2.17.2009

How to make bloomers

My girls are dress-obsessed. They beg daily to wear them, and my youngest cries when I make her wear jeans (sometimes its just too cold - even with tights!). But, in the spring and summertime, dresses are an effortless choice: cooler than shorts and easier than coordinating an entire outfit. 

In preparation for all of this dress wearing, I decided to make some bloomers for my oldest daughter. She will be doing more than sitting in church in her dresses; and bloomers are perfect for all of the swinging, and sliding, and running she will be doing this summer. 

I began with a pair of leggings that I found on clearance (for $3!). Leggings are a perfect choice, because they will cling to the body without adding bulk under light cotton dresses. 


After determining how long I wanted the bloomers to be (I measured them to hit her mid-thigh), I cut off the lower leg of the pant. 


Because this jersey cotton won't fray, I didn't hem the edge. Instead, using elastic ribbon (from Hobby Lobby, of course), I zig-zag stitched around the bottom. 


The ribbon added a cute finishing touch, and hid the unfinished seam


Let the twirling commence!


28 comments:

Beth said...

Cute and easy! I've got to find me some of that elastic ribbon, too!

The Lord Family said...

Great idea! Now I just have to find the elastic ribbon!

Tiffany said...

What a cute idea! So smart for those little ones who love skirts but not sitting still. :)

Katie said...

You always have the cutest ideas! I can't wait to try making the sundresses you posted about and now I've got another project to add to the to do list!

Kristine said...

So cute and so easy! I, too, have a 4-year old who cries and wails if she has to wear anything but a dress. And not just a dress, but one that TWIRLS! These are very cute, and I'll have to make a couple pairs to go under her summer dresses. Thanks for all your fun ideas! Oh, and I visited a dear mom friend in Nicaragua last month, and I took her all the supplies to make your beautiful silhouettes. Here's how they turned out (minus the letters, which I'd forgotten to bring paint for) http://www.toonesalive.com/blog/family/?p=1125 Thanks for the fun idea!!

Michelle said...

Can I come live with you???

melody said...

Sweeeet! Perfect for the little one in my life who can't decide which she prefers...Wearing dresses or standing on her head:)

Faerylandmom said...

Genius! My girls need some of these...

Mrs. Gray's Class said...

Great idea - I so wish we had a Hobby Lobby!

Anne said...

Great idea!!! Blogged it over at Craft Gossip Sewing Blog: http://sewing.craftgossip.com/turn-kids-leggings-into-a-pair-of-bloomers/2009/02/17/

Greta said...

Thanks for shawing - you are inspiring me to want to learn to sew. Gotta get me a sewing machine!

erin said...

My daughter is starting Kindergarten in the fall and these will be perfect for her! When she was three she went through a skirts only phase--now she just puts a skirt on top of everything--jeans, cords, leggings. Thanks for the tip!

Bree said...

These are so adorable.. now to find a little girl to make them for, somehow I don't think the little boys in my family will fully appreciate them! Very cute x

Heather said...

Very cool. Thanks for the fab tip

Anonymous said...

So cute! And a suggestion for that leg you cut off - headbands! My dd loves those soft stretchy headbands, and that leg would probably be just the right size to make a couple.

ReminisceHeirlooms said...

What a wonderful idea! Thank you for sharing.

Tonya Staab said...

Fabulous idea. I need to make my little girl some of these before summer. Thank you.

Anonymous said...

My daughter is a huge fan of the jeans under her dress. Bloomers are very cute though!

Jenny and the Princess Peonies said...

That elastic ribbon is so cute! Great idea!

Rachel@oneprettything.com said...

SO cute and what a fantastic idea! Thanks so much for sharing this, I'll be linking.

Jona Giammalva said...

That is simply brilliant! I saw some of that elastic ribbon at Hobby Lobby and wondered what to do with it. Now I know!

Unknown said...

Just adorable...we keep going back in time, to those really feminine details. Love it!

Brenda said...

My mom has always made little bloomers and shorts for my girls to wear under their dresses. I love them!

The ribbon is a really nice touch--they don't look so much like bike shorts. :)

I did have my mom made a school pair out of black (to wear under the khaki jumpers) just so anyone getting a peak would not think they were seeing underwear anyway. Just a thought. Of course for summer dresses, you need a light color.

And thank you....I could do this!

Anonymous said...

Cute! What a simple project. Aubry needs some of these!

Elisabeth Black said...

Well that was easy! I love bloomers on little girls.

Anonymous said...

Great idea! This will solve the problem of wanting wear a dress on P.E. day, but not wanting to show everyone our undies!

Jean said...

I already have these leggings for my active daughters to wear as bloomers. They wears dresses daily with no other choice (that's our preference). Adding something little fancy to the leg holes... hummm, that's acceptable idea for me to do! And I know our girls would LOVE that too! I also search for leggings at second-hand stores. Sometimes Walmart and/or Target sells carpis quite cheap, especially when on clearance.

Thanks for feeding my creativity!

Ashlee said...

As someone new to the sewing world, I am so glad I found your blog! I had no idea they made ribbon elastic! I think I may need to make a trip to Hobby Lobby!