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Monday, February 28, 2011

Yeehaw, It's Rodeo Time!

Here in Houston we devote almost an entire month to the rodeo.  Even my daughter's preschool has a Rodeo Day.  This year my daughter wanted to have chaps that look like Jessie's from Toy Story for Rodeo Day. 


They were not as hard as you'd think.  I used her jeans to make the pattern.  Lay the jeans down on craft paper or tracing paper and draw out the design.  Don't forget the back of the chaps.  You will need to add a little extra all the way around for hemming.  Also, add enough at the top so that you can fold it over to make a tab.  This will be used to attach the chaps through a belt. The picture below shows the basic shape of one leg.  You will need to cut 2 pieces like this.


 Measure the waist to make a belt.  Allow for extra length. 


The last part of the pattern you will need are small strips that you will use as ties to tie the front and back of the chaps together.  I cut out 8 ties to make a total of 2 places on each leg to tie them in place.
First, you will hem all around the pieces that will go on the legs.  Then you will take the piece for the belt and fold in half with right sides together and sew the edge shut. 

Turn right side out and turn end in and sew shut.  I went ahead and top stitched the belt. 
Now you need to make the tabs for the chaps.  At the top of the chap turn down enough so that the belt goes through and that it fits in the right places. 


After this is complete I added the ties on to the sides of the chaps to keep them closed.  To construct the ties, cut 4 pieces per leg.  Fold in half with right sides together and sew.  Turn right side out and turn end in and sew shut.  Now you will sew them on to the chaps.  I placed them at the top and the knee.

 

Use the belt to loop through the jeans and the chaps.  I tied the belt in place, but you could add a piece of velcro or use D rings.   


Tie them on to the legs and your child will be ready for the rodeo. Giddy up horsey. 

15 comments:

  1. SO CUTE!! That is just adorable. I would love it if you would link this up to my blog party, A Marvelous Mess. At each party I will pick one project to feature on my sidebar for a week!! Here is the link: http://marvelouslymessy.blogspot.com/2011/02/marvelous-mess-2.html

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  2. These are too cute! Saw these on Tip Junkie. I love that you used the cow print fabric.

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  3. These are so adorable. My oldest daughter loves cowgirl stuff and chaps are a top priority for her!!! Thanks for sharing!

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  4. I'm in Houston too! I wish I had seen this sooner. Last Friday was my son's western day and he would have loved these. Maybe I'll have to make some for next year.

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  5. Hi!! I just wanted to let you know that I will be featuring this project on my sidebar for a week!! I absolutely adore this craft. :-) Go to this link to see it and get your button if you'd like:
    http://marvelouslymessy.blogspot.com/2011/03/marvelous-mess-2-feature-chaps.html

    Thanks for linking up and be sure to come back next Monday!!

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  6. So cute!!! Come and link this up on my Let's Sew craft linky every Wednesday!

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  7. thank you for the info on the cowgirl chaps! my 2 yr. old grandaughter loves "Jesse" from toy story, and i had to make these for her! yoddle lay hee hoo!

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  8. Approx. how much yardage do you think it took for you to make this? So sweet!

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  9. I think I bought a full yard and had some leftover. I'm hoping I can eek a vest out for my little boy since we are planning on making him Woody from Toy Story for Halloween.

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  10. Hi! I am doing chaps for my husband & near 3 year old from your tutorial. I'm a little confused about how to make the pattern off of their jeans. I'm sure I'm doing it wrong, but would appreciate some help!

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    1. You will use the jeans for length and to get the right fit. I laid the jeans down on tracing paper and then marked the length of the inseam and the length of the waist to the bottom of the pants. You double the width of the pant leg since the chaps go all the way around and tie on the inside of the thigh. Don't forget to add extra all around the pattern to allow for hemming, along with double the height of the waistband so you can fold it over and have a place to slip the belt through the top of the chaps. The basic shape of the pattern (on brown paper) is pictured.

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  11. This is so adorable. Thanks for sharing your easy-to-follow tutorial. This is great for little girls who love to play cowgirl like Jessie from Toy Story. A perfect costume for Halloween.

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  12. Thanks for the tutorial!! Making these for my daughter's halloween costume. I used some black ribbon for the ties to save some time and they turned out great. Also just used one of her existing belts and that worked well too! Thanks again!!

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    1. I'm glad it turned out for you! A belt works great too. I used a belt with it when I tracked down a western belt at a garage sale. :)

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  13. Totally what I need. adorable. thanks much! kc

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