A beginner sewer can sew pants in a similar way to making a dress. However, sewing pants requires very few steps. You can find simple online tutorials that will help you understand the basics of sewing this project. Your local fabric shop likely has all the materials needed.
Six Materials Required to Sew Pants
These are the materials you will need to make a pair of pants.
- Elastic: To keep your pants secure, you will need elastic that is cut to the desired waist measurement.
- Fabric: For your first pair, you can use a medium-weight, soft fabric such as cotton, twill or corduroy.
- Needle and thread: Keep a needle and a thread handy for decorative topstitching and to reach difficult angles that your machine cannot.
- Pants pattern: Select the style, size, and silhouette that you prefer from our pants sewing patterns. You can either purchase one at your local fabric shop or download a free online pattern.
- Sewing machine: A sewing machine will speed up the process and produce a professional-looking product. Learn how to use the sewing machine.
- Sewing tools: To complete this project you will need a variety of sewing tools, including an iron (to smoothen the fabric as it goes), tailor’s chalk (to mark and pin your fabric before cutting), pins, measuring tape (to measure your fabric) and fabric scissors (which allows you to cut your fabric in a straight line).
How to sew pants
This is a simple tutorial on how to sew elastic-waist pants at your home.
- Get ready to prepare your workspace. Prepare your workspace. To protect the area, lay down a mat or other protective surface.
- Mark the fabric and pin it. Lay the fabric flat onto your work surface. Pin the pattern pieces to the fabric so they don’t touch. This will make it easier for you to mark and cut the fabric without them moving. Mark the edges of your pattern using tailor’s chalk. Trace the pattern’s outline to cut the fabric.
- Sew the legs. Pin the pattern from the back and front leg fabric pieces. Keep the right and left leg pieces separated. Line the leg pieces inside out so their long outer edges are aligned to create the side seams. Sew the side seams using your sewing machine, leaving a 1/2-inch seam allowance. Then, finish sewing the inside leg seams up to the crotch. Separate the left and right legs.
- The crotch should be sewn. Turn the right-side of one of your pant legs. Place the inside leg of the pant leg inside the outside leg. To connect the legs, pin and sew the seam at the crotch. Leave a half inch seam allowance. Add a zigzag stitch for extra reinforcement.
- The legs should be hemmed. Follow the instructions on how much fabric you should fold to fold the legs. Make sure to align the sides with your measuring tape. Once folded, press the iron to create a crease. This will ensure that the bottom folds are folded under twice more and that no raw edges are visible. Finish your hems with a straight stitch.
- The elastic waistband casing should be made. To create a loop, sew the pieces of your waistband fabric together. Then fold it in half, press it with an iron, and then turn your pants upside down. You can sew the waistband casing to the top of your pants. Leave a small opening on the other side for later.
- The elastic waist should be finished. Measure: The elastic and cut it for your waistband. The elastic should be fed through the opening of the waistband. To create a smooth elastic loop, sew the ends of each elastic together. To finish the waistband, close the opening.