How to Sew Pants in 7 Steps

Sewing pants is a simple process—similar to sewing a dress—requiring very few steps that a beginning sewer can execute with the proper training and materials. Simple online tutorials can walk you through the basics of this sewing project, and your local fabric store likely sells all of the necessary materials.

Here are the materials needed to sew a pair of pants:

1. 1. Elastic: You’ll need a piece of elastic cut to your desired hip measurement for the waistband of your pants, which will keep them secure.
2. 2. Fabric: A medium-weight, soft fabric—like cotton, twill, or corduroy—is a good option for making your first pair of pants.
3. 3. Needle and thread: Have a needle and thread on hand for some decorative topstitching or to reach tricky angles that your sewing machine can’t access.
4. 4. Pants pattern: Choose a pants sewing pattern in the silhouette, style, and size of your choice. Purchase one from your local fabric store, or download a free pattern online.
5. 5. Sewing machine: Using a sewing machine for this project will make the process quick and easy, yielding a better-quality product that looks polished and professional. Learn how to use a sewing machine.
6. 6. Sewing tools: You’ll need various sewing tools to complete this project, including an iron (to smooth the fabric as you go), tailor’s chalk, pins, measuring tape (to pin and mark your fabric before cutting), and fabric scissors (which lets you cut your chosen fabric in a straight line).

Follow this simple sewing tutorial to make your own pair of elastic-waist pants at home.

1. 1. Prepare your workspace. Gather your tools, fabric, and pattern on your work surface. Lay down a mat or protective surface to protect the area.
2. 2. Pin, mark, and cut the fabric. Lay the fabric flat on your work surface. Place the pattern pieces on top so that they are not touching and pin them down to the fabric, which will make it easier to mark and cut without the pieces moving. Use tailor’s chalk to mark the pattern edges. Cut out the fabric along the outline of your pattern's front and back pieces.
   
3. 3. Sew the legs. Unpin the pattern from the front and back leg fabric pieces. Keeping the left and right leg pieces separate, line the leg pieces up inside out so that their long outer edges align to set up the side seams. Use your sewing machine to sew the side seams, leaving a half-inch seam allowance. Next, sew the inside leg seams until you reach the crotch area. The left and right legs should still be separate.
4. 4. Sew the crotch. Turn one of your pant legs right-side out. Place the pant leg that is still inside out inside the other leg. Pin and sew the crotch seam to connect the legs, leaving a half-inch seam allowance. Add a zigzag stitch for extra reinforcement.
5. 5. Hem the legs. Fold the bottom of each leg under, following the pattern instructions for how much fabric to fold. Use your measuring tape to make the two sides even, and press the crease with the iron once folded. Repeat this process so that the bottom folds under twice and the raw edges aren’t visible. Do a straight stitch to finish your hems.
6. 6. Make the elastic waistband casing. Sew the pieces of your waistband fabric together to create a loop. Fold it in half and press it with your iron, then flip your pair of pants inside out. Sew the waistband casing onto the top of your pair of pants, leaving a small opening on one side so that you can slide it in later.
7. 7. Finish the elastic waist. Measure and cut the elastic for your waistband. Feed the elastic through the opening in the waistband until it comes out the other side. Sew the two ends of the elastic together to make one smooth elastic loop. Sew the opening closed to finish the waistband.

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