Palazzo party

YOU WILL NEED

■ 3m drapey fabric (ours was designer deadstock Viscose Marocaine from www. rainbowfabrics.co.uk)

■ Plush waistband elastic

■ Ruler

■ Chalk

■ Pencil

■ Pattern paper

■ Trouser sewing pattern (or garment) that fits you (choose relaxed or loose fit)

■ Overlocker (optional)

■ Basic sewing kit

NOTES

Before you start:

■ Cut waistband elastic to size - it must stretch enough to go over your hips and sit comfortably but securely around your waist

■ Measure from waist to ankle and add 5cm to give (L

■ Measure the total circumference of your hips (H) at the fullest part; decide how much ease/fullness (E) you want (we added 20cm), then make the following calculation:

■ (H + E) ÷ 2 = half hip (HH)

This patternless project for voluminous palazzo pants utilises a single small template that you can trace from an existing pattern or garment you already own. The most crucial fitting element of a pair of trousers is the crotch curve, and this project uses a trouser pattern as the negative space you cut away from a simple rectangle to create that crotch curve and, subsequently, your new favourite pair of trousers!

MAKING THE TEMPLATE

Step one Align the crotch points of your trouser pattern pieces together as pictured, with a plain sheet of paper behind the gap left by the crotch curve. Trace the entire crotch curve from the centre front (CF) to the centre back (CB). 01

Step two Note that the CB will be higher than the CF and the inseam is slightly off centre. This is important for fit. Transfer the CF/CB Notches, mark the position of the inseam with a vertical line, and the horizontal plane of the waistline with a horizontal line. Cut your template out. 02

Step three Measure the total width of your template, then add this to your HH measurement to give you the width (W) of your rectangles.

CUTTING OUT

Step one Cut 2 rectangles that are W + 2cm wide, and L long.

Step two On your rectangles, square across and mark a horizontal crotch line (CL) the depth of your crotch template down from the top edge. Mark a perpendicular vertical line that is 1.5cm to the left of the centrepoint of that CL. This vertical line is your inseam and is off centre because you want to allocate slightly more of your rectangle to the back of your trouser leg, than the front. 03

Step three Position your template on the CL so that the vertical inseam you marked on your template is aligned with the vertical inseam you marked on your fabric rectangle. 04

Step four Extend the horizontal plane you marked on your template and mark it ac