cut this out 2X.
• Pant cuff pattern – pin and cut this out 2X.
• Pocket pattern – place wider width along the fold line (opposite side of the semi circle) pin and cut out.

Kangaroo pocket

• Serge along all the edges.
• Fold serged edges under, pin and sew.

Placing Pocket

• Lay out one of your pant pieces on a hard smooth surface, right side up.

• Place your pocket in the centre, pin in in place.
• Sew along top, bottom and sides, leaving the semi circles open. 

Bottoms

• Place your two pant pieces right side together and line up the edges.
• Pin in place.
• Sew together along the sides and inside the upside-down ‘U’.

Close up the cuffs

• Starting with one of your pant cuffs, fold in half, right sides together, along the length (longer side).
• Pin in place.
• Sew together along the edge.
• Repeat for second cuff.

Rolled cuffs

• Starting with one of your pant cuffs, fold in half with the right side facing out.
• You should now have a “closed circle” with a folded edge and a salvage edge.
• Repeat for second cuff.

Pants to cuffs

• Turn your pants right side out and give them a press.
• Line up the seam of your cuffs with the inseam of your pants and pull the cuff up the pant leg so that the salvage edges are in line.
• Pin together.
• Sew along the salvage edge.
• Repeat for second cuff.

Waist band

• Turn your pants inside out.
• Fold over the waist by about 1.5 inches
• Press down.
• Unfold the waist.
• Refold the waist by about 0.5 inches.
• Press down, but be sure to keep the first press line.
• Refold along the first press line and pin.
• Sew the waist closed, but leave a small opening.

Elastic band

• Cut your elastic to size.
• For 12-18 months the length should be about 18-20 inches.
• Feed the elastic through the opening in your waistband.

Close it up

• Sew your elastic band together at the edges.
• Sew the opening on the pant waist closed.

Now copy, cut & sew, over and over, in different prints and multiple sizes