If something about pleats reads as old-fashioned or formal in your mind, let our Sara Pleated Pants sewing pattern be the proof they can be anything but. Everything about these pants is as effortlessly chic as it gets. They are relaxed and airy, the sort of pants you’d want to wear all summer long on all your adventures.

The Sara Pleated Pants is our modern take on the classic pleated pants style. Designed to sit on your natural waist, It has two small pleats at the front, back darts for shaping, useful hip pockets, a zipper front fly and belt loops. The legs are slightly tapered and hit right above the ankle bone.

Due to the number of techniques involved in this project, the pattern is labelled as intermediate. But even a beginner sewist can give it a try because we will guide you through the process step-by-step. It’s amazing what sewing a pair of pants can do to your sewing confidence! Follow this easy tutorial and make your own pair of pleated pants!

Materials

For our sample US size 6 pictured in this tutorial we used 2 yards of our 4C22 REED Softened Heavy Weight 100% Linen

For other sizes, please refer to the yardage table in the PDF pattern to determine the required amount of fabric.

Matching sewing thread, 7-8” pant or trouser zipper, one large button (36-40L), medium weight fusible interfacing.

Tools

Scissors, pins, ruler, chalk, measuring tape, fabric marker, zipper foot, buttonhole foot, seam ripper, needle, sewing machine

Difficulty

Intermediate

Sewing Time

6-7 hours

Pattern

You can access the multi-sized printable PDF pattern by following this link HERE. All seam allowances are included and are 3/8” unless otherwise specified. The model is wearing US size 6.

Remember to transfer all the notches onto your fabric.

Steps

Note: Prewash your fabric and tumble dry it until it is still slightly moist, dry at room temperature. Iron the fabric so it is easier to work with.

1. We’ll start with the construction of the front zipper fly. Follow the instructions in this detailed tutorial and sew in a zipper fly.

2. Following the notches on the pattern, fold the pleats on the front pants towards the side seams and press. Stay stitch in place with a ¼” seam allowance.

3. Now take your front pocket pieces, fold them in half right sides together and stitch along the bottom edge at a 1/4” (6 mm) seam allowance. Clip the corner to reduce bulk.

4. Turn the pocket right side out, press and stitch again 3/8” from the bottom edge.

5. Pin the diagonal edge of the pockets (wrong side) to the diagonal edge of the front pieces (right side) and stitch at a 3/8” seam allowance. Remember to backstitch.

6. Trim the seam, turn right side out and press flat. Topstitch 1/4” (6 mm) from the folded edge.

7. Baste the side and top of the pocket ¼” from the edge to keep it in place.

Set your front legs aside for now and take your two back legs.

8. Sew the waist darts. Detailed instructions on sewing darts can be found here.

Press darts towards center back.

9. With right sides together, pin the two back legs at the crotch matching the two notches and stitch at a 3/8” (1 cm) seam allowance. Serge/zigzag the raw edges together and press seam to the left.

10. Pin corresponding front and back legs right sides together at side seams catching the sides of the pockets and matching the hip and knee notches. Stitch the side seams, serge/zigzag the raw edges together and press towards the back.

11. Pin corresponding front and back legs right sides together at the inseam matching the notches. Stitch together at a 3/8” (1 cm) seam allowance, serge/zigzag the raw edges and press towards the back leg.

Next up – the waistband!

12. Prepare your belt loops as explained in this tutorial.

Cut your long strip of fabric into five individual loops each measuring 3 inches.

13. Position your belt loops as follows: to the inside of each front pleat, 1” away from side seams and at center back. Align the raw edge of each loop to the top/waist edge of your garment, right sides together. Baste to keep them in place.

14. Apply fusible interfacing to the wrong side of your waistband. Then fold in half lengthwise wrong sides touching and press one long seam allowance 3/8” to the wrong side.

15. Pin the non-folded edge of your waistband to the pants right sides together, aligning raw edges and matching the notches. Make sure that the side seam allowances of your waistband are extending 3/8” beyond the fly edges.

16. Sew at a 3/8” seam allowance. Trim the seam to 1/4” and press waistband up.

17. Tuck in the short edges of the waistband. Fold the waistband in half and pin the other long edge to the wrong side of your pants, covering the seam line.

18. Working from the right side of your pants, topstitch along the pinned edge, catching the underside of the waistband. Continue edgestitching around the entire waistband.

19. Now press your belt loops up, fold over about 1/4” at the top and use a narrow zigzag stitch to make a small bar tack that will secure the loop to the top of the waistband and reinforce the area. You could also use a regular straight stitch and backstitch back and forth a couple of times to make sure the loop is attached securely.

For more instructions, please check this step-by-step tutorial.

20. Overlap the waistband, mark and sew a buttonhole on the right leg. Mark the button location through the buttonhole and sew one button on the left side.

21. Lastly, finish the hem by folding the raw edge twice to the wrong side: first 3/8”, then another 1”. Press, pin and stitch.

22. Give your pants a good last press and you are all done!

We love seeing what you make! Don’t forget to share your pictures and tag your creations with #FabricsStoreSaraPattern hashtag.

Whether you are looking for natural or bright colors, heavier or lighter linen, we have something for everyone. Browse our selection of linen fabrics and find the color that inspires you for this project!