Drawstring Waist Pleated Tapered Knit Pants
Introducing a comfortable girls' sewing pattern for knit pants featuring a pleated front, tapered leg, and a functional drawstring with an elasticated waistband.
When To Wear
These comfortable knit pants are perfect for a variety of casual and active occasions, offering both style and ease for:
- Everyday Wear: Suitable for daily activities, school, or relaxed at-home comfort.
- Casual Outings: Ideal for informal gatherings, weekend activities, or playful adventures.
- Active Play: The flexible knit fabric and comfortable fit provide freedom of movement for active children.
Key Design Features
Silhouette: a relaxed fit through the hips and thighs, gently tapering down to a clean-finished hem that sits at or above the ankle.
Waist: Features a high-rise elasticated waistband with an adjustable drawstring at the front for a personalized and secure fit. Includes five functional belt loops.
Front: Designed with soft pleats below the waistband, adding volume and style, and practical slanted inset pockets.
Back: Includes two well-defined functional welt pockets for added detail and utility.
Hem: a neatly finished hem, contributing to the clean, tapered silhouette.
Level Of Difficulty
Intermediate. Requires skills in working with knit fabrics, constructing pleats, and creating both inset and functional welt pockets.
Fabric Recommendations
For the best results and comfort, choose knit fabrics with a slight stretch:
- Low-stretch knit fabrics
- Knit fabrics from natural fibers (e.g., cotton jersey, French terry)
- Knit fabrics from blended fibers (e.g., cotton-polyester blends, viscose blends)
Additional Supplies
- Knit fusible interfacing
- Elastic tape
- Cord for waistband
- 2 eyelets
Cutter's Must
If the patterns have a double contour, they include seam allowances. If the contour is single, the patterns do not include seam allowances. Seam allowances: all seams 1 cm, hem allowances 2 cm. Attention! First, print out the paper patterns and lay them out on the fabric width (fabric width can be from 90 cm to 150 cm) to determine how much material you will need. When stitching pieces, pay attention to the notches - they must match!
- From main fabric:
- Back half – 2 pieces
- Front half – 2 pieces
- Back waistband – 1 piece
- Front waistband – 1 piece
- Side – 2 pieces
- Pocket bag – 2 pieces
- Welt – 2 pieces
- Pocket facing – 2 pieces
- Belt loop – 1 piece
- From fusible interfacing:
Tip: Knit fabric pieces are stitched with a special elastic or narrow zigzag stitch. When serging, trim allowances to 0.8 cm. The hem allowance is topstitched with a twin needle to maintain elasticity. You can also stitch pieces directly on a 3- or 4-thread overlock machine.
Sewing Instructions
- Place the pocket bag on the front half and stitch the pocket opening on a straight stitch machine. Turn the pocket bag to the wrong side, topstitch the allowances to the pocket bag with a 0.1 cm seam, and press.
- Place the front half on the side according to the markings. Stitch the pocket bag to the side, serge the allowances. Form and secure the pleats according to the markings (depths are directed towards the side edge). Secure the pocket bag to the front half along the upper and side edges.
- Mark the location of the back pockets. Interface the pocket opening. Press the welt lengthwise in half, wrong sides together. Stitch the welt to the back half along the lower pocket marking line. Stitch the pocket facing to the back half along the upper pocket marking line. The ends of the stitches should finish at the short marking lines. Check the correctness of the welt and pocket facing attachment from the wrong side (stitches should be parallel). Cut open the pocket opening. Make diagonal cuts 1-1.5 cm from the end of the pocket. Turn the welt and pocket facing to the wrong side through the opening, adjust the ends of the welt so that the fold meets the pocket facing attachment seam. Secure the ends of the pocket from the wrong side with a double backstitch at the base of the corners. Topstitch the welt to the pocket facing in the attachment seam.
- Stitch the center back seam on the back halves, press allowances to the left side and serge. Stitch the center front seam on the front halves, press allowances to the left side and serge.
- Stitch the side seams, press allowances to the back half and serge. Stitch the inseams, press allowances to the back half and serge.
- On the front waistband, punch 2 eyelets for the cord according to the markings. Stitch the waistband into a loop, press allowances open. Press the waistband lengthwise in half, right side out. On the back waistband, mark and topstitch the casing lines for the elastic. Insert the elastic tape into the waistband, secure at the side seams. Thread the cord, secure at the side seams. Stitch the waistband to the trousers, serge the allowances.
- Serge the hem allowance of the trousers, press to the wrong side and topstitch.
- Serge one long edge of the belt loop. Fold the belt loop into three layers and topstitch along the long sides. Cut the belt loop into 6 pieces. Topstitch the belt loops according to the technical drawing.
