How to make a sweatpants (joggers)

1. Materials & tools

Materials (men's M)

• Main fabric (French terry or sweatshirt fleece) — about 150 cm wide × 210 cm (59 × 83 in); about 220 cm (87 in) for XL
• Ribbing for the cuffs — about 40 cm (16 in)
• Flat elastic (3 cm / 1¼ in wide) — your waist measurement
• Optional: cord for the waist and eyelets

Tools

• Sewing machine (or needle and thread)
• Fabric marker or pencil
• Ruler and scissors
• Iron
• Pins or clips

2. Make the pattern (auto-generated in Katagami)

With the Katagami pattern tool, you just enter the finished size and it drafts a seam-allowance-included pattern, tiled to print at actual size on Letter or A4.

1. Open the tool
   Open the pattern tool and choose “Adult clothes” → “Sweatpants (joggers)” from the tabs at the top.
2. Enter the size
   Enter hip, rise, inseam, hem width, hem ribbing height, ease and the waist casing. Presets cover women's M, men's M/L and a child size.
3. Set the seam allowance
   Use the slider at the bottom (beginners: 1.0–1.5 cm / about 3/8–5/8 in).
4. Print
   Press “Print (actual size)”, then in the print dialog set Scale = 100% and turn “Fit to page” OFF. Check the 50 mm calibration box on the first guide sheet with a ruler.

3. Cutting the fabric

1. Trace the pattern
   Trace the leg pattern and the cuff ribbing.
2. Cut
   Cut two fronts and two backs, flipping the pattern for the second piece of each pair (the back has a deeper crotch curve than the front), plus two cuffs.
3. Finish the edges
   Serge or zigzag the allowances, or skip it — knit does not fray.

4. Sewing

4-1. Sew the crotch seams

1. Sew the two fronts together along the center front curve, then the two backs.

4-2. Sides and inseams

1. Lay front and back right sides together and sew both side seams.
2. Sew the inseam in one run from hem to hem and reinforce the crotch junction.

4-3. Attach the cuffs

1. Sew each cuff into a loop and fold it in half lengthwise.
2. Pin it to the leg opening in quarters and sew, stretching the ribbing to fit.
3. Cut the ribbing to about 85% of the leg opening — that difference is what makes the cuff hug the ankle.

4-4. Waist

1. Fold the waist edge over twice to make a casing and stitch, leaving a gap.
2. Thread the elastic, fit it and close the gap. Add eyelets and a cord at the front if you want a drawstring.

✏️ Ribbing must be shorter than the opening it goes on, or it does nothing. About 85% is the standard ratio: enough to pull in, not so much that it grips.

5. Tips & variations

• Make a set: the same fabric as the hoodie gives you a matching sweatsuit.
• Add pockets: side-seam pockets are worth the ten extra minutes on pants you will live in.
• No ribbing: a plain double-fold hem gives straight-leg sweatpants instead of joggers.