Leg ruffles are cute, but some people really dislike them. Sometimes a leg ruffle just adds too much bulk, or maybe irritates baby’s thighs. They’re easy to ditch, take a look.

Cut out your pattern template using the dashed lines for turning & topstitching / stitching & turning.

You’re going to ease in, though and cut through the leg area on the solid lines meant for serging / overlocking. But don’t worry, no serger is required for this tutorial.

Do the same near the end of the leg curve at the other elastic placement dot. I just used my rotary cutters (shhh, I know it’s bad to cut through paper with those!) and made a smooth curve from the dashed line to the solid line.

You’re going to move the elastic placement dots out to the edge, near the solid line.

Cut out your fabric and follow the directions in the pattern to apply your rise snaps (and front panel snaps if you’re hiding them). Continue following the directions and stitch in your elastic along the back waist on the regular elastic placement dots.

Do not sew any elastic in the leg area / leg curve elastic sewing. (I never stitch the front panel elastic in on this style diaper, but some people like it so add it if you wish.)

Right sides together, stitch your diaper layers together, but leave an opening in the front (I’ve left out the front waist / tummy panel elastic, I always do when I use this pattern).

Now, in the seam allowance of the leg area, sew in your leg elastic. You can stitch it right on top of your serging if you’ve serged, or in the seam allowance if you’ve sewn with a regular sewing machine.

Turn the diaper right side out through the hole you’ve left. Fold in the raw edges of the hole and topstitch it shut with a 1/8″ seam allowance. Continue sewing with that 1/8″ seam allowance all around the diaper until you get to the leg elastic.

When you get to the leg elastic (feel carefully through your diaper, you don’t want to stitch over the elastic!), widen your seam allowance to a little over 1/4″, and go around the elastic.

Stretch the elastic out as you sew, you’re creating a nice, neat casing for your elastic. When you get to the end, narrow your seam allowance back to 1/8″ and finish the topstitching.

Follow the rest of the instructions in the pattern to apply the rest of your snaps, snap in your soaker and lay in your doubler if you’re using one, and you’re all set!

Sweet! No ruffles means a nice, clean diaper without added bulk. Note! Stitching the elastic like this can lessen the stretch. So make sure you stretch the crap out of it when sewing into the seam allowance, and don’t use too tight of a zig zag stitch, a nice wide, triple zig zag is what I like best.