How to Stitch Basic Capri Pants

Cool off with some simple, homemade capri pants.

Capri pants are stylish and appropriate for warmer weather days because they allow you to expose just enough of your legs to catch a cool breeze while still offering adequate coverage for a modest look. You could certainly purchase a pair of capris in a clothing store, but making your own pair is easy to do and an inexpensive alternative. All you'll need is some basic sewing skills and an old T-shirt in a size large.

Things You'll Need

• Size large T-shirt
• Scissors
• Needle and thread or sewing machine
• Straight pins

Instructions

1. Use a pair of scissors to cut off the sleeves from a large T-shirt. Set the sleeves aside for later. Cut straight across the shirt just beneath the collar; you should end up with a large, rectangular piece of fabric. Discard the collar remnants.

2. Cut vertically down the center of the T-shirt to create two equal halves. Flip the sides over so that the indentations from the sleeve holes are facing each other. Unfold each piece and lay them flat on top of one another with the right sides together. Use a needle and thread or sewing machine to stitch up the portion along the "U" shape that the sleeve indentations create.

3. Fold the sides of the top piece of fabric together toward you and the sides from the bottom piece of fabric together away from you; this will give you the pant legs. Pin the seams with straight pins then try them on for size, making any adjustments with the pins for a good, snug fit. Remove the fitted pants and sew them along the straight pins.

4. Take the shirt sleeves from earlier and cut them so you can unfold and lay each one out in a flat, single-layered piece. Choose a waistband thickness and cut the sleeves to twice that thickness; the two sleeves sewn together should reach around your waist adequately. Align the waistband pieces on the front and back of the pants with the wrong side out. Fold these pieces so they double over the pants and join together at the sides.

5. Sew the waistband and turn the pants right side out.

References

• T-shirt Surgery: Pants Tutorial