How to Make Balloon Pants

Silk or other thin fabric will drape; heavier cloth will balloon more.

You can make your own balloon pants even if you have never sewn before. Once you have selected one of the many possible styles and fabrics for your balloon pants, allow about an hour to cut out the pants and sew them together.

Things You'll Need

• One pair loose fitting pants with elasticized waist, such as sweatpants
• Newspaper
• Tape measure
• 3 yards fabric
• 1 1/2 yards elastic, 1/2 inch wide
• Safety pin
• Sewing pins
• Chalk
• Scissors
• Sewing machine or needle and thread
• Iron

Instructions

Make the Pattern

1. Fold the sweatpants in half lengthwise with front sides together to define the shape of one half of the back of the pants. You should see a vertical edge on one side, and a vertical edge that then curves outward like a sliding board until it reaches the top of the leg and becomes vertical again for the length of the leg.

2. Trace the pattern for the back of the pants onto newspaper with the following adjustments: Add extra width in those areas where you want the ballooning to occur -- for example, add 4 inches to each side of the leg, tapering it again as you reach the ankle.

3. Add 2 to 4 inches in length to accommodate ballooning. Add an additional 1 1/2 inches to the top and bottom for the waistband and ankle bands. Add 1/2-inch seam allowance to all other edges.

4. Repeat the process for the front of the pants, making the same adjustments to the front as to the back.

Cut Out the Pants

1. Fold your fabric lengthwise with right sides together, and lay the fabric out flat for cutting.

2. Pin the pattern pieces to the cloth.

3. Cut out the pants by following along the edge of the pattern pieces. Mark each piece "front" or "back," as appropriate, with chalk.

Assemble the Pants

1. 

   Hand sewing requires additional time and use of the whipstitch. (see Ref. 3)

   For the two back pieces, place right sides of the fabric together, and sew from top to bottom on the edge that curves, stopping at the top of the leg, and allowing 1/2 inch for all seams. Repeat for the two front pieces.

2. Open the front and back pieces, and place them with right sides together, matching inner and outer leg seams. Sew the inner leg seams of the front and back pieces together from top to bottom. Repeat for the other inner leg seam and for the outer leg seams.

3. Fold the top edge and the two bottom edges over 1 1/2 inches. Iron these edges. Starting near the center back seam for the waist, sew around the entire waist 1 inch from the edge using the sewing machine or, if hand sewing, a saddle stitch to make a casing for the elastic. Stop 2 inches before reaching your starting point. Repeat for the ankle edges, but start each casing near the inside leg seam.

4. Encircle your waist with a length of elastic adjusting it to the desired tightness for the waistband. Add 1 inch to this length and cut. Repeat for the two ankles.

5. Insert the safety pin in the end of the elastic for the waist. Thread it through the waist casing. When the entire piece of elastic is nearly in the casing, pin the tail end of the elastic to the waist band.

6. Continue threading the elastic through until it emerges from the other end of the casing. Carefully remove the pins and overlap ends by 1/2 inch. Insert safety pin, and try on the garment, adjusting as needed. Sew the elastic ends together vertically and repeatedly to ensure a secure waistband. Insert it into the casing completely, and sew the casing closed. Repeat for the two ankle edges.

References

• Etsy; "Balloon Pants"
• The Phrontistery; "Fabric and Cloth"
• UK Cooperative Extension Service; "Hand Stitches"

Resources

• UK Cooperative Extension Service; "Hand Stitches"