I know barrel leg pants are getting a lot of hype right now – they’ve been around for a while now (since 2022) in earnest and they are seemingly getting lots of traction (along with their cousin, the balloon pant.) Some people love them, some hate them. I’ll share a bit about why I love them, and a couple of reviews of my favorite most-often-sewed-barrel leg pants pattern.
Why I love barrel leg pants
The shape is easy, wide leg but tapered at the hem. They also don’t have all their volume at the hips and waist(most barrel leg pant patterns have their fullness from middle thigh to middle calf). They feel like wide leg pants with out all the volume at the lower leg – this is a good alternative when you don’t want a wide pant but want some ease.
They are versatile and flattering. You can dress them up with a structured fabric and you can let them be casual with pieced lighter weight fabric. You can make them for hiking and camping and adventuring, and you can wear them to work and out to dinner.
Most of the patterns out there have unique piecing, panels and other details that make them interesting to sew. In fact, I think ALL of the ones I’ve sewn or seen as popular have these details. Some offer additional side leg pockets as well.
Barrel leg pants sewing pattern reviews
My two favorite are the Know Me 2033 Wave Set barrel leg pants and the Elvis (formerly Pleat) from Ready to Sew. The Madrone Pants from Sew Liberated are making a big run right now in popularity and designers all across the board are coming out with their version. I always say if you like a designer’s fit, buy their version of whatever is popular and sew it, you’ll get the same great fit you love (since designers use their own “blocks”) and you’ll get the newest style. Pattern Emporium has one called Making Moves. There are a bunch out there. Sew Bake Make released one not too long ago too, called the Baker Barrel Leg pants.
Styling barrel leg pants
Kate from Pattern Emporium has been showing her barrel leg pant with a waist-length top, including the asymmetrical top All Good Asymmetrical tee. Sew Bake Make’s Candice is showing her Baker Barrel Leg pants with the Cake Pop tube top (I’m all for a good tube top!) and Rafaelle from Ready to Sew is showing the Elvis with a cropped boxy tee. I think wearing a short(er) tee or top is ideal for the fullness of a barrel leg pant. For summer, try a hip-length tee or tank top, and for fall or winter, layer a shorter cropped sweater or sweatshirt over a cami or tee tucked into the pants. Barrel leg pants look great with a chunky sporty sandal (Birks, Teva, Nike, Sorel, etc.) but also with a platform sneaker, a chunky boot.
Fabrics for barrel leg pants
Most designers are using a bottom weight fabric, except Pattern Emporium showed theirs in a fluid drapey fabric too. The barrel shape is most evident in a firmer fabric, whether a ponte knit or a cotton / cotton twill or heavier linen/blend. I think structure works well, so don’t overlook at babywale corduroy, denim, twill or other firm bottomweight fabric.
Barrel leg pants are NOT carrot pants – the carrot shape is a trim waist, fullness at the hip and high hip and tapering pretty quick to a narrow hem. Carrot pants have their love too (I love them, they were my 1990s corporate pant look!) but the fullness of a barrel leg starts much lower and they are generally wider at the hem than carrot pants.