How to Make Basic Pants

Make your own perfect-fitting pants.

Making basic pants can help you get the best fit for your particular figure. Once you have sewn the pants to your satisfaction, reuse the pattern, experimenting with many different fabrics, style modifications and the addition of pockets and trims. With a few sewing supplies, and in a few hours you will have a well-fitting pair of pants.

Things You'll Need

• Fabric
• Pants pattern
• Sewing machine
• Matching thread
• Zipper
• Straight pins
• Fabric chalk
• Measuring tape
• Wide bias tape

Instructions

1. Take basic measurements of your waistline, 3 inches below the waist, widest part of hips, length of waist to crotch and widest part of your thighs. Measure the length from the intended waistline to the desired length of the pant leg.

2. Find a pattern that is most flattering to your figure. Many pant patterns offer several styles, pant lengths and widths in one package. Check the measurements on the pattern and pick the size closest to your largest measurements. Purchase a firmly woven fabric of medium weight for your first attempt at making pants. Check the width of the fabric to determine the amount you will need for the pants.

3. Prepare your fabric for your sewing project. Rinse the fabric in wash in cool water and air dry, to test for colorfastness and shrinkage. Press the fabric with an iron set on the appropriate temperature for the fabric to release all wrinkles.

4. Fold the fabric lengthwise, matching the finished selvage edges. Lay your pattern pieces lengthwise on the fabric, matching the top and bottom of the arrow equidistant to the selvage edge. Mark all notches and darts with your fabric chalk.

5. Remove the pattern pieces from the fabric. Mark the back pieces of the pant with fabric chalk to distinguish from the front pieces. Sew the front seams, waist to the crotch, right sides together. Repeat this step with the back seams. Iron the seams open. Sew the underneath leg seams, right sides together, and iron the seam open.

6. Baste the side seams, right sides together, with a large stitch by hand. Try on the pants to determine the fit in hips, waist and depth of crotch. Sew the side seams on the sewing machine and press open.

7. Install your back zipper according the pattern directions. Take your wide bias tape and sew right side to the right side of the raw edge of the waist. Fold over and press flat. Take small stitches by hand to hold the bias tape to the waist.

8. Try on the slacks, and have someone mark the hem with a measuring stick from the floor. Fold the hem and press flat. Sew your wide bias tape to the raw edge of the hem, right sides together and iron flat. Hem each finished leg with small hand stitches.

Tips & Warnings

• Make notes on the patterns of different changes for future use.

• The waistline can easily be altered by folding the pattern between the waist and the crouch the desired width.

References

• New Mexico University: Making Perfect Pants
• Love to Sew: Sewing Pants