Content

• Part 2 of 4: Start sewing
• Part 3 of 4: Adding lace
• Part 4 of 4: The Final Finish
• Tips

1 Collect everything you need to get the job done. Since you will be sewing lightweight drawstring trousers, you will need a little material. When choosing a fabric, remember that you will need two pieces of fabric, which should be about 12.5 cm longer and 5 cm wider than your existing pants. Below is everything you need:

• tape measure;
• scissors;
• tailor's chalk;
• sewing kit;
• drawstring for the waist;
• jeans or pajamas pants that fit you;
• the cloth.

2 Prepare your fabric. Wash and dry the fabric according to the care requirements for the type of fabric (recommendations usually come with fabric rolls in the store). This will prevent the fabric from shrinking when you have already sewn pants and decide to wash them.

3 Transfer the outlines of the old pants to the new fabric. Place fabric with wrong side out. Using old pants and a piece of tailor's chalk, paint the entire leg outlines from the middle seam (crotch) in the front to the middle seam in the back. To do this, fold the pants in half, pulling out the middle seam so that the fabric lies perfectly flat from the waist to the very bottom of the legs. Mirror the outline onto both fabrics.

• Jeans will be more difficult to fold perfectly than pants made from other types of fabric.
• Avoid using pants with bulky patch pockets as a template.

4 Add 5cm allowances above the waistline and below the hem of the legs. Also add 1 cm seam allowances on the sides of the part outlines. Duplicate the seam allowances on the second piece of fabric and cut out the details along the outer contour.

Part 2 of 4: Start sewing

1. 1 Attach a needle and thread or bartack with the sewing machine. To secure the needle and thread, insert it into the fabric from the wrong side and pull it out from the right side. Return the needle back to the wrong side by sticking it into the fabric 1.5 mm from the previous puncture. Pull the thread all the way out - it is now secured. Please note that the thread should be fastened in the crotch of the pants.
   • A well-fixed thread can last longer than the fabric itself.
   • If you have a sewing machine, simply sew a bartack at the start of sewing by pressing the reverse stitch button and sew 2-3 reverse stitches.
2. 2 Sew the pant legs. From the bartack, sew a straight stitch along the leg, about 1 cm from the fabric cuts. The length of the stitches should be approximately 3 mm, and the stitching itself should go from the crotch to the very bottom of each leg.
   • On sewing machines, the default straight stitch is the first of all possible stitches. On the sewing machine, you only need to set the stitch length (for sewing trousers, 3.5 mm will be enough).
   • Zigzag the seam allowances to prevent fraying. This is the sixth stitch pattern on many sewing machines, but the stitch position may differ on some machines.
3. 3 Sew the middle seam by stitching the legs together. Start sewing in front of the crotch. Bartack at the beginning of the seam and move up to the waist. Repeat the same from behind.

Part 3 of 4: Adding lace

1. 1 Measure your waist to determine the appropriate drawstring length for your trouser belt. Step 5 cm down from the top of the pants along the middle seam at the front. From this point, step back to the left and right by 3.5 cm.Put here with chalk vertical marks 2.5 cm long.
   • The marks should be 7 cm apart and equidistant from the middle seam.
2. 2 Sew buttonholes to thread the drawstring into the waistband of your trousers. Cut and stitch the buttonholes along the provided vertical marks (if handcrafted) to strengthen and protect the fabric at these points. Secure the thread to the fabric, then guide the needle towards the end of the buttonhole. Insert it into the fabric from the wrong side and bring it out to the right side at a distance of 3 mm from the edge. Pass the needle through the loop formed by the thread and pull the thread all the way through, pull the stitch tightly on the fabric.
   • This will create one buttonhole stitch on the right side of the fabric.
   • Continue sewing, sticking the needle into the fabric from the right side and passing it through the loop of the thread. Place the stitches very close to each other.
   • It is recommended to use stitches with a depth of 3 mm, but any stitch size less than 6 mm is acceptable.
   • If you are using a sewing machine, use the built-in buttonhole program (often the seventh stitch pattern), then cut the buttonholes into the fabric.
3. 3 Thread the ends of the lace into the buttonholes and tuck the top of the pants over it to create a drawstring belt. Use a safety pin to secure the lace in one of the buttonholes, and then tuck the top of the pants so that the lace is inside. Secure the resulting drawstring with a straight stitch around the entire waist.

Part 4 of 4: The Final Finish

1. 1 Hem down the bottom of the legs. Put your pants inside out and decide how long they should be. Fold them up to the desired level and pin them in this position. Place a 1 cm wide hemming seam along the bottom edge of the leg.
   • You can make capri pants or shorts on your own.
   • You can also add a finishing stitch along the bottom edge of the already hemmed leg for beauty.
2. 2 Sew on a decorative applique (optional). If you want to make the pants a little more stylish, then you can decorate them with fun fabric appliqués. Temporarily glue the applique on with a glue stick, and then sew on the stitches of your choice.
3. 3 Sew back pocket (optional). If you need a patch pocket, you can easily sew one on the back. Take scraps of fabric, cut out a pocket of the size and shape that suits you. Fold it up and stitch it onto the trousers with a straight stitch.

Tips

• With a needle and thread, slowly pull the thread out of the fabric to avoid tangling.
• If you make a mistake with the stitch, you can loosen it by pulling the needle back out of the fabric with the eye of the needle and into the same hole.
• You may be interested in tailoring wrap-around pants, which is also a great project for beginners.
• Choose comfortable fabrics for work!
  • Stretch jersey is great for sewing leisure pants.
  • Thick fabrics like cotton will make more formal straight trousers.
  • And heavy materials such as twill and denim will be difficult to sew by hand.