Pint-sized football jerseys and pads

This year for Halloween I made complete football uniforms for my three boys, ages 2, 4, and 6.

In my work I have piles of old high school football jerseys, many of which are so worn out that they belong in the trash.  I appropriated a few of these old jerseys, and used the material to make new, smaller ones. 

The jersey pattern is of my own design, and is included in the attached PDF.  I designed it so it would be big enough for my oldest child, yet not too big for my youngest.

I also made chest and shoulder pads for my kids to wear under their jerseys.  I have included information on making the pads beginning in step 11. 

Their pants were made using a basic pajama pants pattern, although highly modified for each child so the pants fit more snugly, and had lace-up draw strings and such.  They were a complete project all on their own, and I haven't included any patterns for these.

In this main photo, they're giving me their best "gameface."  (It took a quite a few tries to capture them all holding a straight face at the same time.) 

Step 1 Harvest material

The usable material from one adult jersey was typically enough to make one new kid-sized jersey.

I cut apart the adult jerseys into usable sections and carefully picked out the collars.  I had to pick out the hems on some of the sleeves to provide just a little bit more usable material (photo 4). 

Comments

[scoochmaroo]

Do they have little Yahoo logos on them?

[seamster]

That's what it looks like, but that's actually the BYU logo.  These uniforms are actually pretty close miniature replicas of the real jerseys worn by the football team.  I support my alma mater, what can I say? 

[russm313]

I agree with mrcrumley below.  This is an incredible job, great work... as usual!  (Go Tigers)

[mrcrumley]

You sir are the rarest of breeds - an Instructables user who likes college football. I salute you. Seriously, while I can't approve of the team affiliation (unabashed Auburn fan, here), I love how you're raising your boys. You exemplify all that is good and right in parenting. Also, nice touch with the modern sleeve-lets. Most folks (including moi) would have just gone with the simpler traditional sleeves. God is truly in the details.

[seamster]

Thank you sir.  I salute you as well... or, raise my own Thor's hammer in your general direction.

I read through your Thor costume instructable this morning and was the first one to rate it.  I gave it a 4, but it came back with almost three blue stars and said "2.95 (1 ratings)."  (I still can't figure out how the rating system works...  maybe it's done like the BCS?) 

Oh well, I got a kick out of your kid's costume anyway.  Keep up the good work, fellow manly-craft man.

[makendo]

I read this comment and realised I had no idea how the rating system worked either. So I did a quick calculation and figure that it must be something like this: each instructable is given 10 dummy votes at 2.9; they don't show up but do affect the rating.
And yet another great instructable - I prefer rugby as a game, but American football has the cooler gear, no question! Great game faces, too, especially on your youngest :)

[seamster]

Ha ha, thanks! The ratings struck me as a little odd at first, but whatever system the admin folks have in place is obviously there for a reason and seems to even things out nicely.  I've got no complaints.

I have to admit that rugby is a more manly sport than American football, no doubt. Is that a cricket ball you've got for a profile image? 

[makendo]

Buck Shelford's exploits at the Battle of Nantes would certainly add a level of credibility to your concession :)
That is a cricket ball; I joined instructables just after the last game of the season, so I probably had it on my mind at the time.

[seamster]

Holy crap, that's amazing. "Stitch up the sack. I'm going back in!"

As a side note, I was originally going to mention in the intro that I was trying to teach my three boys the haka, but I took it out because I figured nobody would know what I was talking about. (This particular college football team does it before each game, so I thought it would be really cool to have my kids in their uniforms, stomping their feet and slapping their thighs.)

[makendo]

I know. Brings a tear to the eye...
I wasn't quite sure if you were pulling my leg about a BYU haka, but I found a clip - utterly surreal to watch, but they did a pretty good job of Ka Mate. Hope you've showed your boys the real thing (though I can't get mine to perform it without them giggling).

[seamster]

Nope, I wasn't joking! Here's the history.

I'm not sure if they still do it. (Too much of anything cheapens it, in my opinion.) Besides, the All Blacks ultimately own it.