Two of the newest trends are turtlenecks and wide leg pants. But if you’ve been around a while, you know we’ve been loving these before. I was born in 1969 so it’s my third round of wide and flare leg pants and never stopped wearing turtlenecks, not even when I lived in Florida! In Florida, we wore sleeveless turtlenecks, under our work blazers at the office because the A/C was freezing, and solo in the heat outside. Typically a shorter mock-neck turtle owing to the subtropical climate.
Here’s my roundup of my favorite turtleneck sewing patterns and flare leg pant sewing patterns.
Favorite basic turtleneck sewing patterns
The Monroe from Tessuti in Australia is free. Tons of people have sewed this, so there are a zillion samples to view on Instagram.
The Nikko is both a turtleneck (fitted, mock neck) and a looser turtleneck dress.
The Shirred Turtleneck from Christine Jonson Patterns is both a raglan turtleneck and one with a shirred inset panel below the neck
Funnelneck from Christine Jonson Patterns – two pattern pieces: front/back and a sleeve. You can sew this faster than you can collect your laundry and sort it for washing
Cropped turtleneck Toaster Sweater from Sew House Seven – sew it all on a serger! Meets the top of your high-waisted pants
Fabrics: try them in a chic print or your favorite solid colors. Black is ultra chic (tech genius) look. Cotton-lycra offers stable support, bamboo or rayon lycra offer buttery soft comfort and ease in layering. Sweater knits add warmth (check the stretch percentage and go up a size if it’s not very stretchy.)
Favorite flare leg pants sewing patterns
Woven-fabric side zip flare leg pant (best fitting one ever!) with a fun gusset at the lower leg and flat felled seams with exceptional instructions. Make these and wear them forever, winter in a denim or twill, summer in linen. The Pant pattern from Ann Normandy Designs.
Hollywood flat elastic waist (hidden elastic) flare leg pant (cropped or long). Stretch denim-look knit, ponte knit. Miracle Pants from HotPatterns. These are OOP now, but you can find them online.
Negative ease 4-way stretch flare leg pant with front pockets and seaming details for cotton-lycra or ponte knit. Perfect Pants Flare from Christine Jonson Patterns
Boot cut cargo-style jeans with front pockets and back patch pockets for stretch woven fabrics like stretch denim and stretch corduroy. Boot Cut Jean from HotPatterns, now also OOP, but you can also find online.
Use your OOPs and stash fabrics
Odds are, you might even have a turtleneck pattern in your pattern library (I love my vintage ones). If you are over 50, you also have boot cut pants in your pattern library (also stash, there are some real oldies here!) And I *know* you have fabric stash. Before you rush out for something new, use your stash items.
Pick something from your closet to wear with your two new items and pick fabric to coordinate. Jackets, especially casual ones, or cardigans pair well with these. Grab a poncho or ruana to wear over the turtleneck and flare leg pants.
Styling turtlenecks and flare leg pants
Although boot cut pants look groovy with heels, I gave up heels a long time ago. I wear a pointy toe ballet flat (try Rothy’s!) or a chunky thick sole canvas sneaker for long length flare leg pants. You can wear Birks too, super 70s groovy, LOL.