Bell bottom pants are a timeless wardrobe staple that combines a fitted silhouette through the hips and thighs with a dramatic flared hem. Comfortable, flattering, and easy to style, they're a rewarding project for sewists who want to create custom-fitting knit pants with a distinctive retro-inspired look.
The Winslet's Ariel Bell Bottom Pants Sewing Pattern is a great choice for beginners looking to sew stylish knit pants. Featuring a flattering bell-bottom silhouette, front seam detailing with bottom slits, and a comfortable waistband, this very easy pattern includes detailed instructions to guide you through every stage of construction.
Why Sew Bell Bottom Pants?
- Create flattering bell bottom pants with stylish front slit details.
- Sew a comfortable pair of stretch pants suitable for everyday wear.
- Customize the fit by choosing your favorite knit fabric.
- Learn essential knit garment construction techniques using beginner-friendly methods.
- Make a versatile wardrobe staple that pairs effortlessly with T-shirts, crop tops, sweaters, and jackets.
Why Choose the Winslet's Ariel Bell Bottom Pants Pattern?
The Ariel Bell Bottom Pants Sewing Pattern is designed to help sewists confidently create stylish knit pants with clear, step-by-step instructions.
- Skill Level: Very Easy
-
Design Features:
- Bell bottom pants
- Front seam with bottom slit detail
- Comfortable waistband
- Full-length design
- Available Sizes: US 02 - US 32 | UK 06 - UK 36 | EU 36 - EU 64
Supplies & Notions
Gather the following supplies before you begin sewing:
- Medium-weight knit fabric
- 3-ply polyester thread
- Sewing machine
- Tape measure
- Fabric shears
- Thread cutter
- Pins
- Sewing needles
- Tailor's chalk
- Iron
Fabric Recommendations
The sewing guide recommends using medium-weight knit fabrics, including:
- Jersey with stretch
- Cotton with a 3–5% Lycra blend
- Viscose with a 3–5% Lycra blend
- Rib fabric
For the best results, choose a fabric that combines good stretch with enough firmness to maintain the shape of the pants.
The sample garment shown in the sewing guide is made from poly knit fabric (3% Lycra).
This fabric is recommended because it:
- Is easy to sew, making it ideal for beginners.
- Has enough stretch to provide a comfortable, body-hugging fit.
Size Charts
Check the size charts and measure yourself to select the correct size, using the garment and body measurement tables in the guide.
Verify how much fabric you need by referencing the fabric yield table in the guide.
Pattern Inventory: What Pieces to Prepare
The Ariel Bell Bottom Pants Sewing Pattern includes the following pattern pieces:
- A. Center Front Leg — Cut x2 Fabric
- B. Side Front Leg — Cut x2 Fabric
- C. Back Leg — Cut x2 Fabric
The guide includes both A4/US Letter files for home printing and A0 files for copy-shop printing.
Pattern Marking
Before cutting your fabric, familiarize yourself with the markings shown on the pattern pieces. These markings help ensure accurate alignment during construction. The pattern includes:
- Grainline
- Front waistline
- Back waistline
- Front side seam
- Back side seam
- Front inseam
- Back inseam
- Front crotch
- Back crotch
- Knee notch
- Slit notch
- Hemline
- Hem
- Waistband
Cutting Layout
The sewing guide provides cutting layouts for both 45-inch and 60-inch fabric widths.
For accurate cutting:
- Arrange the pattern pieces according to the recommended cutting layouts.
- Position every grainline parallel to the fabric selvage.
- Pin the pattern pieces securely before cutting to improve accuracy.
- The layouts are designed for non-directional fabrics.
- Purchase additional fabric when using fabrics with nap or directional prints.
- The illustrated layouts use the medium size as the example.
Fabric Cutting and Preparation
Prepare your fabric carefully before beginning construction.
Arrange the pattern pieces according to the cutting layout diagrams, ensuring every grainline arrow runs parallel to the fabric selvage.
If you are using fabric shears, trace the pattern pieces before cutting and trim away any pen, pencil, or chalk lines as you cut. Remember to cut all notches that appear on the pattern edges, as these markings help align the garment accurately during assembly.
Transfer all required pattern markings, including circles, buttonholes, and fold lines, to the wrong side of the fabric using tailor's chalk or another suitable marking tool. Mark the center front on pieces cut on the fold to help align the garment correctly during construction.
Seam Allowance
Please follow the seam allowances as indicated on the pattern file layers. These are provided specifically for each piece to ensure accurate construction.
This pattern uses a 0.9 cm (or 0.38 inch) seam allowance all around, 2.2 cm (or 0.87 inch) at the hem, and 5 cm (or 2 inch) at the waist.
Step-by-Step Sewing Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Front Legs with the Slit
1a. Join the front leg pieces
Place the Center Front Leg and Side Front Leg pieces with right sides together. Align the middle front seam and sew the seam using an overlock stitch, stopping at the slit notch.
Repeat the same process for the second front leg.
1b. Finish the slit edges
Overlock the slit front seam allowances separately on both the Center Front Leg and Side Front Leg pieces.
Make a cut at the slit notch as indicated in the sewing guide.
1c. Topstitch the slit
Fold the slit seam allowances toward the wrong side and topstitch along both slit edges to secure them and create a neat slit opening.
Step 2: Sew the Inseams
Place each Front Leg and Back Leg piece right sides together.
Align the inseams carefully and sew them together using an overlock stitch.
Repeat the same process for the second pant leg.
Step 3: Sew the Crotch Seam
Place the completed front leg pieces together and the back leg pieces together, aligning the crotch area.
Ensure the wrong sides of both leg pieces are facing outward as shown in the sewing guide.
Overlock the crotch seam, beginning at the back waist, continuing through the back crotch, around to the front crotch, and finishing at the front waist. This joins the front and back leg assemblies together along the crotch seam.
Step 4: Sew the Side Seams
Align the side seams of the leg pieces with right sides together.
Sew both front and back side seams using an overlock stitch to complete the main construction of the pants.
Step 5: Finish the Waist
Overlock around the top edge of the waist to finish the raw edge and prepare it for folding.
Step 6: Create the Waistband
Fold the waistband toward the wrong side along the waistline.
Hand stitch the folded waistband to the seam points of the pants, as illustrated in the sewing guide.
Hand stitch process:
- Thread a hand sewing needle and tie a knot at the end of the thread.
- Insert the needle into the seam fabric of the pants to begin stitching.
- Bring the needle back through the waistband seam a short distance ahead of the previous stitch.
- Insert the needle back into the pants seam at the midpoint of the previous stitch.
- Bring the needle up through the waistband seam at the same distance used for the first stitch.
- Continue this process two or three times until the waistband is securely stitched in place.
Step 7: Hem the Pants
Fold the hem toward the wrong side from the marked hemline.
Finish the hem using a flatlock stitch, sewing from one slit edge to the other to create a clean, professional finish.
7a. Alternative hemming method
If you do not have a flatlock machine, overlock the raw edge first. Then fold the hem toward the wrong side of the fabric and stitch around the hem to secure it.
Ready to Sew Your Own Bell Bottom Pants?
Bell bottom pants are a stylish and comfortable wardrobe staple that never go out of fashion. With their fitted upper leg, dramatic flared hem, and unique front slit detail, the Ariel Bell Bottom Pants combine retro-inspired style with everyday comfort.
Designed for beginners, the Ariel Bell Bottom Pants Sewing Pattern guides you through every stage of construction using simple techniques and easy-to-follow instructions. Choose a comfortable stretch knit fabric, follow each step carefully, and you'll soon have a pair of handmade pants you'll love wearing.
If you're ready to sew a flattering pair of knit pants with a distinctive silhouette, the Ariel Bell Bottom Pants Sewing Pattern is a fantastic project to add to your collection.
Explore More Sewing Patterns
Browse our Pants Sewing Pattern Collection for more stylish handmade trousers, leggings, yoga pants, and everyday bottoms designed for comfort, movement, and effortless style.
Join the Community & Get Support
Share your finished Ariel Bell Bottom Pants on social media with #MadeWithWinslets. If you have questions, feedback, or customization requests, contact the Winslet's team at support@winslets.com.
