Patching and Extending Toddler Pants

Patching and Extending Toddler Pants

A couple weeks ago I noticed there was a hole in one of Ada’s jeans. I kept putting off patching them because I kept forgetting, wanted to research it, and was a bit afraid of them especially as they where skinny 3T pants with a bit of spandex for stretch. I knew the jeans were too skinny to fit around my machine and I haven’t had to open jeans up before. While I kept forgetting about the pants I ended up making some patches for Ada’s Bubblegum dress which we ended up not including, but I ended up with some adorable patches laying around. At this point Ada’s pants were only now starting to get short so I decided since I was cutting into her pants anyway I might as well add an extension too so she wouldn’t have to give them up anytime soon. I had looked up ideas online and came across a pin on Pinterest where a stripe of horizontal fabric was added to extend the pants. I lost the pin before I went to the website, but while searching right before I made these I found a pin (that may have been a different one), had the browser translate it from German to English, and found that there were no directions on how she did it and only pictures (Manchmal muss man auch Monster austauschen).

The happenstance of the patches combined with the approaching 52 Week Sewing Challenge’s make something green made me decide to just go for it; especially when I realized I haven’t really sewn with green and have always had trouble finding something in my closet when St. Patrick’s day rolls around each year. Luckily when I had Ada pick her patches she chose one green one since the main woven fabric I chose had none.


Materials Used

  • Pants maybe with a hole to justify the hack
  • (optional) Fabric if you’re doing the extension
  • (optional) Patch for the hole or to add over the extension
  • Seam ripper
  • Sewing machine
  • Sewing pins to attach the patch though you could use Heat’n Bond too
  • Dritz disappearing ink pen

I started with a regular pair of 3T pants with a fiber content of 95% cotton and 5% spandex.

Ada's skinny and comfortable jeans that have developed a hole in the knee. They contain 5% spandex so they have a bit of a stretch.
Ada’s skinny and comfortable jeans that have developed a hole in the knee. They contain 5% spandex so they have a bit of a stretch.

I confirmed that the pant leg was way too skinny to fit around my sewing machine. Though if it magically did I wouldn’t have had a lot of flexibility so either way I probably would’ve decided to continue on by opening up the side seam for better access.

The legs are way too skinny to fit around my sewing machine so the only other option seemed to be to open up the seam to access the hole.
The legs are way too skinny to fit around my sewing machine so the only other option seemed to be to open up the seam to access the hole.

The next step was cutting the pant legs off where I wanted to add the fabric extension. I used my tape measure to find out the distance from the bottom of the pant hem to the center of the hole. I then used my disappearing ink pen to mark that same distance all the way across the front of the pants which I went on to cut with my pinking shears.

I used a disappearing pen to a line horizontally over the front of the pants centered over the hole. I measured from the bottom of the leg up so both we be cut the same distance from the bottom.
I used a disappearing pen to a line horizontally over the front of the pants centered over the hole. I measured from the bottom of the leg up so both we be cut the same distance from the bottom.
I then used my pinking shears to cut across the legs to separate the top from the bottom right over the hole.
I then used my pinking shears to cut across the legs to separate the top from the bottom right over the hole.

I then took the fabric I had picked out to go with my patch and confirmed it was wide enough to go around the leg of the pants. I knew Ada would be good with this choice as we’ve bought it on two separate occasions now… as evidenced by the projects that it keeps being used in: Peppermint Swirl Dress, Upcycled Construction Truck Shirt, and the Bubblegum Dress.

I grabbed our cotton woven construction vehicle fabric and confirmed it was long enough to to stretch the width of the pant legs.
I grabbed our cotton woven construction vehicle fabric and confirmed it was long enough to to stretch the width of the pant legs.

If you have an exact idea of how much longer you want your pants to be I’d measure the difference and subtract the loss from your planned seam allowance. I hadn’t thought of how much longer I wanted the pants so I decided to not measure and instead used my fabric to decide on the height of the extension. I cut the fabric with pinking shears and cut through the middle of the row above and below what I wanted to show on the pants so I’d be able to show the full height of the construction vehicles.

I then cut two stripes of similar size. I made sure to leave an entire row of construction vehicles by cutting midway through the row above and below.
I then cut two stripes of similar size. I made sure to leave an entire row of construction vehicles by cutting midway through the row above and below.

You can’t ignore the pant seams any longer; it’s now time to rip them apart. I had read in my preliminary research that one seam is sewn in really good while the other seam is easier to rip and sew back closed. I looked at both and ended up ripping into the inseam. I found it was easiest to rip when you use one finger on the back of the seam and push it up while pushing either side of the fabric down and away from the seam. Once the seam was exposed I went in with the seam ripper, cut the visible stitches, pulled the two sides of the fabric apart, and then went back to stretching the seam a little further down. You don’t have to rip too far; just enough distance away from your cut that you can flatten that section of your jeans enough to be able to sew in the extension and/or the patch without sewing into any other part of the jeans. Remember if your patch is lower or higher than where you’re putting in the extension fabric than you’ll want to rip further along past that area too.

I then checked the two seams on the inside of the pants to see which one would be simpler to cut and sew.
I then checked the two seams on the inside of the pants to see which one would be simpler to cut and sew.
I found it easiest to put my finger directly behind the seam and then pull the fabric on either side of the seam away so the stitches are more accessible.
I found it easiest to put my finger directly behind the seam and then pull the fabric on either side of the seam away so the stitches are more accessible.
You can then easily use your other hand to get the seam ripper in and cut the stitches.
You can then easily use your other hand to get the seam ripper in and cut the stitches.

I then sewed my woven cotton fabric to the jeans. I decided to lay the jean fabric overtop of the woven so both of them are facing upward and then use a zigzag stitch to sew them together. This way I figured there’d only be the one fabric sticking out from the seam on the inside of the jeans against Ada’s skin (woven construction vehicles) and the jeans on the outside of the pants will only curl as far as the zigzag stitching allows. I made sure to line up the two fabrics with the woven having a little more excess out the back as I can always trim it down but I didn’t want it to be too short. After the first couple of stitches into the fabric I paused to line up the fabric making sure the row of construction vehicles directly above my visible row was hidden while also making sure to not hide my current row. When I cut the stripes from my woven construction vehicle fabric before I made sure they were too long just in case the jeans stretched while sewing so I just kept lining it up and once I got to the end of the jeans I backstitched before cutting the threads; while leaving the rest of the woven fabric alone for now.

I then lined up the woven construction vehicle fabric underneath the top of the pants so both were right side up. I made sure the construction vehicles stuck out a bit further than the side of the jeans.
I then lined up the woven construction vehicle fabric underneath the top of the pants so both were right side up. I made sure the construction vehicles stuck out a bit further than the side of the jeans.
I then kept lining up the jeans as I sewed along making sure to cover up the construction vehicles above the main road.
I then kept lining up the jeans as I sewed along making sure to cover up the construction vehicles above the main road.

I then went on to measure how tall I wanted the extension to be, based on how tall the construction vehicles were, and then measured along both legs marking that distance so both legs would match. I also drew a line down from either side of the jeans along with from the center seam so it would be easier to know when to start or stop sewing the bottom of the jeans on.

Both pant legs with the construction vehicles lining the bottom. of the legs. I left the excess fabric at the end for now.
Both pant legs with the construction vehicles lining the bottom. of the legs. I left the excess fabric at the end for now.

I could see the above picture being an adorable pair of cropped pants if you finish the bottom by hemming instead of adding the rest of the jeans back onto it. You could sew the seam together and stop a bit before the bottom of the pants so there’s a little slit in the hem too.

Instead I continued by adding the bottom of the jeans back on. I started by marking my woven to make sure that the pants wouldn’t be mismatched. I ended up measuring the height of the one of the construction vehicles and then went around the fabric marking that same distance so the height of the woven in the pants would be the same height all the way around. I also marked a vertical line down from either edge of the pants and from the unopened seam so I could use those points to line up the pants. To make sure the bottom of the pants were lined up with the top I matched up the seams that I hadn’t ripped that were right in the middle of the flattened pant leg. For these jeans the seam pointed the opposite way if you matched the left leg with the right leg, or vice versa, so I knew for sure I was matching the proper legs together. After lining up the seams I started sewing by going over that seam and continued sewing  going outward (or from the center of the flattened pants going towards the edge). After I sewed down that side of the pants I then flipped the pants around, centered the pants overlapping the original seam going in the other direction, sewed over the seam again so there’d be a bit of overlap, and then continued sewing to the other end of the jeans. While sewing the bottom leg on lined up the two fabrics by making sure the jeans were just covering the marks on the woven and allowing it to go too high or too low.

While attaching the bottom of the pants I made sure to line up the inseams and started sewing from that point (the middle) and sew outward to the side.
While attaching the bottom of the pants I made sure to line up the inseams and started sewing from that point (the middle) and sew outward to the side.
After sewing the one side of the bottom on I flipped the pants around, overlapped where I started sewing, and continued sewing to the other end.
After sewing the one side of the bottom on I flipped the pants around, overlapped where I started sewing, and continued sewing to the other end.
And the jeans have been extended... with an excess of fabric out the sides.
And the jeans have been extended… with an excess of fabric out the sides.

I then consulted my photo from when Ada showed me which dinosaur patch I should put on which knee, figured out where on the knee they should be and at which angle, pinned them in place, and then used a blanket stitch to go along the edges of the dinosaurs while being careful not to sew into any of my folded over jeans.

I had asked Ada to choose which two of the finished dinosaur patches she wanted on her knee and which knee she'd like them on. This was my picture note for later.
I had asked Ada to choose which two of the finished dinosaur patches she wanted on her knee and which knee she’d like them on. This was my picture note for later.
I then figured out where I wanted the two dinosaur riding construction trucks placed and pinned them down.
I then figured out where I wanted the two dinosaur riding construction trucks placed and pinned them down.
I used a blanket stitch to attach the patches onto the jeans.
I used a blanket stitch to attach the patches onto the jeans.
The front of the pants after attaching the patches.
The front of the pants after attaching the patches.

Your alterations are now complete and you just have to sew the jeans back up. I put the jeans inside out, overlapped the original stitching, and zigzagged down the side of the jeans. As I went I made sure to line up the jeans by matching up the top and then the bottom of the woven extension. After you sew the first leg closed I then confirmed it looked okay by putting it right side out and tugging at the seam. Once you’re done go onto the next leg, close it up, and confirm. When you’re absolutely sure you’re done trim the excess fabric and put it right side out.

I then put the pants inside out so I can sew the seam closed.
I then put the pants inside out so I can sew the seam closed.
While sewing above the extension I made sure to line up the top seam so the trucks would line up, while sewing over the woven I made sure the bottom edge was lined up.
While sewing above the extension I made sure to line up the top seam so the trucks would line up, while sewing over the woven I made sure the bottom edge was lined up.
Pant legs are now sewn closed again.
Pant legs are now sewn closed again.
I then trimmed the excess fabric from the sides and top.
I then trimmed the excess fabric from the sides and top.

And marvel at the finished jeans.

The back of the finished pants.
The back of the finished pants.
The front of the finished pants.
The front of the finished pants.

And here is my (only) something green on the jeans for this week’s 52 Week Sewing Challenge. It happens to have decorative green stitching added too that you can read about in my previous post: Creating a Patch from Fabric Remnants.

Close up of the green construction vehicle; my something green for the 52 weeks sewing challenge.
Close up of the green construction vehicle; my something green for the 52 weeks sewing challenge.

Done!

Ready to try on and enjoy.

Wearing the pants before she takes off her nightgown in the morning.
Wearing the pants before she takes off her nightgown in the morning.
The back of the one pant wrinkles inward but overall looks great.
The back of the one pant wrinkles inward but overall looks great.
After being thrown in the washer and dryer with the rest of the clothing the jeans looked fine and the fabric is starting to roll along the seam just like it was supposed to.
After being thrown in the washer and dryer with the rest of the clothing the jeans looked fine and the fabric is starting to roll along the seam just like it was supposed to.
Almost all ready to go out.
Almost all ready to go out.
And closeup of the other leg while doing up her carseat.
And closeup of the other leg while doing up her carseat.

Some mistakes I came across… or what I’d do differently next time

  • When I first sewed the bottom of the pant leg on I started sewing on the edge going across instead of from the center. By the time I got to the center of the leg I realized the inseams didn’t match up. At first I thought the top pant leg stretched more than the bottom of the pant leg so I decided to rip the seam out and started sewing from the center of the leg working my way outward like I described above. While lining up the inseam before sewing it I realized the seams on either side of the pants went in different directions so I switched pant bottoms so the seams matched and then sewed them on. When I was finished both legs I saw the cut edge matched each one perfectly and my seam ripped fabric was on either leg so I think my issue was just mismatched legs. I’m wondering if starting from the side would’ve worked the first time if I had matched the proper legs together instead of using mismatched pant legs.
The first time I sewed the bottom of the pants on I lined it up by the side and my inseam didn't match up.
The first time I sewed the bottom of the pants on I lined it up by the side and my inseam didn’t match up.
I seam ripped it and then drew a line down from the seam so I could match it up.
I seam ripped it and then drew a line down from the seam so I could match it up.
I then sewed from the center, middle seam, to the edge while making sure the edges lined up. I then turned the pants around, started in the center again, and sewed to the other side.
I then sewed from the center, middle seam, to the edge while making sure the edges lined up. I then turned the pants around, started in the center again, and sewed to the other side.
  • My other slight mistake was the first pant leg I sewed closed. I used a zigzag stitch along the edge of the fabric and once I put it right side out realized I hadn’t sewn as far inwards as I needed to. I put it inside out again and sewed along the inner side of the  old seam so you wouldn’t be able to see inside the ripped seam when it was put right side out.
The first time I sewed the seam closed I was too close to the edge.
The first time I sewed the seam closed I was too close to the edge.
So when I flipped the pants right side out you could see where the seam was. I flipped it the wrong way again and then sewed it a second time a bit closer in.
So when I flipped the pants right side out you could see where the seam was. I flipped it the wrong way again and then sewed it a second time a bit closer in.

And as a bonus since I have extra photos while trying to get cool knee shots while swinging at the playground… Did you know that you can fit two kids in a baby swing? My friend told me about it and it’s amazing! It works if there’s only one swing free and you have two kids. Also works for two friends that want to swing together. We’ve fit two  (newlyish) three year olds together once. For me I put Ada in first (as she’s bigger), get her to put her arms in front of the handles (you may have to tilt the swing towards her and wiggle jiggle her down), and then put Zoey in facing the other direction. I started doing it so much that when I put Zoey in by herself she looks so small and fragile. It’s perfect for keeping your littler one upright as long as your bigger one doesn’t force her body forward by pushing back.

Checking out her pants while swinging.
Checking out her pants while swinging.

I would love to see what you decide to add to your pants. I thought it would be harder than it was, but I’m so glad I tried it. I’m also curious… did you know about the swing hack? I can’t believe it’s not shouted from the rooftop!

Feel free to share in the comments below, through a post on my Facebook page, or by tagging me through Instagram. I’d love to hear from you.

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day.



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