Sweater pants

Got a sweater at the thrift store yesterday, all wool. It's so soft and a nice charcoal gray. Felted it last night; wash and dry on hot. Felting makes it even thickener and warmer, and I'll be able to machine wash and dry it when it becomes pants, too.

Cut off the sleeves.

Laid out a pair of pants she has that fit her. I let the sleeves/legs taper at the ends, though, so that they'd be even warmer. It's cold in Montana. Cut around the top part, leaving the seam of the sleeve intact as my pants inseam.

*Right sides together* I placed one leg inside the other (so the outside one is inside out, the inside one is right side out)

and sewed along the curved cut, leaving the top straight sides open.

Turned right side out, and there we have it! I also cut out the neck ribbing from the felted sweater and stitched that along the top, stretching it as I went. The bulk of her diaper and that hold them up, they are kind of tight like leggings. In future ones I might fold over the top and leave a spot for a drawstring.

I left the cuffs on and turned them up. Way cute! And I think it took me longer to write this post than to make them, not counting wash/dry time.

To use as a cloth diaper cover, you can lanolinize (sp?) them- just mix about 1 inch of lanolin in 1/2 cup of hot water until it dissolves. Turn your pants inside out, immerse in a sinkful or bucketful of warm water, and then pour in the lanolin-water mixture. Swish a bit, pull out your pants, and they lanolin will stick to them on the way out. Gently wring the excess water out, then lay flat on a towel to dry. Repeat when necessary, depending on how heavy of a wetter your baby is. You can buy wool wash bars/soap or we just use baby shampoo to wash.