Harem pants is usually spoken in the same breath as belly dancing, a Middle Eastern dance. The fluid sinuous movements associated with belly dancing is aided by the loose pattern of harem pants. It used to be accompanied by a heavily embellished bra and hip belt. But, you needn’t start belly dance to wear it – just use it with your choice of tops.
Harem pants usually have an elasticized waist or a draw corded one. You can sew them in a multitude of fabrics like light cotton, satin, silk, chiffon, georgette, sheer fabrics, knit, even a medium cotton; Just avoid sewing them with heavy fabrics.
Princess Jasmine looking enticing and ethereal in flowing harem pants – this is one of the most popular and enduring images of a harem pant -Today’s fashion-conscious girls also crave these pants for its cool casual and attractive looks.
photosource: princessahagen.deviantart.com
How to sew Harem pants
The pattern I have given below is for a Harem pants which is mostly fitted around the waist, not very baggy around the place where you need the least bulk, though it has an elastic waist. If you like an easy harem pants with shirred waist ( which is free size and easy to make in an hour or so) checkout the tutorial for the belly dance pants here.
Checkout the pattern for a Bohemian hippie pants, an alternative to harem pants with its elastic waistband and loose fit.
Draft a Harem pants pattern
You need to make paper patterns to make these pants (you can also mark the measurements directly on to the cloth – please read the whole instructions before doing that). This is the best harem pants suitable as a belly dance costume. You can sew a version with side open legs with this pattern as this has inner and outer seam.
Take 2 piece of paper with the following dimensions , as you will be making a front pattern and a back pattern
- length = your pants length plus 7 inches and
- width = about half your hip round measurement.
These pants are marked as any pants except that 3″ is added extra to the length for fullness at the bottom.
How much cloth is needed to sew Harem Pants
The length will be the full length from where you will tie the waistband to the ankles + 3 inches for additional fullness ( optional; you can add upto 6 as overhang if you prefer that) (An additional 1 inch is added to the back pattern). Double this measurement and that is the length you need for the total fabric you need to sew the harem pants.
Cut out 2 pocket pieces (Optional); One waistband piece of 3 inches wide and 2 cuff fabric pieces, 2 inches wide.
Front leg pattern for Harem pants
B-F = 1/4 of hip round + 3″
N-A= 1.5″
A-C = E-F = Hip round +2″
E-N = 1″
E-D = 2″
G-H = 8″
B-H = Waist to ankle Length + 3″
Back leg pattern for Harem pants
When pattern is complete, Pin front pattern and back pattern to fabric and cut out. You will need to cut out 4 such fabric pieces (2 legs) in this way.
Be careful when cutting fabric which has one way sheen or a particular print going in one direction. You do not want the print to face two directions on the same pant. If your fabric has a pattern or border running along one long edge, you may wish to use that pattern as the bottom edge of the pant leg. To do so, turn the pants pattern across the fabric instead of lengthwise.
Cut out pocket, cuffs for the leg hem and waistband.
Adding the pocket to the harem pants
Mark a curved pocket shape on one pocket piece
Keep the pocket piece on the front pant piece and stitch along the mark for the pocket
Keep the other pocket piece on the back – now join them at the top. Now onwards, you will be treating the two as one. This is your front leg. Do the same for the other front leg too.
Stitch the pocket bags together at the sides.
Sewing the Harem Pants
Use 1/2 inch seam allowance throughout.
Sew the outer seams of the legs – ie, the front and back legs are sewn together at the outer sides. Do the same with the other side.
It will look like this.
You get two legs like this.
First sew the outer seams of each legs, one at a time one front pattern to one back leg pattern. Press seams open. Finish fabric edges with overlock or zigzag stitches.
If you want to leave a section of the seam open (for decorative purposes) on the outer seam of the legs, you should finish the fabric edges of this open area and then sew the rest of the seam.You may want to add some fabric trim to the open outside seam on the legs
Stitch the inseam.
Press seams open. Finish fabric edges with overlock or zigzag stitches. You now have two legs of your pattern ready.
Join the two legs together by stitching the crotch line together.
Align the croth lines with both legs right side out. Stitch twice for added strength. Press seams open. Finish fabric edges with overlock or zigzag stitches. The basic pants is done.
Elastic casing
Make the casings for legs and waist. – Make casing for elastic at the waist by turning first 1/2 inches then 1 1/2 inches . Edge stitch along the waistband casing Leaving 1″ opening for inserting elastic. Insert the elastic and stitch the opening close.
Make a casing for elastic at the pant hem also the same way. Do the same as before for an elastic casing . Checkout this tutorial to sew a separate waistband.
Alternative ways of pant hem finishing for harem pants
A cuff opening :- A placket opening of about 3″ long can be made in the hem. A band/ cuff of 1″ wide overlapping the other side for 1″, has to be attached with button or snap fasteners.
Frilly elastic band at hem – This is an Elastic casing some 2 ” above the hem, making the hem look like frills/ruffles For this make a casing for elastic 2″ above the hem . and insert elastic through the casing.
Note :Some prefer to use cotton cord inserted into the casing instead of elastic as this can be tied more securely and no fear of you stepping on your pants and elastic stretching the pants down – oh the horror
How to wear Harem Pants
These pants can be worn with your favorite tank top or a crop top and denim vest or your old distressed tshirt or tunic / short kurta so long as they are fitted. It is best not to choose a boxy or baggy top over harem pants for obvious reasons. A very thin woman would look the best in harem pants for the look of curves this pants would give her. If you have a pear shaped body stick to plain fabrics for your harem pants.
Learn more about the names of different types of pants you can have as well as lessons to learn how to sew if you are just a beginner.
A step by step instructions to sew a similar pants is given in the post – Draft and sew a Belly dance pants – Check it out for detailed tutorial with photos.
Related post: Clothes associated with Belly dance ; Sewing tutorial for staright pants with elastic waist
Amazing super easy DIY harem pants … thanksssss alot… greetings from Egypt
Hi Shams, Happy to know that, thanks for the comment
How do you find where G is to begin with? From A-G. Also how do you find K?
What is the purpose for making the back panels slightly larger than the front for the 2nd method?
I’m trying to make Jasmin style harem but I’m having difficulty making a pattern
It accommodates the fullness over your butt. All pants are fuller in the back.
Please help I Am 5′ tall and weigh right under 100lbs I am an adult but I feel the measurements for the drop crotch Harlem pants will be way to big for me how should I measure myself for these awesome easy pants?
Hi Kim
yes, it will be a little baggy for you. You can maybe take the pant part 1/4 of your hip round + 4 inches instead of the 15 inches given in the pattern. so if you are 36 inches around the hip take 13 inch that will reduce the bagginess a little. Hope this helps – as I made it with this measure I am not exactly sure but seems like sense to reduce the measurement this way:)
Hi, I was wondering how much fabric will i need for the first option?
Hi becca
Roughly I take the length of the pant I am making ; Double this ; and then add 1/4 meters to it for the hem etc
Hi, have I missed something? If I follow pattern 1, 15″ waist on four layers of fabric, I’ll end up with a 60″ waist, is that right?
Hi Kate
It is a loose pants ; believe me , it is very comfortable to wear but not if you are looking for a fitting one
For the alladin pants why did you choose, 15 in , 15 in, 35 in, and 7 in. What were they based on ? Is that a general measurement for anyone. Or are they specific measurements to you?
Those are general measurements for anyone. These loose measurements would be enough for anyone I guess 🙂
would this measurements also apply for a 10 year old?
soo… professionaltutorial thanks a lot-
Thank you so much for sharing these! I’m excited to try this out. If it’s okay to ask, I am going to try to make some wide-striped harem pants for a costume (reference: https://tinyurl.com/mkfmxww ), and was wondering if you would recommend sewing the stripes of fabric together first and then cutting the pattern from the resulting sheet, or if you would approach this differently? Any advice would be a huge help since I’m still a bit of a beginner!
The pants looks nice – At a glance it looks as if tapered panels are sewn together and then the pattern is cut. If the panels are not tapered towards the hem I don’t think you would get the effect. I suppose you will have to test it out on a muslin
Hi
I am interested in the Harem Pants pattern and thank you. Could you please advise the measurements for A-G and B-K.
Thanks
Lynley
Hi Lynley , Totally skipped it – thanks for pointing it out – You can take A-G as 1/2 or 3/4 inch inside (for a curve near the hip) and B-K as 12 inch ( which will give a 23 inch total flair for the bottom hem)
for detailed instructions on sewing you can checkout the pajama pants sewing pattern and tutorial
thanxs for reading
pls can you do a tutorial on cape jacket.Thanks
Hi Jean
As of now I have this Bolero jacket pattern here -https://sewguide.com/shrug-pattern/
I love a cape and have made one but have no records of the making – I will soon post a tutorial
Thanks for reading