Pants are pants, right?

I decided that Peanut needed some warmer pants to wear as the coldest part of  "winter" approaches. I had two smaller fleece blankets that my gracious in-laws brought down last time they were hear that I thought would make some nice, cozy pants for Peanut.  I have three patterns for pants for Peanut's size and age (got to account for a diaper). One pattern I used already, and that left me two to try.

Some day I will have actual sewing room. For now, I move a table in and out of the living room. If nothing else, its a good excuse to watch some TV.

"Mr. Two-face Pants" (here after known as MTFP) is from Sewing for Boys: 24 Projects to Create a Handmade Wardrobe, which I received as a Christmas gift. The other pattern is "Reversible Bubble Pants for Baby" (here after known as RBPB) in  Growing Up Sew Liberated: Making Handmade Clothes and Projects for Your Creative Child

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Out I pulled the tissue paper from the various gift bags that I've designated for garage sale-ing (and so don't need the tissue paper, right?) and copied the patterns. Its an oona idea.

And after several days of wearing, here's my thoughts on each.

I like the MTFP. They fit nicely, though I should hem them up an inch or two for now. There is room for the cloth diaper, though its not necessarily designed so. I just made the right size for it. It would be way easy to adjust the length. There was ONE pattern piece. Yes, only one. That was beautiful. And only two pieces of material to cut. That was awesome.

I imagine you could cut both pieces of the same fabric if one desired. Okay, so I don't imagine it, you really could.

In recent days, I'm finding it harder and harder to get non-blurry pictures of Peanut.

Being only one layer, the MTFP aren't as warm as the RBPB. But they are loose enough that putting on something underneath is very possible (as we did today, because that day was a chilly-chilly day).

The RBPB has 3 pattern pieces, with which you cut out 8 pieces of fabric. More than the MTFP, but still reasonable. These pants are lined and have a gusset to widen the crotch to accommodate a cloth diaper. I was quite thankful for the pictures in the book, as at first I didn't understand what the gusset pieces were for or how to attach them. But once figuring it out, it was quite easy.

blurry, argh, even with the flash

 The RBPB are a bit bulky, being 2 layers of fleece. And for my long-bodied little boy, the rise is a bit short. But Peanut looks comfy in them! I'm guessing the RBPB would be less bulky in a thinner fabric.

Next time? Hmmm.... I like them both. The RBPB uses 1/4 inch elastic in the waist, but that seems too thin. I think next time I'd use 1/2 inch elastic. I think I'll make the gusset thinner, it will make the pants a little less bulky and the diapers aren't that wide. I'm also wondering if I could put a gusset into the MTFP, to wide the crotch a bit, make it a bit more cloth diaper friendly while shrinking the leg width.

I hope to make some more items from Sewing for Boys soon. As for Growing Up Sew Liberated, I love the basic patterns, but so far all I've made have needed adjustment some how.

Any body else been sewing?

And I just realized, its Valentines Day. And to add some romance to the post...

Hubby, I love you so very, very much. I have enjoyed these few years with you, and hope we have many more together.