How to Make Rave PHAT Pants
Raves are all-night dance parties that have been popular for almost 20 years now. While raves don't usually have strict dress codes, they certainly have their own style. One stylish item that's easy and comfortable to wear are Rave Phat Pants. If you'd rather not spend a lot of money to achieve a cool look, you can create your own custom Rave Phat Pants. With a simple pattern to guide you, this is a relatively easy sewing project that shouldn't take too long to finish.
Things You'll Need
- Fabric
- Pattern
- Iron
- Ironing board
- Matching thread
- Sewing machine
- Scissors
- Pins
- Drawstring
- Eyelets
- Hammer
- Bevel (comes with store-bought eyelets)
- Safety pin
- Hand needle
- Optional: beads
Instructions
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1
Wash and dry your fabric. This is called "preshrinking" and is important to do before you cut out the pattern pieces so everything is the correct size. Be sure to wash and dry the same way you intend to wash the completed pants
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2
Iron your fabric. It should come folded with the "right" side in, selvages (the finished edge opposite the fold) together. Be sure to press it evenly so the fold makes a nice crease and the selvages still match up after you've ironed. If your pattern is wrinkled, be sure to iron that on low heat as well. Fold your fabric in half again, matching the original fold with the selvages. Press again so it stays flat.
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3
Lay out your twice-folded fabric on a flat surface. Arrange your pants pattern with the straight edge (opposite the curved crotch piece) against the fold. Make sure all parts of your pattern fit on your fabric. Pin in place. Cut carefully along the outside of the pattern. Make sure to keep your scissors vertical so all layers turn out the same size.
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4
Mark any pattern symbols on your fabric with tailor's chalk before you remove the pattern from the fabric. Remove the pattern from the fabric. You should have two identical pieces of fabric; these are the two sides of your pants.
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5
Pin the inseams (the shorter straight raw sides) together on one side of the pants and sew along this straight edge. Repeat for the other side. Turn the pieces so that the right sides are on the outside. Press the seams open.
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6
Pin the crotch (the curved J-shape) on each side of the pants together so that the raw edges are on the inside of the pants. Sew along this shape. You will be sewing across the straight seams you sewed earlier.
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7
Try on your pants and determine how long you want them to be. Take them off and fold the hem toward the inside of the pants in halfway as far as you need to hem them, then iron the fold in place. Fold again the rest of the way, iron in place. Pin the cuffs in place. Stitch along the edge of the cuffs to hold them permanently in place.
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8
Fold the top/ waist of your pants towards the inside about 1 inche and iron in place. Fold this edge over another 1 inch; iron. This will be your waistband. Mark eyelet holes on the front of your pants, about halfway up the waistband on either side of the middle front. Carefully snip out the eyelet hole on only the front layer of your waistband with your scissors. Insert one eyelet in one side of your pants. Use a hammer and bevel to press the eyelet permanently in place. Repeat with the other side. Be sure not to catch the back of your waistband in this process.
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9
Pin the folded edge of the waistband down. Stitch carefully along the outer edge of your folded waistband, leaving as much room as possible between the line of stitching and the top edge of your waistband. Stop about an inch before you get back to the beginning of the circle where you started sewing.
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10
Measure your drawstring so that it is longer than the waistband with enough room to tie it. Pin a safety pin to one end of the drawstring. Thread it through the opening you left in your waistband and work it all the way around by gathering the fabric and pulling it along until it comes out the other side. Remove the safety pin. Work your drawstring out the front of your eyelets, one end on either side. Stitch down the opening you left to thread the drawstring.
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Tips & Warnings
Optional top stitching along your seams on the outside of your pants can reinforce your seams for longer wear.
Folding your hem toward the outside of your pants makes optional visible cuffs.
You can add beads or other decorative material to the ends of your drawstring once your pants are finished.
Do not attempt to sew your waistband with the drawstring inside. It is too easy to accidentally sew over the drawstring and if that happens you'll have to rip out your stitching and try again.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit DANCE NIGHT image by RenRov from Fotolia.com
