How To Sew Pants: Work Pants

Start by finding your two pocket facing pieces, and two side panel pieces.

Next, place one pocket facing, right sides together, with one side panel along the curved edge. Now, pin the pieces together.

Then, stitch the pocket facing to the side panel along the curved edge with a 3/8 inch seam allowance. When stitching, sew from the center to the left edge, then from the center to the right edge. This helps to prevent the curved edge from getting stretched out in one direction as you sew.

Repeat steps 1 to 3 to sew the other pocket facing to the other side panel.

Next, use your scissors to clip up to (but not through) your stitching along the curve. This step will help ensure the seam lay flat once it’s turned.

Press the pocket facing up, and away from the side panel. Make sure you, press the seam allowance towards the pocket facing. Now, stitch the seam allowance to the pocket facing, by sewing with a ¼ inch from the seam.

Next, flip the pocket facing to the wrong side, and press it into place. Additionally, press the curved edge as well.

Repeat these past three steps, 5 to 7, to sew the second side panel.

Next, find the pocket bag pieces. Start by lining one pocket bag piece with one pocket facing, and ensure their right sides are together. Now, align the lower curved edge of the pocket bag piece and the pocket facing, and then pin them together. Make sure not to stick the pin through the side panel.

After this is done, stitch the lower curved edge with a 3/8 inch seam allowance. Finish the raw edges, but only if you would like to as it is not necessary.

Next, line up the side edges of the pocket facing, pocket bag, and side panel. Now, pin them together.

Lastly, sew the side edges together by using a long basting stitch. Be sure to leave a 3/8 inch seam allowance.

Repeat steps 9 for sewing the other pocket bag piece to the other side panel.

First, lay one side panel on your table with its’ right side up. Place the left, front panel piece on top of the side panel with their right sides down. Make sure to, line them up along the edge without the crotch curve. Pin this edge in place.

Now, sew the left front panel piece to the side panel. Use a zig zag stitch or a serger with a ½ inch seam allowance to finish the edges.

Next, press the seam allowances towards the front panel piece. Now, topstitch through the front panel, and the seam allowance. Do this all the way down the entire length of the seam. Keep the garment in place by sewing a ¼ inch away from the seam.

Now lay one of the side panel/front panel pieces with their right sides up on your table. Place one of the back panel pieces with its’ right side down, on top of the side panel/front panel piece. Line up the side of the back panel, without the crotch seam, along the free edge of the side panel. Now Pin them in place.

Stitch this seam with a ½ inch seam allowance, then finish the edges with a zig zag stitch or serger machine.

Start by pinning the two front panel crotch curves together. Make sure to match up the pieces with their right sides together.

Now, sew the front crotch curve with a ½ inch seam allowance. Finish the seam allowances with a serger or zigzag stitch.

After, press the seam allowance towards the left side, then topstitch through the left leg along the crotch seam., sewing a ¼ inch from the seam.

Repeat steps 21-23 for the back panel crotch pieces. Pin and sew the two back panel crotch seams together. Be sure to finish the seam allowances.

Start by aligning the inseam of the pants with their right sides together. Pin the inseam all the way from the left ankle, up to the left leg, across the crotch, down the right leg, and to the bottom of the right pant leg.

Stitch the inseam with a ½ inch seam allowance. Next, finish the raw edges by using a zigzag stitch or serger. Lastly, press the seam allowance towards the back.

Start by lining up the center front, and center back seams along the waistline of the pants. Then, mark the location where the fabric folds to the left and right sides. This will evenly quarter the waistline of the pants when you are stitching the elastic.

Cut a length of elastic that is approximately 0.5 to 1 inch shorter than your waist measurement. Overlap the elastic ends by 3/8 inch, making sure there are no twists in the elastic loop. Stitch the overlapped ends together by sewing back and forth across the ends several times by using a zigzag stitch.

Next, fold the elastic in half, and mark the folds on either side with pins.

Then, line up the first two pins at the center of the elastic. Mark the new folds on either side with two new pins. This will help line the elastic evenly on the waistline.

Turn the pants right sides out. Push the elastic over the waistline so that the fabric sticks out a 1/8 inch above the elastic. Match up one pin in the elastic with the center front of the pants. Match another pin in the elastic with one in the center back of the pants. The remaining two pins should match with the right and left pins in the waistline of the pants. Next, pin the elastic to the waistline at these four points.

Next, stretch the elastic between the pins, adding more pins in between the existing ones to secure the elastic more firmly to the waistline.

Now, use a zigzag stitch or a serger to sew the upper edge of the elastic to the waistline of the pants. Make sure to stretch the elastic to fit as you sew. If you are using a serger, the serger blade can cut off the 1/8 inch of fabric that extends above the elastic. Be careful not to cut through the elastic.

After, turn the elastic up and away from the pants. Press the fabric along the waistline with your iron.

Then, turn the elastic to the wrong side twice to hide the elastic in two layers of fabric. Now, pin the elastic in place, ensuring each seam is lined up and the elastic is pinned evenly around the waistline.

Once everything is pinned evenly, sew an 1/8 inch from the bottom edge of the elastic around the entire waistband. Make sure to evenly stretch the elastic between the pins as you sew. It may also help to stitch from the wrong side of the pants.

Next, sew two more parallel lines of stitching through the waistband. The first stitch should be approximately 1 & 5/8 inches from the top edge, and the second stitch should be 1 & 1/4 inches from the top edge.

Fold the hem to the wrong side by a 1/4 inch. Then, fold the hem up, again by 1 & 1/4 inches. Press the hem well and pin it into place.

Next, topstitch each hem into place. Sew about 1 inch away from the bottom, folded edge of the garment.

Finally, give your pants a final pressing. Your stylish, new pants are complete!