Flat Front Wide Leg Trousers with Elasticated Back
Women's full-length wide-leg trousers with a zip fly, a waistband that lies flat at the front and has elastic inside the back section, belt loops, and slits at the hem of the side seams. No pockets.
When To Wear
- Everyday and office wear with shirts, blouses and fine knitwear.
- Spring and summer, with flat shoes, loafers or sandals.
Key Design Features
Silhouette: Wide legs falling straight from the hip to the hem.
Length: Full length; 3 cm hem allowance pressed up and topstitched.
Waist: Interfaced waistband folded in half lengthwise; elastic is stitched across it at the side marks so the back section gathers while the front stays flat. Fastens with one button and a buttonhole; belt loops are caught into the lower edge of the waistband and topstitched at the top.
Closure: Front zip fly with cut-on facings, an interfaced button catch on the left half and topstitching along the right front.
Back: Darts on the back halves, pressed towards the centre back; the seat seam is reinforced with a second row of stitching.
Legs: Inseams and side seams pressed open; each side seam is left open at the hem as a slit, topstitched 0.5 cm from the edge.
Level Of Difficulty
Intermediate. A zip fly with a button catch, a waistband with elastic in the back section and belt loops, and topstitched side slits.
Fabric Recommendations
Natural-fibre fabrics with added stretch (elastane) fibres.
Additional Supplies
- Zip for the fly
- 1 button
- Fusible interfacing (waistband, button catch)
- Elastic for the back waistband
Cutting Plan
- From main fabric:
- 1. Front Half – 2 pieces
- 2. Back Half – 2 pieces
- 3. Belt-Loop – 1 piece
- 4. Button Catch – 1 piece
- 5. Waistband – 1 piece
- From fusible interfacing: Waistband, Button Catch.
Sewing Instructions
- Fuse interfacing to the Waistband and Button Catch.
- Mark and stitch the darts on the Back Halves. Press the darts towards the center back.
- Serge/overlock the inseams, side seams, center front and center back edges, and lower edges of the pant legs. Stitch and press open the inseams. Stitch and press open the side seams up to the notch for the side slit, then press the slit allowances. Topstitch around the slit 0.5 cm from the edge. Stitch the crotch seam (center front and center back) up to the zipper notch. Stitch a second row along the seat seam next to the first stitching.
- Press the grown-on zipper facings to the wrong side. Stitch the zipper under the edge of the fly allowance (left side), close to the edge. Stitch the free zipper tape to the grown-on facing of the right half. Fold the Button Catch in half lengthwise, stitch across the short lower end and turn. Serge/overlock the long edge of the Button Catch. Topstitch the grown-on zipper facing on the left half, catching the Button Catch. Topstitch the right edge of the opening, catching the facing.
- Fold the Belt-Loop strip in half lengthwise, right sides together, align the raw edges, and stitch 0.5-0.7 cm from the edges. Then turn it right side out, straighten the seam, placing it on the fold or rolling a 0.1-0.2 cm edge toward the inside, and press.
- Press the Waistband in half lengthwise, wrong sides together, and serge/overlock the lower inner edge of the Waistband. Cut the strip into belt loops of the required length and topstitch them to the lower edge of the waistband according to the markings.
- Cut elastic tape to size. Secure the elastic inside the back section of the Waistband, stitching across the waistband at the side marks. Stitch the waistband with belt loops to the upper edge of the pants. Stitch the ends of the waistband, trim seam allowances at the corners, and turn right side out. Topstitch the lower serged edge of the waistband into the attachment seam and press the waistband. Topstitch the belt loops to the upper edge of the waistband.
- Press the hem allowance to the wrong side and topstitch.
- Make a buttonhole on the right side of the waistband, and sew a button on the left side.
