Big(ger) Butt Baby Pants

I couldn't go through two weeks of sewing for our boy without making him a pair of Big Butt Baby Pants. I've made several pairs of B3 pants for Eli in the 6-12 month size that he wore extensively over the last half of his life. They are so comfy and roomy in just the right places. But babies' butts, they do grow. And while he is still just fitting into his old pairs of B3 pants, the legs are getting a bit too short and the butt is getting a bit too snug. A time for the next size up is on the horizon.

I cut out the 18 month size pattern pieces knowing they will get lots of use over the next couple seasons. Making the same pair of pants over and over makes for very quick sewing. And these pants in particular are lightning fast to put together in part because each pant leg is made from one pattern piece rather than having a separate front and back. 

Spring is right around the corner, but unable to deny the two or so feet of snow that remains firmly planted on the ground around us, I wanted to make a pair that is warm enough for the chilly few months ahead while still light and comfy. I used some corduroy left over from these pants and a couple prints from the 'a walk in the woods' collection by Aneela Hoey for moda. I was concerned the quilting cotton prints would be too light paired with the corduroy, so I experimented with bonding the two prints together to make a warmer, sturdier butt panel. This resulted in a cute contrast on the inside of the pants.

Bonding the two fabrics together also made for a rather stiff butt panel that doesn't move freely with the rest of the fabric. I'm not sure this will matter too much in the wearing, and it probably makes for a more robust rear to the pants. But in hindsight, I'm doubtful that this was the best solution. I also happened to fuse glue to my ironing board and iron in the process. Double bummer. In case you ever need to remove glue from your iron you can try my new method - ironing a dryer sheet. It worked wonders for me. Thanks, internet, for the suggestion.

With more sewing experience under my belt, these Big Butt Baby pants are better made than past incarnations - with added topstitching on many of the seams and clean turn-and-stitch finishes to the crotch seams, these are superior B3 pants to the ones I threw together just 6 months ago. It's encouraging and gratifying to see progress in my own sewing and sewing knowledge.

This boy is growing fast before our eyes. And I find him irresistibly cuter every day. I know all too well that soon he will a big boy who won't want to be seen wearing big butt baby pants anymore. So I'll make them while I can, and get in as many cuddles and kisses as he will allow now before he gets to be that age when such things are shunned. How can I resist, really?