Fleece Pant Pattern How to/tutorial/ DIY. These free child pants patterns come in multiple sizes. You can make comfortable pants for your little one to run around in. Perfect for bedtime or playtime. This pattern can also be made from Jersey Knit (t-shirt fabric) for a lighter version. I’ll make several in one sitting.
Tip: Shorten the length of the pattern to make shorts or capris!
Materials you will need:
1/2 to 3/4 yard of fleece (depending on size of pattern)
13-20 inches of 1 inch elastic
Thread
Assembled printed pattern
scissors
%20for%20spring%20and%20summer. "Pin It")
Download the free pattern here, tutorial below.
Here’s the video tutorial, and step by step picture tutorial below:
1- Assemble and cut out the Pattern
You can find instructions on how to assemble the pattern here.
You will be cutting out two of the pant pattern -This can be done with the technique of folding your cloth, then cut out the pattern.
Tip: It’s really easy to make multiple pants at the same time. So cut out all the pants at once – you’ll save time.
2 – Pin and sew each pant leg
Taking each piece you just cut, fold the right sides together and pin up the pant leg to the point of where it begins to curve. Sew each piece using a 1/2 seam – (you can adjust this to fit your child better).
3 – Pin pants together and sew
Turn one pant leg right side out and stuff down into inside out pant leg. Line up seams and pin together. Sew. Sew additional reinforcement in crotch area if desired.
Confused? See video above.
4 – Turn bottom cuffs under and sew
I like to have a one inch cuff on the bottom to make the pants look nice. You can adjust this to fit your child’s height by making the cuff larger or smaller. With pants still inside-out turn cuff (wrong sides together) 1 inch and sew. I like like to use a wider zigzag stitch right along the edge of the fabric. You can use a fun colored thread to add some contrast to the pant here as well.
5 – Thread elastic and finish
Turn the waistband down 1.5 inches. Pin. Using a medium zigzag sew along edge of waist starting at a seam and stopping 2 inches short of completing the seam.
Using a safety pin pinned on one end of the elastic – thread the elastic through the waistband (taking care to keep the other end exposed). Sew elastic Ends together. Sew opening closed. Trim thread and Voila! Comfortable, warm, inexpensive pants.
I am in no way a master at sewing and I have had trouble with patterns in the past, but I have a tall baby (she is 22 months and is 42″ tall) so finding pants, shorts, etc is not easy. So with my new sewing machine I printed out your pattern and found it to be the best thing in the world. I lengthened the pants a little and made a bermuda short length and was able to make 2 pants out of my husbands old t-shirt in less then 30 minutes. I am not obsessed with making these and have raided his closet for more shirts! Thanks so much!
Hi Kerry!
So happy that you’ve found a pattern that works for you!
I love your website and all of your patterns, ideas, etc… You are really talented and very creative. I recently took out my sewing machine to try and make some of these cute, fleece pants for my nieces. I have cut out the patterns for the 12month/2T size and the 4T/5T size. However, I was wondering if there’s anyway I can make a size 6 or size 8 from the patterns you have. Would you ever consider making patterns for those sizes? Thanks you any advice you can offer.
Hi Sabrina!
6 or 8 would require a longer leg. The rise on the 5t pattern is quite high so that wouldn’t need to be adjusted much. I am planning on doing large sizes in the future, but not immediately. For a size six, jut lengthen the leg a few inches – and 8 would require a little more adjustment to the waist and rise. I will hopefully get to more sizes in a couple of months.
Angel
Thanks so much for your advice! Have a nice day!
Hi,
I recently purchased a serger but am still learning how to use it. I know it is good for knit fabrics. Could I use it for this pattern? I want to make pajama pants for my nieces and can use my sewing machine but thought my serger might be quicker and easier with knit. Thanks!
Hi Leah,
I confess I am envious of your serger, I don’t have one! I believe that this pattern should work just fine with your serger. I’ve made this pattern from knit using a sewing machine and it worked great – my guess is that it would be be even better on a serger.
Your nieces are lucky to have such an awesome aunt,
Angel
Thanks for this pattern! I’ve tried patterns on the internet before with very little luck, but I figured I’d give this one a go. I made size 3T for my 15 month old daughter who wears cloth diapers. And though the legs are a bit long, otherwise it fits beautifully! Now she has pants for the winter that she can grow into. I made a second pair with a cuff at the bottom in a contrasting fabric.
When I print the pattern, do I need to ‘scale to fit’, ‘actual size’ or what? Thanks!
Hi Sara!
The pattern is already laid out to work with your printer – so select actual size (for 8.5 by 11 paper)
– Angel
I love this pattern. I am new to sewing so this question could be related to operator errorLOL I made a pair of these pants for my 1 yr old and struggled with the zig zag stitch my thread kept breaking and I would have to re thread the machine and this would leave an ugly “skip” in the hem. Do you know why my thread might be breaking should I be using a different tension, than what my machine automatically sets for the zigzag stitch? Otherwise I love the pattern, so easy to follow. Thank you!
Hi Lori,
it could be a few different things. 1 – be sure that you are not forcing the material under the foot (meaning pushing or pulling it) only guiding it. 2 – You could be using a needle that isn’t the right size for the cloth you are working on – it should be a medium weight needle. Double – triple check that you machine is threaded properly, skipping a single step of the threading process can seriously through off the tension. 3 – Make sure your bobbin is loaded properly.
Hope that helps,
Angel
Thanks so much for this pattern. My baby boy is turning one next month, we are having a giraffe themed party for him. I could not find giraffe print pants for little boys any where! So I’m making him some with this pattern!
I am sewing my boys costumes this year and they ar both ninja’s. I used your chilrens fleece pants pattern for the pants and was wandering if you had a shirt pattern that would work, maybe a v-neck pajama shirt and i could make the sleeves a little loose to match the costume. If you don’t have anything can you leed me in the right direction. Got to have these done by friday.
Thanks, Jim
Hi Jim,
I don’t but you may want to check website like Allfreesewing.com or freeneedle.com to see if they have what you need.
Good Luck!
Angel
I am excited to have discovered this site. My sewing machine and I have gotten to be good friends lately and I love easy patterns that I can ‘mass produce’. My grandsons will be sporting some fun pants for the holidays.
Thanks a lot for that tutorial, that is so simple to use, and that will be use really often I think. I would just add an advice to the other sewers : check the length for your child, as the patterns were a bit too shorts for my daughters. You can see pictures on my blog : sewingpot.blogspot.fr ! See you soon !!
Hello.
The pattern is really easy to make but I am having trouble with the sizing. I made the 4t/5t and they fit my 2 year old who wears a 18 month. ( had to make them a little shorter in the crotch to waist) I just made the 5/6 for my son who is 4 years old (wearing 5t) and they were to tight in the crotch and hips. I double checked how the pattern was printing and it was at normal (100%) Any suggestions??
Hi Julia,
It’s really hard to get the sizing right for everyone – so sometimes my patterns don’t fit perfectly. One quick fix is to sew them using a .25 inch seam allowance ( instead of a .5 inch) and that will instantly give you more room in the hip/ rise area.
– Angel
I love your site Angel! Especially the children’s hats.
I’ve been using a different pants pattern to go over my son’s cloth diapers but I’m going to try your’s now and see how I like it too. Using the other pattern, I made a pair of girly pants for a friend’s daughter and instead of making a regular hem at the bottom, I stretched the fleece and did a zigzag stitch overcasting the edge and that gave it an adorable “girly” look. That would be a great option for your pants here too!!
I wanted to attach a picture to this but I wasn’t sure how to.
Hi Rachel!
You are welcome to post your picture to Fleece Fun’s Facebook Page! I would love to see it. Thanks for sharing!
– Angel
Have you ever made a top to match? I’m thinking about making the kiddo’s pj’s instead of buying Carter’s since they’re gotten SO expensive! Thanks!
Hi Amy,
that’s a great idea, but unfortunately it’s not the docket for this year. =( But I will seriously consider it for the future!
– Angel
I also have the problem that the size 4T is too tight in the hips thigh area. Any other suggestions besides a smaller seam allowance? I know I won’t be able to do that
Take the pattern and cut it in half (lengthwise – so it’s symmetrical) and then widen it how much you need.
Hi, Angel – Love these patterns. One question: I cut out the basic pant in a 24 month/2T size and then , since my grand daughter is tall for her age, decided to add the boutique pant ruffle. So I cut out the 2T pattern in the boutique pant. It seems to be quite a bit larger — nearly an inch wider — than the same size in the basic pant. Now I’m worried that the basic pant pattern I cut out will be too small for her. Why the descrepancy?
Thank you.
There isn’t a discrepancy they are just different patterns with different fits. My suggestion is that if you are concerned about the sizing of the basic pant is to sew it with a smaller seam allowance or make the next size up. =)
– Angel
Love that you’re sharing this pattern! Thanks a lot! I will add that I find it easiest to hem the cuffs before sewing anything else. Makes it very easy
Why the pattern for the front side and back side is the same?
It’s a really basic pant which is why it works well for kids and beginners.
Maybe I’m missing it, but which size is the doll size? Would love to make up some for my daughter’s doll.
It’s here – http://www.fleecefun.com/doll-basic-pants.html
Just made these pants for my two year old…..so easy with your video! Thanks so much!
Can this pattern be used with equal success if using denim? I like to use old adult jeans as the fabric for the children’s pants, recycling, as it were.
You would need to finish the edges of the denim to prevent fraying on the interior seams. You would also need to make the waist band taller so you could turn it under, rather than just sew a zig zag along the edge. The truth is if you are familiar with working with denim and modifying patterns it is possible. However if you are new to sewing or pattern modifying it won’t work very well. Good luck!
Good morning! Thanks for the great pattern and even better tutorial! I can’t believe I made two pairs of pants LAST NIGHT! I was even so proud I showed my husband who was all like “Yep…those are pants!” Anyway….the pants I made are going to make great baby gifts…I can’t wait for the shower!
Ok so here is my question — why when I cut out the pattern is there a point up on the left hand side of square #1? When I cut this it was weird and when I finished the waist band I ended up cutting the point off.
Was I suppose to do something with it? Was it necessary? Like I said, this was my first pair of pants to make so maybe this is something important and I totally messed up!
Anyway, thanks again!
K
Kim,
that’s just to make the rear a little higher in the back for a babies that tend do a lot of sitting and scooting. It’s not crucial to the design – the pants will work fine without it. It’s just to make the fit a little better. =) Glad you’re enjoying making the pants.
– Angel
Hi.
I love these pants, I made a pair of Flannel PJ’s for my 5 yr old, and she loves them, but I have been trying with fleece and they don’t sit as nicely around the hip and waist area, I was wondering if I had done something wrong?
Thanks
Laura