Cowgirl Birthday Chaps!

My Niece turned 3 the other day. I had a big decision to make, well what to make was really the question. So I thought really hard and since her mom decided she was gonna be a Pirate Princess for Halloween, I decided she need some cowgirl chaps! So.......below is a tutorial on my first run of making chaps, and at the end is some little tips and tricks that might make yours a little better then mine. Because you always learn after you do something once how it could be done just a little better!

Let the tutorial begin!
Supplies:
1 yard of soft vinyl - look thru the sales stuff! 2 yards for bigger kids
1 square of glitter fabric sheet (or whatever accent piece you want)
Paint - I used iridescent silver and regular pink
velcrow
Ribbon

First: Measure your child!! Twice! I measured her waist all around, Her legs from ground to hip and knee to ground. *also measure the leg around (this will come in handy when doing the leg closure on the back)

Second: Place measurements on back on vinyl and Sketch out one leg of chaps design on the back side- I did mine by looking at a photo of chaps. Then cut out the first leg, FLIP IT OVER and trace on back of vinyl for the other leg. Cut out and you have this:

Third: see its easy! Next I cut out the pieces of decorative cute-ness. I used my silhouette camoe for the scalloped circle and free hand cut out the top piece to move from the tallest point on top to about 1 inch over the other end of the slope of the top angle. I cut 2 sizes of "conchos" because I was not sure what I would like on the chaps.... customize!

Fourth: Cut out the fun tassels! hurray! I took and laid one chap down, traced the L and then measured 4 inches out and made a large L shape. Change chap leg and do the other side. Once the L's where cut I mixed my paint and painted right on top. FIRST the pink, let dry, Then the shimmer. Love the look! I did 2 coats of the pink and only one coat of the shimmer. * Be careful not to brush hard or the pain may not stick- I am sure you could sand the vinyl first to make it stick better, but I didn't. We learn.

Fifth: Once the paint is dry, begin cutting the tassels. DO NOT CUT ALL THE WAY. I know, your smart, but sometimes... anyways... SO I started with the angled corner and made the bottom have vertical cuts, and the long part of the L has slanted cuts. I left maybe 1/2" along inside for sewing purposes.

Six: Gater the supplies and head off to the sewing maching!

   a. Place L on top of one Chap and sew. You can place behind but I like on top look. DO this for each leg. 

b. Place glitter top pieces on but allow from some of the glittered pieces to overhang the top. Sew around the edges of the glitter piece- even where there is no Chap frabric.

c. conchos! I placed them on and did a few quick forward backward stitches to hold each one on.

Seven. Ok so this is what I would have probably changed a little if I thought about it more. I will list what I did, and what I SHOULD have done, so you can choose..

What I DID:

Take a length of thick ribbon and cut it 16 inches longer then your childs waist measurment (for bow tie) Place the ribbon around the top inside leaving a 4-5" gap between glitter top pieces. Sew one side, then the other. Attached!

What I SHOULD have done:

Sew 2 sets of belt loops on the inside top of each glitter piece. One one each side. So 2 of each on each chap and run ribbon thru with out sewing- kids move, I don't have one yet.. so I am learning. :)

Eight: The legs: Cut 2 thin strips of vinyl about 4" longer then your child's leg width. Sew to the pointy inside part of the chap. Add Velcro to the area across from where you sewed and the end of the vinyl strip. Easy closure and opening for kids and mom. Do to both sides. *be sure to make legs wider then kids legs with jeans on for them to ride their stick horse. Something like this!

Nine: The final item: the cute little touches: the button concho and tassels!! I just simply cut left over strips from the glitter fabric and sewed them on. Then I took a large white button and sprayed it silver to look like a cowboys silver concho piece. I made a few quick stitches and sewed it on to the round Pink glitter piece on the front. Sew simple!

There you have it! A guide to kids play chaps! YEEE HAAAA!~

Here are a few more photos of this for reference.

She ran right into her room and grabbed her horse and cowgirl hat!

I love the shimmer and that button!

Here is a quick review of what I would have changed:

 *Maybe had real conchos...

*Sew belt loops instead of sewing ribbon to chaps

*Ensure long enough inside closure for legs.

*been able to order colored vinyl instead of painting.

Total Cost: Under $15!

I had a lot of fun on this project and the gal at the fabric store said it would be hard, but its not! I was surprised just how easy it all come together. Now they are not any show chaps or something I spent a super large time on, but my 3 year old niece will play in them for the next few years and rough them up. That makes me a happy Auntie Aundrean ... as I am called.