How to Make Elastic Stirrups on Baseball Pants

Since professional baseball began in America, major league baseball players have showcased their skills while wearing more than 4,000 different types of uniforms. Fabrics from wool flannel to cotton to nylon have all been used. Stirrups have been worn since 1905. Over the years, they’ve been both short and long and have been a facet of baseball uniforms until the last two to three decades when long pants largely eliminated the need for stirrups. The nature of stirrups today is that instead of being used to cover bare shins and ankles, they are used to keep pants down low, near the bottom of shoes during play. Create your own elastic stirrups to keep your baseball pants in place.

Things You'll Need

  • Fabric measuring tape
  • 1/2-inch wide elastic
  • Fabric scissors
  • Fabric pins
  • Sewing machine
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place a fabric measuring tape around your foot just below the inside of your heel. Write down the circumference of your foot in inches. Add 2 inches to your measurement.

    • 2

      Cut two pieces of elastic to equal your measurement with a pair of fabric scissors. Turn your baseball pants inside out. Find the bottom hem near the ankles. Use the fabric measuring tape to measure up 2 inches. Pin one end of one piece of elastic to the center of the inside of the pants at that point. Measure 2 inches in from the bottom hem on the opposite side of the pant leg and pin the other end of the elastic in place there so that the elastic is pinned to the inside of the pants 2 inches from the bottom hem. Repeat with the remaining piece of elastic for the other pant leg.

    • 3

      Sew a wide three-step zigzag stitch across the end of the elastic on one side of one pant leg. Remove pins. Flip the pants over and sew a zigzag stitch across the elastic on the other side of the pant leg, securing the elastic to the pant leg. Remove pins. Repeat for other pant leg.

    • 4

      Turn pants right side out. Put pants on. Slide elastic stirrup straps over your toes until they come to rest just below the inside edge of your heels. Put on your baseball cleats and your pants will stay down by the edge of your shoes instead of riding up your leg during play.