Stretching $3.98: How a mom made pants for her babies from Men's T shirts

The goal: Cut cost - not style.  

When I was 19, I had two little ones—my son was 2, and my daughter was a newborn. Things were tight financially, but that didn’t stop me from making sure they were cared for and cozy.

Walmart sold men’s T-shirts in all the basic colors—red, blue, yellow, black, white, and gray—for $3.98 (PS They still do). I’d buy them in 3XL and turn them into lounge pants for my kids. I had a sewing machine, and luckily, I grew up around it. My mom’s a seamstress, and I took homesteading classes as a kid, so I had the skills to get creative.

For my daughter’s entire first year, I made her comfy pants out of those shirts—and it worked. One shirt would usually get me 2–3 pairs of pants, depending on the size I needed. That meant each pair cost just over a dollar, which saved us so much compared to buying baby clothes new. And no one even knew I was doing it—they were well-made, soft, and fit perfectly into their little wardrobes.

It saved us money, sure, but more than that, it reminded me that I was capable. That I could figure things out. That I had what I needed, even if it didn’t look like anyone else’s version of “enough.” I think we all have that in us. Resilience and creativity. 

That season taught me a lot: how to lean into what I know, how to use my hands, and how to create comfort from simplicity. If you’re in a season where you’re doing what you can with what you have—just know, that’s more than enough. You’re resourceful. You’re doing great. And one day, you’ll look back and realize just how strong and creative you really were.

Find a free downloadable pant pattern similar to the one I made here and other free downloads in our freebie collection.