How to Sew Sweatpants in 7 Easy Steps

Tools and materials:

• Quilted fabric 47 inches wide
• Contrast fabric
• 2 inch wide elastic
• Safety pin
• Tailor's chalk
• Ruler
• Measuring tape
• Pins
• Scissors
• Sewing machine
• Serger (optional)

1. Make pattern

Fold your fabric in half and half again.

See the video at 0:30 for how I draft the pattern.

2. Cut fabric

Cut along the seam lines and the folded edge at the top of the pants.

Separate the four layers into two front and two back pieces.

On the front pieces, mark 2 inches (5 cm) from the waist edge at the crotch seam.

Join it with a diagonal line to the top of the side seam. Cut along the line.

Cut 1 inch (2 cm) from the front inner leg seam, from the crotch along the length of the leg.

3. Make pockets

Cut a rectangle of contrast fabric 34 inches (88 cm) wide by 11 inches (28 cm) long. Fold it in half widthways with the right side inside, and in half again.

Place the folded fabric under the front pieces where you want the pockets to be. 

Cut away the excess fabric at the waist and side edges.

Fold back the front pieces, draw a curved pocket shape on the contrast fabric and cut it out.

4. Attach pockets

Set the two lower pocket pieces aside.

Pin the other two pieces to the fronts and measure 3 inches (7 cm) along the waist edge from the side seam. Measure 5 inches (13 cm) from the waist edge down the side seam.

Join the two points with a slightly curved line for the pocket openings. Cut along the line through all four layers.

Sew one front pocket piece to one of the front pants along the curved edge with right sides together.

Turn the pocket to the inside and top stitch along the curved edge.

Lay the back pocket piece over the front pocket and sew the bag together along the curved edge.

Sew the three layers together along the waist edge and side seam.

5. Contrast stripe

Place the two front pieces together, right sides facing.

Draw a diagonal line across the leg where you want to insert the contrast stripe and cut along the line.

Cut two pieces of contrast fabric each 1.6 inches (4 cm) long and wide enough to go across the leg.

Pin one strip to each of the top sections of the leg with right sides facing and sew on the wrong side. 

Pin and sew the lower leg to the bottom edge of the strip. Trim the excess contrast fabric.

Fold the seams towards the center of the strip and top stitch.

6. Join pants

Pin and sew the front legs to the back at the side seams, with right sides together.

Open up the legs and join the two crotch seams. Refold the pants, matching the crotch seams, and sew the inner leg seams.

7. Waistband and cuffs

Cut two rectangles from the main fabric, each 10.6 inches (27 cm) wide by 5 inches (12 cm) long for the cuffs.

Cut a rectangle for the waistband 38 inches (96 cm) wide by 4.3 inches (11 cm) long and a piece of elastic 25 inches (64 cm) long.

Join the short edges of the waistband, right sides together. Turn the waistband right side out and fold it in half lengthways. 

Matching the seam to the center back seam of the pants, sew the folded waistband to the waist edge of the pants with right sides together, leaving a gap to insert the elastic.

Use a safety pin to thread the elastic through the waistband. Overlap the ends of the elastic and sew them together, then stitch the opening closed.

Join the short ends of the cuffs and turn them right side out. Fold them in half lengthways and sew them to the bottom of the legs, right sides together.

How to sew sweatpants

My gray lounge pants are warm and cozy for winter and perfect for wearing around the house and outside.

You could make them in a jersey fabric instead of a quilted one. You could add a second contrast strip on the lower leg or leave it out completely.

This sweatpants sewing pattern can be sewn in many different ways! If you like it, please let me know in the comments.

For more fun, easy patterns, follow me on TikTok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@tugbaisler.