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Sewing a pair of pants that fit can be a bit intimidating, especially if you're new to garment sewing! Today we're sharing project ideas and a few tips to help take the mystery out of the process. We've paired beautiful, wearable fabrics with pants patterns that you'll love making a part of your wardrobe. It's a Pants Party, and we hope you'll join in the fun!

What do we want to wear this summer? Cool, flowy pants, please! Lightweight woven fabrics like tencel and linen/viscose have a lovely, fluid drape, so they're a beautiful match for patterns like the Luna Pants and the Esti Co-ord set. These garments are easy to wear and care for, and can be worn casually or dressed up! Stonewashed ramie has a natural nubbly texture with a soft drape that's perfect for a pair of casual Arenite Pants.

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Lady McElroy – Chloe Linen/Viscose – Hands On – Midnight

MeetMILK – Tencel Tabby Canvas – Dusty Teal

Stonewashed Ramie - Purple

Jeans are our favorite year-round casual pants, and we're looking forward to using some of our denim finds for patterns beyond the standard jeans silhouette. With a wide, pieced leg, the Peaks & Valleys Pants are a fantastic match for a midweight stretch denim or two. The barrel leg silhouette is super popular right now, so it's the perfect time to sew your own—you'll love creating a custom-fit Barrel Leg Trouser in your favorite non-stretch denim. We're also loving the idea of pants like The Pegs in lightweight, bold-print cotton canvas, just for fun! We love pairing a classic style with an unexpected print for a one-of-a-kind statement piece.

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LA Designer Deadstock - Cotton Denim - Indigo

LA Designer Deadstock – Cotton/Spandex Stretch Denim – Muted Indigo

Printed Cotton Canvas - Abstract Collage - Ocean

If you're looking for ultimate comfort in your office wear, be sure to check out our selection of ponte knits! A smooth, stretchy ponte knit is a great choice for a pair of Parker or Renee ponte pants—you'll love that they look totally professional but feel like the comfiest loungewear. Our softer ponte knits are a perfect match for the more casual Pants No. 2. This is a pattern we'll make up in a rainbow of colors to wear layered under a fun tunic, dress, or skirt this fall.

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Arietta - Rayon Blend Ponte Knit - Olive

Palermo Rayon/Nylon/Spandex Ponte - Peacock

New York Designer Deadstock – Rayon/Nylon Ponte de Roma – Lilac

Before you begin any part of your project, you'll want to measure yourself. Fit is especially important for pants, so working with current, accurate data makes a big difference! If it's been a while since you have sewn a pattern, take a little time to confirm your current measurements. If you need some measuring tips, we love this tutorial from Cashmerette!

If you're brand new to sewing or have never sewn pants before, we recommend a super-simple pattern like Pants No. 1 from 100 Acts of Sewing. This is a perfect pattern for beginners and can be a quick project for sewists of all levels. Sewing Pants No. 1 is a great way to learn all the parts of a pants pattern, and to build skills and confidence before your next garment project! Stonemountain & Daughter Fabrics owner Suzan wears a pair of Pants No. 1 in a rayon/linen blend.

When we're trying out a new pants pattern we like to make a wearable muslin. This is a pair of pants that we'll use to customize the fit—it's not made out of our best fabric, but it's still something we'd like to wear. If you're making elastic waist pants, a wearable muslin of quilting cotton can be an affordable option, and as a plus, you've just made a fun pair of pajama pants! If you're making a more fitted or structured style of pants, sewing a pair of shorts is an excellent test of the pattern and fit before you cut into your good fabric.