Sewing Easy Cargo Pants (from a flannelette bed sheet)

After making a tiered skirt, a wrap dress, and culotte shorts from a king size flannelette bed sheet set, I still had ample fabric left over. So I thought I’d try making a pair of cargo pants that is beginner-friendly.

Easy Cargo Pants Pattern

Here’s the pattern I sketched up and cut out using a ruler and fabric marker – free hand for the curves.

Making the external pockets

To keep this super simple, the external pockets were made by folding and serging the exposed sides.

These flap pockets will be sewn onto the sides of the pants like patch pockets.

Sewing the pants

The pants were sewn the same way as my step-by-step tutorial on how to sew culotte shorts:

The one addition being, the external pockets were sewn onto the side of the pants (about two-thirds closer to the front) immediately after sewing the front and back panels together.

In summary ,once the pockets were sewn on:

1. the legs were sewn into pipes;
2. one leg was turned out and inserted inside the other leg;
3. the crotch was sewn together; then
4. it was flipped back out to resemble a pair of pants.
5. An accessible waistband was sewn on and elastic was inserted.

Comfy cargo pants

Here’s the finished cargo pants that was made with minimal effort (easy pockets, no zips or buttons!). I could make it a slimmer fit post-production by re-serging between the legs, but I think I will keep it relaxed and super comfy.