Aspects of the methods herein relate to the fabrication of diaper pants wherein side panels connected with the first waist region of a discrete chassis are conveyed in a first direction until a second waist region advances past a nip. The crotch region of the chassis is then redirected into the nip, folding the chassis to position the second waist region into a facing relationship with the first waist region. The folded chassis is then conveyed in a second direction with the side panels positioned on panel conveyors extending laterally outward from the first waist region. As the folded chassis travels in the second direction, the panel conveyors twist to position end regions of the side panels to connect with the second waist region of the folded chassis. The side panels and the waist regions of the folded chassis may also be compressed between the panel conveyors and a roller.