TUTORIAL: Kid Pants with a Lining

Earlier this week we talked about The Basic Pant–with an elastic waistband. Today we’ll build on that by showing you how to line pants! And I’ll answer a few of your Basic Pants questions at the end of the post.
Living in the hot state of Texas, you might wonder why I’d need to line pants. Well, it did actually get into the teens last week–which is rare–so the added lining was quite nice. But there are other reasons as well…..

Why should you line pants?
* It’s too cold outside! Little legs need added warmth and protection.
* The outer pants fabric is too scratchy (such as wool).
* The outer fabric is too thin and see-through.
* You may want them to be reversible.
* Because it’s easy and you just feel like it!
For these pants, I chose a boyish gingham fabric. However, the fabric was a bit lightweight.
I worried that sitting outside our library on the rough curb would be too cold and uncomfortable.
So I decided to line the pants with a very soft knit. I simply used a men’s XL t-shirt for my lining fabric, sewed two pairs of pants, and joined them together at the waist and the leg hems.
Easy, right?
You bet!
Let’s get started….
Linings can be added to any style of pants. For this method we’re using The Basic Pant. You’ll find the complete tutorial and pattern pieces HERE.
There are two ways to line pants–both are easy.
1. Baste the lining pieces and outer pieces together before sewing the pants (baste is a fancy word for “temporarily sewing two fabrics to hold them together”). This method is easy and fast but doesn’t work well if you have a scratchy fabric that might result in a scratchy seam. Also, if you have a bulky outer fabric and a bulky lining, it will result in a very thick seam. I’ll share this method in a pants tutorial coming next week.
2. Sew two separate pairs of pants (the outer pants and the inner lining pants) and join them at the waistband and leg hems. This method takes a bit longer but looks nicer. This is what we’ll be doing today.
Types of fabrics to use:
* Knits – Use a soft knit such as an old jersey T-shirt (don’t use the cheap scratchy jersey used for inexpensive T-shirts). Heavier interlock also works and is easily found in many solid colors at the fabric store.
* Fleece – If you live in colder climates, a lightweight fleece makes a great lining. Thick fleece will also work but will add bulk under the pants, which means you may need to expand the pattern a bit.
* Cotton – You can always use a simple layer of cotton, perhaps even the same fabric as the outer pants layer. Just double-layer the fabric and sew them up.
* Acetate and synthetic silks - Acetate feels like a lightweight silk and is wonderful for lining wool pants, skirts, and jackets. It’s warm without adding bulk and available in many colors in most fabric shops.
Okay, now that you have your outer and inner fabrics, let’s start cutting.
For my lining, I used an XL men’s T-shirt from a thrift shop. It’s very soft but was slightly too short for my pattern. No worries though, I just fudged things a bit and trimmed some length off the pants.
Cut out two of each pattern piece, as outlined in the Basic Pants tutorial.
And start sewing them–each as a separate pair of pants. Sew each pair until you get to the waistband part.
*NOTE: To keep the lining from feeling baggy or bunched when hanging inside, sew the lining pants with a seam allowance that is appx 1/4 inch larger than the outer pants. So, the gingham pants were sewn with a 1/4 inch seam allowance and the gray lining pants used a 1/2 inch seam allowance.
And your two pairs should look like this:
Make sure the lining pants are inside out, and the outer pants are right-side out. And tuck the lining pants right inside of the outer pants!
Jiggle and pull them around so they fit nicely inside. It’s not always a perfect fit but I usually get pretty close.
Okay, now we’re going to connect the fabrics at the waistband. Pin everything together so nothing shifts as you start sewing.
NOTE: If you’re using thicker fabrics and don’t want them to bulk up around the waist and hems, trim the lining down at the waist and at the hems so that they are NOT folded up with the hem or waistband. Then fold the waistband over to create a casing, as you normally would, sewing the edge of the lining inside the waistband so that everything is connected.
NOTE #2: If you’d like to make your pants reversible…
This is a bit trickier because you need to leave a small opening for the elastic waistband. But in a nut shell, leave an opening in top back seam of the lining pants as you’re sewing–this is where the casing will be. Then tuck the edges of each pant under at the waistband and sew them together, so the edges are nicely finished. Sew a 1-inch wide casing for the waistband, string the elastic through, and sew the casing closed. For the leg hems, fold both edges under as well. Now you have identical pants on both sides!
Serge the two fabrics together all the way around the waistband (remove each pin as you serge!)
If you don’t have a serger, no worries!
* Use a zig-zag stitch or
* Sew the fabrics with a straight stitch and leave the edges raw or
* You can get real fancy by pulling the lining back out and with right sides of both pants together, sew them at the waist and then flip the lining pants back inside.
Do what works for you.
Do the same for the leg hems. Try to get the fabrics as smooth as possible inside the pants and trim off any uneven ends.
Pin the layers together and serge around the bottom of each pant leg.
If you don’t have a serger, do a zigzag, straight stitch, or fold each end in slightly and sew them together so there are no exposed edges. Then iron and sew your leg hems in place.
Finally, create a waistband–as outlined in the Basic Pants Tutorial–and insert your elastic.
And you’re done!
One cozy-yet-stylin, warm pair of pants.
There’s that soft lining inside:
The perfect pants for a chilly day in our old downtown square, as Owen reads his favorite book from the library–There’s a Wocket in my Pocket…and turns his head when we get to the Bofa on the Sofa. The mean looking Bofa is intimidating.
And here’s where he tells me he has to go potty and tries to hold it in.
Photo shoot is over.
Enjoy your warm pants!