Aladdin Harem Pants
I have always enjoyed helping with my kids’ school productions over the years. This year the production was Aladdin!
My son was a bit disappointed when he was not given a speaking character, which was his first choice… but he was happy enough that he was in the orchestra playing the guitar.
I was pleased as my husband and I have always encouraged the musical side to him… AND he had me as his Mum and I was going to make sure that he will be “fabulous” in a costume… even if he won’t be on stage! Of course, as much as I can with the teacher's approval ;-)
I was excited when I found out other parents were also keen for their orchestra kids to be in costume too. After checking with the relevant teachers they recommended harem pants for the kids and I was more than happy to make a sample.
I made the pants with a matching sash following my son’s height which is about 140cm.
This is a simple harem pants for a kids production, so I will not be finishing the edges, but if you prefer you can always finish with a machine zig zag. My aim was for the easiest to make, cheapest and comfortable for the kids.
Materials
Harem Pants
1.5m black satin fabric (on a 112cm/44inch width)
85cm x 3mm elastic (my son’s waist is about 75cm)
40cm x 3mm elastic (my son’s calf/ankle area is about 30cm)
Sash
2 sets Red fleece 90cm x 8cm
Black velcro 5cm
1 Big button
Let's Start!
- Cut the 1.5 m in half lengthwise. You will now have 2 sets of 75 x 112cm fabrics.
- Align both fabrics and fold in half lengthwise again. Place the selvedge side closer to you. Pin around and trim any excess fabric.
- Mark on the fabric 5x10 inches (12.7 cm x 25.4 cm) on the right corner for the crotch. I have made it quite deep and straight for comfort for the kids. Cut as shown. (Keep the smaller piece for the rosettes later.)
- You should now have 2 fabrics as below. Sew both B sides together for both fabrics. B1 and B1, B2 and B2, right sides together.
- Waist
- Inner Pants
- Calf/Ankle
- Crotch
- Once B sides for both fabrics are sewn together, join the crotch part for both sides of the pants together D1 and D2. Pin together. Always start pinning from where B sides are joined and work towards the waist where you will now join A1 to A2. Machine sew together.
- Fold in 2.5 cm ( 1 inch) twice at C1 for calf/ankle. Machine sew all around leaving a 5cm (2 inches) gap for the elastic. Repeat for the other side C2. Your pants should look as below.
- Repeat fold for waist A and machine sew again leaving a 5cm gap.
- Use 2 safety pins and pin on each end of the waist elastic. Pin one side of the fabric close to the gap and insert the other pin through the gap as shown.
- Once it has gone through around the waist remove both pins and double knot the elastic. Tuck it inside the fold. Machine sew the gap close.
- Repeat for the calves/ankles. The harem pants are now complete!
Sash
- Cut one of the fleece in half and place as shown on one end of the uncut fleece. Pin to secure.
- Separate the Velcro and place each side as shown. The fuzzy (loop) side on top of the cut fleece which is the wrong side of the sash, and the scratchy (hook) side on the edge of the right side of the sash.
- Machine sew all in place.
- Use the leftover harem fabric (for crotch) and cut in half for the rosette.
- Fold a piece in 2 and gather with a running stitch into a rosette as shown.
- Sew a button in the centre. Now position the rosette on the right side of the sash on the other side of the cut fleece.
The Harem Pants and Matching Sash are complete!
It was a great relief when the teachers were happy with the sample. However, they suggested the sash to be in purple to go along with the theme for Aladdin. Which was great!
This is how it looked on my son!
I finally made 16 harem pants for the children and 2 for the teachers.
We were very fortunate with such lovely and supportive orchestra parents who not just helped with buying the materials for the costumes but also helped with many of the sashes.
The smile on the kids' faces, especially my son, on production day justified all my efforts. Their performance was incredible and they definitely looked amazing!
Of course, from the point of view of a totally “unbiased’ Mum :-D
This is a photo of MOST of the orchestra members. We gave up after a while trying to gather everyone before production!