Sewing for skinny toddler

[Gentleness]

My little boy is just about to turn 2 and needs more trousers due to a sudden interest in mud. I thought I could save a lot of money by sewing them and recycling dh's old worn through trousers, but when I measured him, to see what size patterns to buy I hit a problem. He is so diddy - 9th %ile all the way. His waist is 41cm so there are NO patterns except for baby-wear.

Any suggestions?

I was always a bit of a haphazard make-it-up sort of sewer, making my own patterns from garments I liked etc, so I'm happy to just have a go technically. But I've never sewn for a child before (and not anything for 10 years too!) and I feel like I need my hand holding through the thinking! Hopefully it'll be just like getting back on a bike...

[thisisyesterday]

someone recommended this to me a while back, tho i haven't done it yet!

[thisisyesterday]

and this one

[GetOutMyPub]

if you look on thisisyesterdays first link for "celebrate the boy archives" there are tons of patterns for boy makes on there, including many trousers. (that blogger does a special boys feature every year)

I have also come across many trouser tutorials online. Try searching for "pants" as most tutorials seem to be american. I also tend to search through google images rather than the web, when I am looking for something to make. You can instantly see if it is what you are looking for.

[plupervert]

If you have a sewing machine, you can unpick the waistbands of your DS's stretchy trousers, cut the elastic, re-sew it in place, then re-sew the waistband. I had to do this with about 4 pairs of trousers last autumn, as they were ridiculously "fat".

The sewing machine is a considerable help because you can do the "broken zigzag" stitch much more easily!

[kellestar]

Or unpick/seam rip a pair of trousers that do fit well but are damaged and use as a pattern.

My neice was the same centile and found it easier to modify trousers that were a good fit on the waist. I did lots of alternating fabric at the hem to add some length. She was in the 25th centile for height so she was a tall girl. DD is heading the same way 25th centile for height and 0.04th for weight. Already modifying trousers, that were hand me downs from neice.

My nephew is the complete opposite and is a chunk of a toddler and I am constantly patching trousers for him. I love to use scraps and zig zag. SiL has started to send his trousers and tops up for me to reinforce before he destroys them. I found lining the knees with fleece fabric mean the don't go through so quick and can make it more comfortable when he's scratching about in the garden.