The Martha Stewart Show

Drawstring Pants How-To

The Martha Stewart Show

Martha demonstrates how to sew a pair of comfortable pajama pants.

Drawstring Pants

This comfortable pair of drawstring pants from "Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts" is one of the simplest pieces of clothing you can sew. Their easy form flatters all sizes and shapes.

Tools and Materials

Pattern template
Fabric and sewing shears
Clear tape
2 yards (1.8 meters) fabric, such as lightweight seersucker
Iron
Sewing machine
Machine needles and coordinating thread
Pins
1 yard (0.9 meter) twill tape
Large safety pin

Drawstring Pants How-To

1. Print pattern template, tape pieces together with clear tape, and cut out. Wash, dry, and press the fabric. Cut out the pattern, following the lines for desired size. Fold the fabric, right sides facing, so that the fold is along the length of the fabric (selvages touching). Place the pattern pieces on the fabric and cut out.

2. Place the 2 front pieces together, right sides facing, and pin along the crotch seem; sew them together with a 1/2-inch (13-millimeter) seam allowance, stopping 2 1/2 inches (centimeters) from the top. Press open the seam allowance and finish the edges with a zigzag stitch. Repeat with the left and right back-pant pieces, but sew all the way to the top.

3. Place the front and back pieces together, right sides facing; pin and sew the sides together with a 1/2-inch (13-millimeter) seam allowance. Press open the seams, finish the edges with a zigzag stitch, and press them open again.

4. Pin the front and back inseams together; sew with a 1/2-inch (13-millimeter) seam. Press open the seam allowance, finish the edges with a zigzag stitch, and press them open again.

5. With the pants still inside out, create a channel around the waistband for a drawstring: Fold and press the top edge down 1/2 inch (13 millimeters), then fold and press again 1 inch (2.5 centimeters), and edge-stitch 1/8 inch (3 millimeters) from the double-fold's lower edge, making sure to stitch back and forth several times at the opening. Attach a safety pin to one end of the twill tape, and feed the tape through the channel.

6. To hem the pants, put them on. Mark the hem you'd like, then make a mark 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) below this initial mark. Cut away any fabric below the lower mark. Make a double hem: Fold edge over 1/2 inch (13 millimeters) again. Press, pin, and edge-stitch.

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The Martha Stewart Show

Drawstring Pants How-To

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