DIY

SWEATPANTS TUTORIAL

YOU WILL NEED:

2 Yards (60" width) of knit stretchy fabric medium weight (4 way stretch is great)

1" Elastic

1/2" Elastic

Coordinating thread

Pins

Measuring tape

Scissors

Sewing machine

Sweatpants of your choice that fit well

1. Fold your fabric right sides together and lay your sweatpants (folded like pic) on your fabric about 3" away from the fold. Pin the sweats down and cut around the sweats an inch and a half away from the sweats (this leaves room for a seam allowance. We can always go back and take in the pants if necessary).  You should have the first pair of legs for the front of your pants.  Open the sweats and fold them so you can see the back of them. Now lay them on the fabric next to the cut out of the other pants and repeat the same cutting steps.

2. You now have two front pieces and two back pieces.  Take one of each piece and match it with the other to create two pant legs.  S/N: I like to cut small snips in the top, crotch and upper leg to make it easier to match the pieces.  Once you have matched the pieces, pin them together on the side opposite to the crotch.  Sew down the leg using a 5/8" seam allowance. S/N: I use a zigzag stitch to avoid my threads from popping when using a stretchy knit fabric.  Iron open the seam allowance.

3. Pin together the inseam of the pants.  Make sure to leave the waist and crotch area unpinned.  Sew down using a 5/8" seam allowance.

4. This is the tricky part.  Leave one pant leg inside out, take the other pant leg and turn it right side in.  You are now going to take the pant leg that is turned right side out and place it inside the pant leg that is right side in.  Match together the seam and the notches or slits you made in the crotch and waist and pin them together.  You should now have a big U shape (waist to crotch).  Sew along the U shape using a zigzag stitch and a 5/8" seam allowance.  Press open seam.

5. Your pants are almost complete!! Now all you have to do is create a casing from the elastic waist and the elastic bottom of each pant leg.  Fold down the waist 1 1/2", press and pin in place. Sew around the waist leaving a 1" opening to pull the elastic through.  Measure your waist.  Use this measurement to cut out your 1" elastic.  Take a safety pin, attach it to the top of the elastic and pull it through the casing you've created.  Be sure not to allow the end of the elastic through the opening.  Once the elastic is in the casing, sew the elastic together and close the opening.  You now have your waistband completed.

6.  To gather the bottom of the pants to get the sweatpants look, you will do the exact same thing you did for the waistband, only now you will fold down 1" to put the 1/2" elastic through.

7.  All that is needed now is a sash.  With your remaining fabric, measure 5" wide and cross cut across the width of the fabric.  Fold the fabric in half length wise, and starting from the center of the waistband, sew down until you get about 4" away from one end.  Turn your fabric so that it is at an angle and sew down to create the waistband point on the end.  Cut off the excess fabric on the angle to prevent bulkiness.  Repeat the same steps for the other side of the sash.  Be sure to leave a 4" opening so you can pull the sash right side out.  Once you are finished, you should have one long tube.  Pull the fabric right side out.  Use a pin to get the sides pointy.  Sew or hand stitch the opening closed.  Your sweatpants are completed!!