Sewing Bee Fabrics Tutorial
Sew Your Own Trousers
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I think trousers can look intimidating for a beginner to sew, but this way of sewing them is so easy. All you need is a pair of trousers around the same size you want them to be and in no time you will have drafted your own trouser pattern. Just keep in mind that stretchy trousers will be smaller than those in materials with no stretch, so pick your pair to copy with a similar amount of stretch to your fabric, or make allowances as you draw by adding or taking away a bit extra.Â
What You Will Need:
Fabric! You can use all sorts here but my favourites to use are Cotton or Flannel or Jersey - the length you need will depend on the size you are making, the fabric width and whether you are pattern matching your pieces (e.g. making sure that lines on stripes line up).
Elastic - enough to comfortably fit around the waist. I would use about anywhere between 2-4cm wide.
How To Make It:
First, lay your trousers you want to copy out flat. You will want them folded along the side seam of 1 of the legs. Make sure to pull out the fabric around the crotch. Don't forget to add a seam allowance to the crotch side but not the straight side. Add extra at the bottom for the hem and enough at the top for your elastic to comfortably sit on with a cm or 2 extra.
Draw around it, then flip it over to draw around the other side of the same leg. Line it up so that the side seam is between the 2 pieces if you want to save some sewing and make your trousers out of only 2 pieces of fabric.Â
You can hem your trouser legs at the end if you prefer to get an exact length after trying them on, but it's easier to sew them now; especially if you are sewing up toddler sizes or smaller as they are often difficult to get the leg hole opening around the free arm of the sewing machine.
Fold your 2 trouser pattern pieces in half along the straight line between the 2 paper pieces you lay down together. Sew your seam from the bottom of the trouser and up to the crotch, leaving the top open, and the 2 pieces separate.
Take the front piece of each and start pinning them together towards the back to form the crotch.
Begin to sew your crotch seam together by sewing your 2 trouser pattern pieces  together from front to back. When you hit your seam cross road where the legs join the body, simply move the pieces out of the way to make sure you don't sew over them.
Fold the top of your trousers down , with the raw edge tucked under by at least 1/2cm to create a casing for your elastic. Make sure your elastic will fit the space comfortably. Depending on your preference, you can do this on the inside or outside of your trousers. I prefer the outside then it creates more of a band appearance. The next bit is much easier if you press it in place with an iron.
Sew it down all the way around along the edge where you tucked your raw edge under leaving a gap of 5-10 cm (an inch or 2)
Attach a bodkin or large safety pin to one end of the elastic and thread it through the casing you have just made. Making sure it hasn't twisted inside, once you have both ends, sew them together. Let it move up inside the casing fully then sew closed the hole in the trouser waistband you had left open to pass it through.
Then your trouser pattern has become a fabulous pair of new trousers. I really shouldn't have left it a month before taking the "finished" photos though as he has had a big growth spurt and now they are starting to look a bit on the short side as well as him not wanting to wait for me to iron them before putting them on!
We hope you enjoy our tutorials and love hearing what you think so please leave us a comment or send me an email to linda@sewingbeefabrics.co.uk
Happy Sewing!
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Oh, your boy is so sweet! I love tracing trousers that fit to make new ones! such an easy technique! 🙂 Lisa
Awww thank you! I thought it would be far harder making trousers that way until I had a go then wondered what all the fuss was about after!
I love your turorials ☺ i follow you
Thank you! I’ve been seeing you pop up all over facebook. I love your tutorial for your brown skirt with the wool detailing on the fabric! I need me some of that fabric!!!