How to sew wrap pants: no elastic, no zipper, XS to 3XL

Wrap pants have two front panels that cross over each other at the waist and tie with a long band, so they need no elastic, zipper or buttons. To sew them, join the back crotch seam, sew the outseams and inseams, then sew the front crotch only up to a notch about 3 inches below the waist so the front panels stay free. Hem the slanted wrap edges, bind the top with a tie band that extends into long ties, and hem the legs. The Sewzy Wrap Pants come in XS to 3XL by hip and take about 2½ hours.

TL;DR

• Size by hip: XS (36 in) to 3XL (56 in), with 6 inches of ease at the hip.
• Waist: a 12 inch front overlap closes to about your waist plus 4 inches and adjusts either way.
• Fabric: light to medium drapey wovens: viscose, rayon challis, tencel, linen, cotton lawn, crinkle cotton or silk noil.
• Length: a 28 inch inseam, with a line to lengthen or shorten.
• Time: about 2½ hours, beginner. No elastic, no zipper, no buttons.

Wrap pants size chart

Choose by hip; the wrap adjusts at the waist. The ⅜ inch seam allowance and 1¼ inch hem are included. If you are between sizes, see what size sewing pattern to choose.

What fabric is best for wrap pants?

Wrap pants need drape: viscose, rayon challis, tencel, linen, cotton lawn, crinkle cotton or silk noil. The more fluid the fabric, the more the legs move. Prewash viscose and linen twice, because both shrink. You need matching thread and a universal 70/10 or 80/12 needle, and nothing else.

How to sew wrap pants, step by step

1. Cut. Print your size and cut 2 fronts and 2 backs as mirrored pairs. Cut the waist tie band strip by measurement, joining pieces on the diagonal. Mark the notches, hem line and wrap edge.
2. Back seam. Stitch the back crotch curve from the crotch point to the waist, twice on the curve, then clip and press open.
3. Outseams and inseams. Stitch each outseam from waist to hem, then each inseam from hem to crotch.
4. Front crotch. Slip one leg inside the other and stitch the front crotch only up to the notch about 3 inches below the waist. Above it, the two front panels stay free.
5. Wrap edges. Finish the slanted edge of each front panel with a narrow double-turned hem.
6. Waist tie band. Press the band like bias tape, match its center to the center back and bind the top of the pants across the back and both front panels. Keep stitching the folded band closed to each end; the extra length becomes the ties.
7. Hem and wear. Hem the legs. To wear, step in, cross the right front over the left, bring the ties around the back and tie them at the front or back.

Tips

• Stay-stitch the wrap edges as soon as you cut them; they are on the bias and stretch easily.
• Paperbag look: tie at the front and let the tops of the panels flop over.
• Cut the tie band on the straight grain and join it with diagonal seams so it lies flat.
• Hemming: the double-fold hem is in how to hem pants by hand and machine.

Wrap pants vs other easy pants

Wrap pants adjust with ties instead of elastic, so they suit a waist that changes. For an elastic waist, try the free Barrel Pants, explained in how to sew barrel pants, or pajama pants for lounging. The Wrap Pants are a Premium pattern in the Sewzy app, with every size and a photo for each step.

Care

Wash cold, hang to dry and press.