I’ve got a super fun and easy pattern hack to share with you today! I recently had this idea to make track pants using our Ukee Pants pattern and I wanted to try adding some stripes to the side. Well, as usual, I got a bit carried away. It turns out, using bias tape to add stripes to the side of your pants is easy, fun, and super effective!
Tofino and Ukee are on sale this weekend for 25% off! No code required. Sale ends April 27, 2026.
Before we get to the stripes part, let’s talk about the Ukee pattern! Ukee is a shorts pattern that includes three different shorts lengths. It also has optional cargo pockets for the longest length! It does not include a pants view, but it is really easy to hack this pattern into pants. We’ve got a blog post all about it here! You can use this hack to make PJ pants, track pants, hiking pants, or lovely everyday pants! Cotton, linen, light denim, you name it. You can include the side cargo pocket or not, it is up to you. This pattern is so versatile!
For my Ukee track pants hack, I used a washed cotton poplin from Blackbird Fabrics. I am obsessed with this fabric. It is super lightweight but also durable. I used it to make my June cargo pants hack and I wear those all the time. The crotch area is still immaculate! I like that this fabric feels and looks like a technical nylon sportswear fabric but is actually cotton. It’s perfect for replicating this classic track pant look.
A note about fabric choice and bias binding: You want to choose a pants/shorts fabric that will play nicely with your bias binding fabric. You can also make your own bias binding that matches for the best result. In this case, the cotton poplin is a great pairing with store bought binding. They are both very stable fabrics with similar properties. If you want to add bias stripes to a loose linen fabric, you should use a linen binding. The store bought binding will likely be too stiff and cause the sides of the pants to hang weird.
I made our Ukee Shorts with the legs lengthened and no cargo pocket. I sized up one size because I wanted them to fit a little bit loose. If you want to do this but your pattern is already printed and cut, just cut the pattern a little bigger at the side seam to add some width! You can also do this for the shorts views and you can add stripes to those, too!
OK, so for the stripes. It really is as simple as it sounds. Sew the bias tape to the sides of the pants! I chose a double fold extra wide tape. Single fold would also work, but I was worried about the white tape having a small little strip of transparent fabric in the middle where the folds don’t quite meet up. I wanted it to be opaque so I went for the double fold. The width of the tape is totally up to you!
The Ukee pattern has you sew the backs to the fronts at the side seams first so it is easy to add the stripes at this point (after step 20). I pinned my tape on the side of my shorts, curving it to match the curves of my butt, knee, and calf. I like this curved look so much but straight stripes are also cool. Straight will also be a bit easier. I pinned every 4-6” (10-15 cm) or so. You can sew one stripe on to the pants and then add more, or pin them all on first. It is up to you!
Because I did curves, I avoided the front pocket and used the angle as a style line for my curve. If you want to do straight lines, you can sew right over the pocket opening, making it a bit smaller, or just put the lines on the back leg, behind the front pocket.
At the machine, I sewed one side of the tape down and then went back to the top and sewed the other side. I don’t recommend sewing back up the leg to sew the other side as it could result in twisting/roping of the tape. Sew both sides in the same direction. I went slow and took my time, repositioning the tape as needed. The spacing between my tape lines is not perfect but you really can’t tell. In some places it is 1/4" and in some is 1/2". Don’t stress about perfection!
I love how these pants turned out! They are so comfortable and fun to wear. I know I'll be reaching for these a ton, especially in the upcoming warmer weather. Lightweight, cool, and comfy - the trifecta! I hope you give sewing stripes with bias tape a try and grab the Ukee pattern for making shorts and pants this summer!
Tofino and Ukee are on sale this weekend for 25% off! No code required. Sale ends April 27, 2026.
