Make Easy & comfortable Straight pants – sewing pattern

Sewing tutorial to make a very comfortable pleated straight pants with a flat front waistband and an elastic waistband for the back.

sewing pants pattern and tutorial

This is a sewing tutorial to make a very comfortable pleated straight pants with a flat front waistband and an elastic waistband for the back

How to sew the Pants

Step 1 Cut out the pattern pieces for the body of the pant

Totally to sew the pants you need 4 pieces for the body of the pant, two waistband pieces and 1 1/2 inch wide elastic 

To cut the front pieces of the pants,  take two fabric pieces (length equaling the length of the pants you want (plus 2 inch for the hem and top edge seam allowance minus 2 inch for waistband which negates the whole thing))- width of the pieces should be equal to 1/4 of your hip round plus 2 inch

For the back pieces – the same length as the front pieces ; they will be a little wider – width of the pieces should be equal to 1/4 of your hip round plus 5 inch.

Keep the front pieces right sides together as you mark and cut. Same for the back pieces. This is essential to get mirrored pieces that can be sewn by the middle seam to form the front and back of the pants

Keep the pants pattern pieces rightsides together

The 2 Front pattern pieces are to be cut as follows

2 front pattern pieces
Cut 2 front pattern pieces

The 2 Back pattern pieces are to be cut as follows

Cut 2 back pieces
Cut 2 back pattern pieces

These are your front pieces when kept side to side.

2 front pattern pieces
2 front pattern pieces

And the back pieces.

The back pattern pieces
Back pattern pieces

Step 2 Join the leg pieces 

Keep the two front pieces right sides together. Sew them together along the crotch seam.

Sew the pant pieces at the crotch seams to make super simple straight pants

This is what you get – your front piece.

 

The crotch seam joined together

Do the same with the back pieces .

crotch seam of the pant pattern pieces (back) joined

Step 3 Join the two pieces together

You will only be sewing the outer side seams of the front and back pieces together.

As in the picture, keep the two pieces rightsides together and join both the outer side seams.

Join the front and back pieces at the side seams to make simple pants
Join the front and back pieces at the side seams

 

sew easy pants

Step 4 Sew hem

At this point you can sew the hem of the pants (or do it last, after everything is stitched).

If you are sewing the hem, open the seam allowance and turn down the bottom edge twice, first 1/2 inch and then 1 inch. Press.

open the seam allowance

Sew in place. As you fold the hem you should ensure that the inner seams will be aligned properly at the crotch – if it does not, adjust the hem accordingly – or else you will have to unpick the seams later.

hem the legs of the pants

Step 5 Sew inner leg seam

Sew the inner seam together – this will complete the body of your pants. 

sew the inner seams
Sew inner seams of the pants

Step 6 Prepare the waistband

Cut out two waistband pieces in the dimensions given below. The smaller one is the front waistband and the longer one for the back elastic waistband

waistband for the pant sewing pattern

Step 7 Sew waistband.

Join the waistband pieces together at the short edges forming a tube.

sew edges of the waistband together
sew edges of the waistband together to form a tube

Fold the waistband by the middle and press in place.

Fold the waistband by the middle

Turn it inside out. Keep the elastic on top of the longer- back waistband ( cut elastic to the length equalling half of your waist) Sew and join the elastic to the waistband on one seam joint of the waistband. 

Keep the elastic attached to the back waistband piece
Keep the elastic attached to the back waistband piece

Stretch the elastic and join the other end to the other seam joint.

Stretch the elastic to meet the other end
Stretch the elastic to meet the other end

Fold the waistband over the elastic and top stitch along the edge of the elastic – this keep the elastic in place inside the waistband. You will have to the move the elastic to the back as you stitch – forming the gathered waistband for the back.

Sew the elastic waistband from the top

The waistband with flat front and back elastic is ready

Front of the waistband

The flat front waistband of the pants

Step 8 Form the pleat

Fold and pin in place a pleat on either side of the top edge of the pant – fold 1/2″ and a little more – totaling just short of 1 1/2″ for each fold.

Double check that the front waistband you have matches the front of the pants.

Make pleats on the pants

Step 9 Join the waistband to the pants

Keep the waistband rightside down on the pant top edge and stitch in place.Find the middle of the front waistband and pin in place before stitching.Start from the middle seam for the front and back for accurate stitching.

Start joining the waistband to the pants from the back
Start joining the waistband to the pants from the center back

sewing comfortable pants

Related posts : Other patterns for sewing clothes ; Sewing tutorial for easy pajama pants ; Sewing tutorial for bohemian pants; Sew men’s pajama pants with front opening

Photo of author
Hi, I love sewing, fabric, fashion, embroidery, doing easy DIY projects and then writing about them. Hope you have fun learning from sewguide as much as I do. If you find any mistakes here, please point it out in the comments.

50 thoughts on “Make Easy & comfortable Straight pants – sewing pattern”

  1. Hi, I liked this information, but would love to have been able to add side (deep) pockets. Maybe that information is in another place. Thanks so much for all the help that your site provides. You are the best… Irene Cook

    Reply
    • Hi,
      I liked the way of your explanation, it’s crystal clear with added pictures, please upload more patterns and designs of straight pnats.

  2. Easy to make and comfortable straight pants indeed. Simple method used for making the pattern. Simplified construction method.

    Reply
  3. Hi satina,
    I enjoy seeing all the good work you do. wondering the measurement of -A to C in straight pant . How is this calculated ? Please explain .

    Also how to increase the seat in those who are a bit bigger side? As usually the crotch is what affects any pant making.

    Please give tutorial on that please.

    Thank you ,

    Geetha Kannan

    Reply
  4. Hello! I’ve just started to sew my own garments and I love all your tutorials! I want to make this pant but in a high-waisted style. To do that would I just lengthen the distance from the waist to hips and make the pleats (I will probably do darts instead) longer?

    Reply
  5. Hi
    Thank you for the tutorial, I can’t wait to try it out! I love the flat front style, but I’m not that keen on pleats. Do you know if it’s possible to make these pants without the pleats?
    Thanks in advance.

    Reply
  6. Thank you Dear Sewguide!
    The illustration and clear explanations you used here helped me to understand the topic perfectly. Once again, thank you and keep up the good work.

    Reply
  7. Good tutorial a always, but pockets are absolutely essential…at least one! Somewhere to keep keys, a phone, some cash or a hanky without having to carry a purse because of no pockets :-).

    Reply
  8. Love this step by step.
    Thanks for this simple explanation of how it works.
    (I note that the final pant photo erroneous shows the pleats reversed. )

    Reply
    • Yes, Maureen. The pleats ought to face each other. I incorrectly pleated it first but then corrected it as I sew. So the final picture is right Sorry

    • Thanks Diana , But that pocket would come on the side seams – for a pant the pocket would have to be cut a little on the top too. The pocket shown in this post would do I think, for her query – sew pajama pants

    • Hi, Kristina and Sewguide —
      First of all, I would move the two easing pleats on the front maybe @ 1″ closer to front center seam (I would do this, even without adding pockets, as I think a more forward position better) and then I’d add a pocket into the side seam — or, into both side seams, if you prefer two pockets; either one or two, it’s easy to add pockets:
      Decide what size and shape you want as your finished pocket. Cut out the pocket(s) to size and shape you desire, allowing seam allowance, of course. Sew the pocket itself closed (right sides together) at sides and bottom, leaving open the area at which your hand fits. Sew the side seam(s) of pants to just above and just below the place you’ll insert the pocket (s). Finally, insert into that seam as you close sides of pants, sewing into front and back seam allowances of pants. Press. (Before you close those pants side seams, you may want to do a top stitch on very edge of pocket(s) to help the seam allowances lay flat and look neat and sharp in your finished pants. I would do so.) Your pockets should be nearly invisible, as it’s an on-seam pocket you’ve created.
      Thanks, Sewguide, for creating and sharing this pattern — and, for generously allowing your readers to ask questions and exchange ideas. Great attitude!

    • Thanks, Suzanne-Marie. I thought the pleats looked too close to the side-seams as well, but I’m not an experienced sewist, so wasn’t sure. Also, I saw on the page Diana linked to (thnx) that: “your hip is some 7 inches from your waist so if you want the pocket near the hip you need to place it accordingly.” I’ve been wanting a pattern for some pants just like this. Thanks so much, Sewguide.

    • Hi Harriet
      The placement of the pleats is as per your discretion. You should place it equidistant from the center seam on either side- that is the main thing you should be careful about and that the pleats should face each other. Thanks

    • Hi
      Thank you so much for the wonderful tutorial. I am a newbie to sewing so I have a little confusion. How did you measure the point AC..10.5 inches. Is it a standard figure or is it calculated as per individual body measurement and if so, than how
      Thanks

    • Hi! Thank you so much for this tutorial. I’m very new to sewing and I’m confused about the seam allowance. How much room should be between the edge of the fabric and the seam?

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