Harvard — Boys’ Trousers – sewing tutorial

Harvard

Tailored boys' school trousers with a classic fly front, side seam pockets, and a comfortable elasticated waistband insert for an easy, all-day fit.

Get the pattern Follow @fabrico_patterns

8–12 Sizes included (128–152 cm)

0.85–1.05 m Main fabric (33.5–41.3")

0.25–0.3 m Lining fabric (9.8–11.8")

1 cm Seam allowance included (0.39")

Sharp, comfortable school style

Tailored boys' school trousers cut from light to medium-weight suiting fabric, with a classic fly front and neat side seam pockets lined in a lightweight pocket fabric.

A comfortable elasticated waistband insert keeps the fit easy and secure all day, sized for ages 8 to 12.

What you'll need

Suggested fabrics

For the trousers, we recommend light to medium-weight suiting fabrics, such as suiting wool or suiting cotton.

For the pocket pieces, you can use a lightweight pocket lining fabric.

Also needed

• Main fabric — 0.85–1.05 m (33.5–41.3"), length by size, see table below
• Lining fabric for the pocket pieces — 0.25–0.30 m (9.8–11.8"), length by size, see table below
• Interfacing — 0.20 m (7.9")
• Elastic for the waistband
• Seam allowances of 1 cm (0.39") are already included on every pattern piece

For fabric width 150 cm (59.1")

Pattern pieces already include seam allowances. When buying fabric, add a 5–10% margin in case of shrinkage.

Specification

Main fabric, width 1.5 m (59.1")

SIZE 8 YEARS

SIZE 12 YEARS

Interfacing Iron the interfacing to the pocket facing (3, 4).

Sewing instructions

Front & fly

1. 1

   Pin the front trouser pieces right sides together and stitch. Serge the allowances, then press.

2. 2

   Mark the fly front line with chalk. Fold the fly piece onto the left front panel and pin it in place. Topstitch along the marked line, then down to the crotch line, and sew the bartacks. Press.

Pockets

1. 1

   Iron the interfacing to the pocket facing.

2. 2

   Serge the raw edge of the outer pocket facing and press. Pin the outer pocket facing, wrong side up, over the front side of the pocket piece, then stitch along the serged line and press.

3. 3

   Pin the inner pocket facing right sides together with the pocket piece and sew. Press the allowances toward the pocket piece and topstitch.

4. 4

   Pin the inner pocket facing to the front trouser panel, right sides together, and sew in place.

5. 5

   Trim the allowances to 0.3 cm (0.12"). Fold the pocket to the wrong side and press.

6. 6

   Topstitch the front trouser panel to secure the allowances, then press.

7. 7

   Pin the pocket pieces right sides together and stitch. Serge the raw edges and tuck in the thread ends. Press.

Assembling the legs

1. 1

   Serge the side raw edges of the front and back trouser panels along the inseam and outseam.

2. 2

   Serge the crotch line on the back trouser panels.

3. 3

   Press all the serged edges.

4. 4

   Pin the back panels right sides together and stitch along the crotch line.

5. 5

   Press one allowance toward the back panel and stitch 0.1 cm (0.04") from the seam — this closes any gap and reinforces the crotch.

6. 6

   Pin the front and back pieces right sides together along the outseam and stitch. Press the allowances open.

7. 7

   Pin the front and back pieces right sides together along the inseam and stitch. Press the allowances toward the back.

Waistband & finishing

1. 1

   Pin the waistband to the upper hem of the trousers, right sides together, and stitch.

2. 2

   Press the raw edge of the waistband to 1 cm (0.39"). Fold the waistband in half and baste, then stitch exactly into the stitching line, leaving a hole for inserting the elastic.

3. 3

   Fold the bottom hem of the trousers twice, pin, and sew in place.

Finishing Give the trousers a final wet heat treatment — your school trousers are ready!