Cairo Men’s Trousers
Straight-cut men’s trousers with front and back pockets, tailored pleats and a comfortable partly elasticated waistband.
Project preview
This video is for members
Join Lulu Ferris to watch the complete class and sew along at your own pace.
What you’ll make
Sew straight-cut men’s pants with the practical details of a classic tailored pair and a little extra ease at the waist.
Cairo has angled side pockets, back welt pockets, front pleats, back darts, a zip fly, button fastening and belt loops. Elastic sections at the sides of the waistband add comfort.
What you’ll learn in this class
- Stabilize loosely woven fabric where edges could stretch or distort.
- Construct angled side pockets and integrate the front pleats.
- Mark and sew back darts and welt pockets with pocket bags.
- Build a zip fly with a fly shield and neat topstitching.
- Add side elastic to the waistband and sew it evenly.
- Finish the belt loops, buttonhole, button and hem.
Fabric choices
The sample uses a linen-viscose blend for a fluid summer pair. Linen or viscose offers a similar drape, while fine twill creates a chino-style finish and lightweight denim gives a more casual look.
Add interfacing to part or all of the waistband for more structure. It can be omitted with a light fabric when you want a softer result.
Make it your own
Shorten Cairo into shorts or a cropped pair. The separate basic pants class explains how to narrow the legs for a closer fit.
The side elastic is optional, although omitting it leaves the waistband looser. You can add buttons to the back welt pockets or substitute another back-pocket style for a denim version.
For a coordinated outfit, pair the pants with the Bruno polo shirt.
Pattern sizing
The pattern covers men’s sizes 34/36 through 54/56, for waists of 66–114 cm and hips of 78–126 cm. The listed finished length ranges from 111 to 116 cm by size.
The video class is accompanied by downloadable Cairo pattern files in A4 and A0 formats and a pattern information file with the size chart.
Pattern & materials
Patterns are included with membership
Active members can download every available PDF and materials list.
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