Faux Union Suit Tutorial

Sorry that it has taken me so long to get this tutorial up for you! After losing all of my pictures from the first three I made, I sort of was dragging my feet until I thought about making a pair for my little three-month-old nephew. I now have made these pajamas in size 3-6 months, 6-12 months, 2T, and 4T. If anyone wants to help me figure out how to do a pdf pattern, I would be happy to share my patterns with whoever is interested but until then, this step by step tutorial will have to do. 

I was lucky enough to have a couple knit footed pajamas around the house already to use as a basic pattern. If you have a snug fitting pair already, just turn it inside out and place on your fabric and cut out your pattern pieces. The size that I didn't have around, I used a top and bottom set and measured the torso length to make sure it would fit the same. 

After cutting out your pieces, they will look like this:

Besides your fabric, you will need these:

The zipper I used on my last one was much too short. I suggest using zippers from 18-28 inches long.

Start with your long strip of fabric. This will be used as the trim for the neck and cuffs on the arms.

Then...

Set the sleeves aside and work on the main body. Be sure to line up the stripes when sewing your pieces together.

Place the flap about an inch up from the crotch and pin in place.

If you look closely, you can see that I sewed the closed edge to the body. Rats. I hate picking out seems on knit fabric.

Sew up the right leg.

Now put in your zipper. I have a zipper foot that made it easy to sew on.

Because my zipper was so short, it wasn't long enough to extend down the leg. But if you can get a long one, make sure that as the zipper goes down from the chest to the left leg, that you have it run along the last edge of the diamond piece in the crotch.

With ends folded in, sew on the neck:

My machine sews button holes (ignore the spelling error in the picture below) for me. All I had to do was mark where I wanted them, adjust my machine, and sew them in. I am totally spoiled. I hope you are, too.

Next are the feet. I am not going to lie, I HATED sewing these in. All four times. If you want to skip this part, just put more trim around the ankles and call it good. If you want the footed look, here is what I did:

Last but not least, sew on your buttons....

....Secure your flap....

and you're done! Hot dog! Now your little ones can stay warm and toasty all winter long! For more pictures, click here.

Linked to: House of Hepworths, Sew Much Ado, Making Lemonade, Skip to my Lou