Background
These yoga pants have a bootcut leg, optional topstitched seams, and and upper and lower waistband which can be used with a contrast fabric. The waistband is secured with 3/8” elastic at the upper edge. The back is split into two pieces, which is great if you’re like me and always dealing with gaping at the center back!
As usual with Jalie, the enormous size range goes from child size 2 to adult women’s 22 (so hip sizes 22”-53”)
Materials
Jalie recommends fabrics with 50% minimum stretch in both the width and length.
For my first version (not shown as it is in the laundry!) I used light-to-medium weight cotton/lycra French terry with around 50% stretch in both directions from Fabric Mart.
For my second version (which is shown in the photos above) I used an Italian viscose/lycra French terry from Gorgeous Fabrics.
Fit
I made size AA based on my hip measurement, and did the following alterations:
- Added 3” to height of center back seam. I am unsure if for future versions I would keep this much height. On one hand I love how when I bend over it is super secure. On the other hand, after being worn for a while it seems like it was a bit too much as when the day goes on the fabric relaxes and I end up feeling like 2-2.5”may have been enough. For the two versions I made the extra height isn’t a deal breaker.
- Added 1” length to the inseam.
- Took in the waist slightly, using a size Z and snugging in the elastic to a size Y. I took in the waist entirely at the back leg seams.
Both of the pants fit really well, and are SUPER comfortable. They avoid the RTW fit issues of feeling too tight in the legs while being too loose in the waist, and the fabrics are simply heavenly. This is my go-to pattern for stretchy knit pants now.
Construction
These are a simple sew. I only used my sewing machine for stitching the waistband elastic ends together and then zig-zagging the elastic to the upper waistband edge. It was otherwise constructed entirely on my serger and cover stitch machines. Jalie provides good instructions with both text and illustrations.
Clothing Engineer 
Thanks for the review. As a new athletic wear sewer, I’m curious about your thoughts of using rayon/lycra vs cotton/lycra. You mention they both sewed up well. Do you have a preference?
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I find rayon usually has more drape and is softer and thinner. Cotton is usually a bit easier to work with because it tends to be sturdier and thicker. Both are great to wear. Nature’s Fabrics has a large selection of heavier weight cotton/lycra jersey and some French terry fabrics and offers swatches and reasonable shipping and regular sales. You want something at least 240 GSM/7 ounce weight for pants. I recommend Nature’s Fabrics as well because she’s generally very good about listing a specific fabric weight. If you’re shopping from a source that is more vague (uses terms such as “medium”) look for medium to heavy in the description.
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Thank you for the great information. This is very helpful.
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You’re welcome!
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