I am so excited about this pattern hack and I can’t wait to share about it! I used our free Cargo Pocket Instructions to add some pockets to our June Pants pattern and they turned out so cool. Read on to learn more!
I used a washed cotton poplin from Blackbird Fabrics for this project. This is the perfect fabric for a lightweight pair of cargo pants because it is really crisp and almost has a nylon ripstop feel to it while still being super breathable because it is cotton! I already want to make more pairs in this exact fabric because they feel amazing.
As for the pattern hack, I added the cargo patch pocket following our blog post instructions here. I didn't alter the rise and I kept the original inseam pockets, too. I lengthened the legs down to the ground plus a little extra because I knew I wanted to cinch the hem in with some elastic.
To get this hem, I sewed a 5/8” (1.6 cm) hem and then inserted some ½” (1.3 cm) elastic into the hem casing. I played around with how much it was cinched in before deciding I liked this looser look. When it was fully cinched it looked a bit silly to me. It would be even better to have an adjustable elasticated hem with a toggle, but I didn't have one on hand so I went with the elastic. You could customize this to work with whatever elastic width you already have.
I can already tell you I will be wearing these all the time. They are comfortable, practical, and on trend! I have plans for another pair and I am so glad to have found an easy hack to make my favourite pants pattern even more versatile. Now that is a real win!
