Sewing Tutorial: Sara Stretch Flare Pant

The Sara stretch flare pant is a great style for a beginner sewer, there is minimal sewing and the design is quick to make. The pant is such a versatile piece, make it in shimmer for a party look or a rib-knit for a loungewear look, almost any stretch fabric will suit this style.
The pant features an elastic waist with no zippers or fastenings. The leg is fitted and then flares out from the knee.

SEWING ABILITY
Beginner

To begin you will need the following things

Materials

• Sara Stretch Flare Pant paper pattern
• 1.3 – 2.6m fabric
• 3cm wide elastic
• thread to match (enough to also thread your overlocker)

Tools

• scissors
• pins
• sewing machine with a ball point single needle and ball point twin needle
• overlocker
• iron

Tips

• Ensure your fabric is washed, dried, and pressed before you start cutting. There is nothing worse than washing your beautiful garment and it shrinks, or even more annoying the lining shrinks and the main doesn’t so it’s all pulled out and shape and is unwearable.

Step 1 

Cut all main and lining pieces accurately on the correct grain, ensuring all notches are clipped. Please note, seam allowance is marked on the pattern.

Beginner tip* If you can afford to purchase a rotary cutter and cutting mat, I find this more accurate and time-efficient. 

Step 2 

Place your back pieces down, right side up, then lay the front pieces on top, right sides down. Pin side seams and inseams together, then overlock with a 4 thread overlocker from the front side. Press seams backward.

Step 3 

Then, overlock each hem edge ensuring seam allowance is held backwards.

Beginner tip* Take care not to stretch the fabric when you are sewing as it will pucker and become wavey.

Step 4 

To sew your crotch seam, turn one leg inside out and keep the other the right way out, place one inside the other (right sides together) and pin along the front and back crotch. Then sew together using your overlocker.

Beginner tip* When pinning your pieces together try and think about which side you will be sewing from and in which direction and place your pins in a way where they can be easily removed.

Step 5 

Cut elastic to match to top edge of the pants and sew together at sides to make a circle. A box stitch, as shown below will be the strongest.

Step 6 

Now pin the elastic to the inside of your pant waist. Then overlock along the top edge to hold in place.

Step 7 

Fold the elastic towards the inside. Then stitch down flat in the ditch of the sides and front and back crotch seams.

Step 8

Turn and stitch pant hem, using a twin needle finish, then press. (single needle can be used if you do not have twin needle however it will restrict the stretch of the fabric and the stitching may break)

The Sara Stretch Flare Pant is now complete.

If you are in need of another quick easy pant make The Riley Stretch Palazzo Pant is another knit pant that features a wider leg for a more relaxed feel.

I’d love to see your creations, please tag me on Instagram at @at_the_seams_patterns