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Debbie Shore's Dressmaking Studio: Wide Leg Trousers

Quick Links: What you'll need Project steps

These easy-to-wear, lightweight wide leg trousers in sizes 4–32 will be a staple in your wardrobe. Their classic look and comfortable fit suit most body shapes.

About the Trousers:

These loose-fit, wide-legged trousers feature an elasticated waist and a drawstring tie that fits through two buttonholes at the front. If you’re not too confident with buttonholes, you could use eyelets instead, or you could leave off the drawstring, shorten the tie and make a bow to go on the front of the trousers to achieve the same look.

As trousers go, this is a very easy pattern. There’s no zip or front fly and the trousers have a grown-on waistband, meaning that the waistband is formed by folding down the top of trousers rather than adding a separate waistband piece. A good fit is achieved by having an elasticated waist, while the wide legs mean that you don’t need to worry about fitting over the thighs or calves.

Cotton, linen or similar woven fabric would make them perfect for summery trousers – they have been designed for light- to medium-weight fabrics with no stretch. Try linen and linen mixes, viscose or lightweight cottons. They’d look very smart paired with a t-shirt and the Kimono Jacket, or you could team them with the Collared Box Top with Vents, the Simple Box Top with Vents or the No-Pattern Floaty Poncho.

Before you start:

Before you cut out your chosen fabric, it’s always recommended that you make a toile first in cheaper fabric, to test for sizing and allow you to make any alterations you need to.

This pattern is designed for someone approx. 5ft 7in (170 cm) tall. If you are much taller or shorter than this, once you have printed out the pattern, hold up the trouser legs against your body and check the leg length. You can adjust the length of the front and back leg pieces if you need to before cutting your fabric (see Lengthening and shortening patterns).

Always choose the pattern size according to your measurements rather than simply opting for your usual dress size as different companies use different body sizing for their patterns.

Note that this trouser pattern is designed to have wide legs; you can taper them slightly, but it isn’t advisable to alter the leg shape much as that would alter the entire hang of the garment.

By the end of this project, you’ll have:

1. Upped your dressmaking skills
2. Learnt how to make a simple pair of trousers
3. Fitted an elasticated waist
4. Discovered how to make your own drawstring tie

Don’t forget to check out the trousers that other members have made for inspiration (see right) and, if you have any questions about making this pattern, remember to refer to the forum . You can also chat to other members via the Half Yard Sewing Club Facebook page!

Note: use a ⅜in (1cm) seam allowance unless otherwise stated.

The Templates

Size charts are included on the template pages. There are three options to choose from:

• Click here to download the A0 pdf pattern
• Click here to download the A4 size pdf pattern
• Click here to download the US Letter size pdf pattern

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You will need:

Equipment

• Sewing machine with a needle suitable for your fabric 
• Printer paper, scissors and tape if printing the pattern at home 
• Fabric shears 
• Small sharp scissors or a quick unpick/seam ripper to open up the buttonholes 
• Erasable fabric marker or tailor’s chalk 
• A little fabric glue 
• Safety pin or bodkin for threading your elastic and tie through the channel at the waist 
• Optional: Fray Check 
• Optional: spray starch such as Best Press if your fabric doesn’t press very well 
• Optional: overlocker for finishing the seam allowances 

Materials

• 59in (150cm) wide fabric: 2.4yd (2.2m) for sizes 4–12, 2.9yd (2.6m) for sizes 14–22 or 3yd (2.7m) for sizes 24–32 OR for 54in (137cm) wide fabric: 2.9yd (2.6m) for sizes 4–22, or 3yd (2.7m) for sizes 24–32 OR for 45in (115cm) wide fabric: 2.9yd (2.6m) for sizes 4–22 or 3.3yd (3m) for sizes 24–32  
• Small amount of lightweight flesh-coloured fabric for the pocket lining if using white or sheer fabric (see step 3) 
• 1½in (4cm) wide elastic, 4in (10cm) shorter than your waist measurement  
• Two small squares of lightweight interfacing for the buttonholes, each about 1in (2.5cm) square 

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