Ruffle Pants Tutorial Style #2

Now this is my favorite type of pants for my little one at the moment. It never fails that we will get a ton  of compliments when she wears pants with this type of ruffle (well, I guess it’s technically not a ruffle…but it’s close ;).

They are so fun! You can add the bottom part to an existing pair of pants as well.

I love how they flop around everywhere when she runs.

Even when she runs away during pictures.

A girl needs to get her play on and not be bothered by such nonsense anymore I suppose.

And so I let her play.

She just can’t help herself. So now for the how to! I make the top part of the pants the same way as here in style #1. So follow that part for that. Again, this tutorial is focused on knits fabric, but you could do it in other types of fabric as well.

So to create the bottom for these, you are basically going to make a donut shape. A big circle with a little hole in the middle. Just like you make a circle skirt. I’m using the formula and such that I learned from that site a few years ago. She’s such a great seamstress!

So to begin, let’s figure out how much fabric you need.
First you need to determine the radius for the bottom. The equation used is:

2 x pi is about 6.28. The circumference is the measurement of the bottom of the pants leg minus 1 inch. Just measure it laying flat and multiply it be 2. These pant legs were 5.5″ laying flat, so times 2 and minus 1 it’s 10″. {I’m gonna say you could probably get away with minus 2 because the way it’s cut, they could go smaller and work well}. Plug it in:

r = about 1.6, so I rounded up to 1.75

Now take the radius and add how long you want the ruffle to be (remember to add extra for the seam allowance you want to use. I usually just do 1/4″ for seam allowance). I wanted hers to be 4.5″ long (including seam allowance), so plug it in:
(r + length)
1.75″ + 4.5″ = 6.25

Multiply that by 2.
6.25″ x 2= 12.5″

So, I will need 2 square pieces of fabric that is 12.5″ x 12.5″.

I just used a huge piece of fabric though 🙂

Take your square piece of fabric and fold it in half.

Then fold it in half the other way. This will create two sides that are fabric folds and two sides will be the fabric edges.

Now take a ruler and some chalk. From the very corner of the two folded sides, measure out the radius + length measurement (mine was 6.25″). Make quite a few marks all around the fabric to create a 1/4 circle. Cut it out.

Now to cut the middle circle. Use your ruler again and measure out the radius length (mine was 1.75″) from the corner of the folded edges. Make a few marks around and connect, then cut out.

Your piece will now look like this.

And when you open it, it will look like a donut 🙂

Pin the inner circle around the bottom of the pants leg, right sides facing, and sew in place. Do this for both legs. That’s it. I leave the edges raw, but of course you can finish them if you like.
Now you have a pair of fun pants (or bell bottoms as one lady told me they were in Cracker Barrel ;).
Enjoy!
-Jess