How to Sew Wide-leg Pants to Straight Leg in 6 Quick & Easy Steps

Tools and materials:

• Wide-leg pants 
• Measuring tape
• Ruler
• Curved ruler
• Tailor’s chalk
• Rotary cutter
• Serger (overlock machine)

1. Take measurements

These pants fit beautifully in the waist and the length is perfect but the wide leg isn’t stylish enough for me.

Put your pants on but inside out so you can see the seams. While you’re wearing them, take a measuring tape and measure your upper thigh, knee, calf muscle, and ankle width.

While you’re measuring, mark the spot with the tailor’s chalk. You’ll do all the marking on one leg. Take the pants off.

2. Mark the pattern

Once you’ve marked your measurements on the pants, take the tailor’s chalk and mark a straight line across where the marks are. Mark the center point. Check your measurements and whatever your measurement was for each area, divide by 4.

Mark each side of that center mark that amount.

Whatever point you get, connect it with the chalk to the next area. Connect that line all the way down to the ankle.

Use the curved ruler as well to connect everything together.

3. Cut the pattern

Once all the lines are marked, fold the pant leg towards the outer seam. Pin it so it is even and symmetrical. This way, when you cut, you’ll cut both sides of the pant leg at once!

Use the rotary cutter to remove the excess fabric.

4. Sew up the pant leg

Open the pant leg. Pin the side seams in place, right sides together.

Serge both the inner and outer pant seams.

5. Check your work

Put the pants back on the correct way and see if the tapering you did worked well.

Once you’re happy with the taper, it’s time to do the second leg!

6. Match the other leg

Lay the pants down flat. Fold the tapered leg over the wide leg lengthwise. Pull the crotch out and adjust the fit down the leg. All the hard work with measuring has already been done so now you’re just using the tapered leg as your pattern.

Pin the top of the pant and place a pin at the top part of the pants where the tapering begins. 

Cut away the excess fabric.

Pin the pants legs. Serge the new inner and outer seams.

How to sew wide-leg pants to straight leg tutorial

This is how to take in wide-leg pants! I know sometimes it’s hard to decide whether a pant should be straight leg vs. wide leg. Now, if you’ve got wide-leg pants, you can alter them yourself. Please let me know in the comments if you’re going to try this.