Love jogger pants, but don’t want to be walking around town in sweats? Why don’t you try making them in a woven fabric! Woven joggers are super cute, and can be dressed up or down for a comfy daytime look or night on the town! With the right fabric, these easy to make pants are the perfect sewing project to make you feel fabulous and trendy.
Woven fabric recommendations include: lightweight denim, linen, super lightweight corduroy
How to sew jogger pants
This was a paid content post first seen on Jo-Ann Fabric & Craft Stores Creative Spark blog. Jo-Ann paid for the post content to be published on their website. All instructions and photos are my own. Thank you!
How to sew Jogger Pants
Skill level: Advanced beginner
Time Needed: 3 – 4 hours
MATERIALS NEEDED:
- 2.5 – 3 yds lightweight linen, denim, cotton fabric
- Your waist circumference of 1.5 – 2” wide elastic
- Pair of good fitting pajama pants for pattern drafting (or basic pajama pants pattern)
- 1 yd 1” wide elastic
- Coordinating thread
- 80/11 or 90/14 Regular point sewing needle
- Fabric scissors or rotary cutter
- Measuring tape
- Sewing machine
Fabric seen in these photos:
- Denim Fabric – Distressed Blue Lt Denim
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Lay your pajama pants on the fabric, with the fabric on the fold. Make sure you have really laid out the pajama pants flat, so that the crotch curve is fully visible. Cut around the pajama pants, adding ½” for seam allowance around the top, sides, crotch, and hem (shorten the hem length to your desired jogger pants hem, I made mine cropped). Repeat for both front and back pants pattern (the crotch curve and waistline will be different for the front and back pattern pieces). Measure the width of your pants hem and multiply that number by 2 – cut (2) leg cuffs 3.5” wide x this measurement. Lastly, measure the waist width of your pants pattern and multiply that number by 2, minus 1” – cut (2) waistbands 5” wide x this measurement. *If desired, also cut out (4) pocket pattern pieces.
- Measure 2” down from the top of the pants pattern along the side seam, and sew pocket pattern to pants along the straight pocket edge, right sides together. Repeat for all pants patterns and pockets, making sure to sew them in the exact same spot on all pattern pieces. Finish seam with either a serger, zigzag stitch or pinking shears.
- Place (2) front pants pattern pieces right sides together, pin and sew the crotch. Finish seam, and press. Repeat for back.
- Place front and back right sides together, with the pockets sticking out at the sides. Pin and sew side seams, around the pockets. Pin and sew the inner leg seam, finish all seams and press.
- Fold the leg cuff right sides together, matching up the short outer edge. Pin and sew, and press seam open. Place the front and back waistband right sides together, matching up the side seams. Pin and sew, and press seams open.
- Slip leg cuff around the hem of your pants, right sides together. Sew around and press seam down. Fold the cuff ½” towards the wrong side and press. Fold the leg cuff again towards the inside of the pants so that the ½” folded bottom edge just covers the raw pants hem seam. Pin in place and sew around, leaving a 2” opening for inserting elastic.
- Slip the waistband around the top of your pants, right sides together, matching up the side seams. Pin and sew, and press seam up. Fold the upper edge of your waistband ½” towards the wrong side and press. Fold the waistband again towards the inside of your pants so that the ½” folded edge just covers the raw waistband seam and press. Pin the waistband in place and sew around, leaving a 3” opening for inserting elastic.
- Measure around your calf, and cut (2) pieces of 1” elastic this width. Measure around your waistband and cut (1) piece of 1.5 – 2” wide elastic this width. Using a safety pin attached to one end of the elastic, insert elastic into the appropriate casing (either pants hem or waistband). Work the elastic all the way through the casing, making sure not to let the end of the elastic slip inside the casing, until the safety pin comes back out again. Pin the elastic ends together, making sure the elastic is not twisted and sew using a back and forth zigzag stitch to secure. Slip the elastic fully into the casing, and sew the opening closed using a straight stitch. Repeat for both leg cuffs and waistband.
- If desired, sew a 24” piece of ribbon, cotton twill, or some bias tape of the same fabric to the front center of the pants for a faux drawstring look.
And you are finished!
Thanks so much for stopping by, and until next time…
Happy sewing!
Wow chic!
Your Jogger Pants is very nice and easy to sew.
Thanks for sharing…
Greetings
Jutta
these are really cute. your pockets look different than pockets sewed in the seam. they look slanted. how did you do the slant pockets?
thanks.
Would this work for men’s too? My husband want me to make those for him.
I know this is an old post, but I figured I’d let you know it’s still applicable today! I have the perfect PJ pattern for this. I’ll be using my free pj bottom pattern from 5 out of 4 Patterns. The side seams are set further forward to make the inset pockets more comfortable, so I’ll be keeping those as they are. I’m also planning on using a scuba knit fabric since it’s very comfortable in warm weather and works perfectly for long walks/jogs in the summer. Since the fabric has stretch I plan on making them a little more snug (not tight like legging, more like a semi-fitted style with 1/2” ease at all seams. The pattern is for full length, I plan to make them shorter, like yours. I’ll also make a cuff at the hem and add a separate waistband. Love the idea of adding a draw string. I have some thick round elastic that would be perfect along with some cord locks that would add a fun detail!
I’m not sure why I never thought to do this before! Thanks so much!