Resizing Kids' Knit Pants with Side Panels and Cuffs

Preschool children can outgrow clothes quickly. Rather than discarding children's knit pajama or sweatpants that are still in good condition, this alteration adds width and length using materials on hand. In the original example, the pants were enlarged by two sizes.

To add width, insert 4–5 cm-wide side panels made from ready-made bias tape or a similar strip. For extra length, use rib-knit fabric, such as ribbing cut from an old sweater or ready-made rib-knit fabric. You will also need flat 3 cm-wide elastic, cut to the child's waist measurement.

Preparation

Unpick the side seams and remove the existing waistband elastic and cuffs.

Cutting

Cut a waistband strip from knit fabric or a sweater. Its length should match the waist measurement; its width should be twice the elastic width plus 2 cm for seam allowance. Mark an opening for threading the elastic and leave it unsewn.

Cut cuffs from knit fabric. If the pants are loose, make each cuff 1 cm narrower than the leg opening. If they are fitted, cut the cuff to the same width as the bottom of the leg.

Step by Step

Sew on the side panels, using the overlapping seam shown in the photo.

Turn the pants right side out and topstitch on the outside. Fold the cuff ribbing in half and sew it to the bottom of the pant legs.

The altered garment already has a new look, with the details working together.

Sew the waistband along its short sides, leaving an opening for the elastic. Mark the elastic into four equal sections and make matching marks on the top edge of the pants. Align the marks and pin the pieces together.

Stitch on a sewing machine, then finish the seam edge with an overlocker or a zigzag stitch.

Finally, thread the elastic through the waistband and stitch its ends together.

In the original example, the pants gained 8 cm in length and 4 cm in width on each side.