HACK || Flared Olli Pants

August 17, 2019

It took me a while, but at the moment, I'm a bit obsessed with flared pants. Especially on my 2 year old toddler - it looks so darn cute on mini humans! I was toying with the idea to hack our free Olli shorts & pants into a flared version for quite some time. And now with all the beautiful summery cotton-linen-gauze fabrics around, I just had to give it a go! Well, I for one LOVE how it turned out - I'm envisioning many more flared Olli's in cute all-over printed fabrics in the future! So I figured it's about time that I share this surprisingly easy Flared Olli Pants hack!

STEP ONE

Download and print the Olli Shorts & Pants pattern. You can find the code to download the pattern for free in the pinned post in our Facebook group. The pattern is in layers so you only have to print the size you need. Because of the relaxed fit of the Olli, it's very important to go by your child's measurements, with the hip measurement being the most important! For my toddler Fio, I went with a size 86 in width and 92 in length. When in between sizes, size down. The main pattern pieces you need to adjust to create a flared leg are pattern pieces 1B Front leg, 2B Side leg, 3B Back leg, 4B Inside leg (and optionally 5B Pocket).

STEP TWO

To create a flared leg, we're going to slim the leg down around the knee and add width to the bottom of the leg. So first you need to determine the knee height of your child measured from the waist down. If you don't have your child present, I've created an adjustment recommendation chart, based on standard measurements and the adjustments I made to my own version of the flared Olli pants. But I do recommend to use the actual measurements of your child!

STEP 3

Start by drawing the knee line by measuring down from the waist on your side leg pattern piece first. Also draw the knee line on the other 3 leg pattern pieces. 

 STEP 4

To determine the amount you like to take away from the knee point and add to the bottom leg, you need to take and calculate a few measurements. First, measure the total knee width and bottom width of all 4 Olli leg pattern pieces, keep the 1cm seam allowance on all sides in mind (that's 8cm in total)! 
Also measure your child around the knee and foot to determine the knee width and flared leg width of your preference. Compare and subtract these measurements.

As an example, here are the measurements I used:
Total knee width in size 86 = 30cm
Desired knee width = 26 cm
Difference = 4cm 
4cm divided by 8 sides = - 0,5cm at all 8 sides at the knee

Total bottom width in size 86 = 26cm
Desired knee width = 34 cm
Difference = 8cm 
8cm divided by 8 sides = +1cm at all 8 sides at the bottom
Alternatively, you can use the measurements in the recommendation chart above!

Mark all the measurements you need to take away/add to all 4 leg pattern pieces.

STEP 5 

Now you're ready to draw in your new seam lines! Follow the original seam lines and gradually draft towards the new knee width and bottom width. Make sure all the lines are smooth and slightly rounded. Also make sure to add all notches to your adapted pattern. The red line is the your new and adapted pattern.

POCKET
When using the side pocket, make sure to adapt the pocket pattern piece to your adapted side leg pattern piece.

And that's it! Now that you've adapted your pattern, you can continue sewing your Flared Olli Pants by following the sewing tutorial. Can you imagine how cute this would look in a rib cord for fall? Don't forget to share your makes on social media or join the FREEkin' Sewing Challenge with your own version of the Flared Olli Pants!

XO, Elles

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