The Best Easy Pants Pattern? My Syd Graham Lane Pants

I’m always looking for pants patterns that are comfortable, easy to sew, and versatile enough to work with different fabrics. The Lane Pants by Syd Graham Patterns checked all three boxes for me. I’m supper late to the party, but that’s nothing new lol. I’ve already made two pairs one casual and one dressier and I can definitely see a few more in my future.

And yes, the pattern was printed at Blue Cup Shop LOL. I had to get that little plug in!

The Pattern

The Lane Pants are pull-on, fully elasticated pants with a relaxed silhouette. I cut a straight size 16, and I found that there was plenty of ease without the pants feeling overwhelmingly large. I really like the waistband, it’s fully elasticated, elastic waist pants can sometimes have a lot of extra fabric around the waist, but I didn’t find that to be the case here. The waist is comfortable without feeling excessively wide or bulky. The instructions were also straightforward and easy to follow. Overall, I think this is a well-drafted pattern and a relatively uncomplicated sew.

Pair #1: Brown and White Printed Canvas

My first pair was made in a brown and white printed canvas fabric that had been sitting in my stash for quite a while.

For this version, I made two adjustments:

• Lowered the center front by 1½ inches
• Added 2 inches to the leg length

The canvas gives the pants more structure, so this pair has a casual look. It was also a good fabric for seeing the actual shape of the pattern because there isn’t a lot of drape disguising the silhouette. After wearing them, I realized something important: I don’t actually need to lower the center front.

Sometimes you make an adjustment because you think you need it, and then wearing the finished garment tells you otherwise. For my next pair, I’m going to keep the center front exactly as drafted. That’s one of the reasons I like making a pattern more than once. The first version gives you information (wearable muslin or “sample” if you’re fancy LOL. The second version helps you refine it, and before you know, you have a TNT (tried and true) pattern.

Pair #2: Rayon Drapey Suiting

For my second pair, I went in a completely different direction and used a drapey rayon suiting. This fabric immediately changed the personality of the Lane Pants. Instead of a casual pull-on pant, they started looking much more like an easy work trouser and with the ease and elastic waistband, they are giving secret pajamas lol.

For this pair, I:

• Lowered the center front 1 inch
• Added 2 inches to the leg length
• Narrowed the legs from approximately the knee to the hem by about 3 inches per leg
• Added belt loops

The narrower leg combined with the drapey suiting gave me a dressier silhouette, but the belt loops might be my favorite modification.

Belt Loops Make a Difference

Adding belt loops is such a simple change, but I think it elevates these pants. Use any pants pattern you have to borrow the belt loop instructions, or look up the process on Youtube university. The Lane Pants are still an elastic waist pull-on pant underneath, but adding a belt makes them look just a little more intentional and polished. That’s especially useful when making them in suiting for work. I will definitely add belt loops again. In fact, I’m already thinking about taking the workwear version one step further.

What I’ll Change on My Next Pair

My next modification will probably be a faux fly, because, why not?? I think that’s the detail my dressier Lane Pants are missing. A faux fly, belt loops, and a nice drapey suiting could make these read much more like traditional trousers while keeping the comfort and simplicity of an elastic-waist pull-on pant. Rather than reinventing the wheel, I’m thinking about using the Carolyn Pajamas as a reference for drafting the faux-fly detail.

I’d also consider adding back patch pockets to another casual pair and maybe a welt pocket to a dressier pair, decisions, decisions lol. And, I haven’t ruled out trying the cargo-pocket option either. That’s what I like about a good basic pants pattern: once the fit works, you can start playing with the details.

Would I Narrow the Legs Again?

Yes, but I don’t think the Lane Pants “need” narrower legs. After making both versions, I actually think the original leg shape is good as drafted. Instead of permanently changing my main pattern, I may create a second version specifically for the narrower leg. That would give me two TNT options:

Original Lane: the pattern’s fuller leg for casual and relaxed versions.

Narrow Lane: my modified leg for a slightly more tailored workwear look.

That makes more sense to me than treating the narrower leg as a correction. It isn’t really a fit correction; it’s a style choice.

Fabric Ideas for Future Lane Pants

The rayon suiting version convinced me that the Lane Pants could become a very useful easy pull-on work pant. I’d happily make another pair in suiting, particularly something with enough drape to fall nicely over the hips and legs without looking too casual.

For a casual pair, I’m thinking about a bottom-weight sateen, something substantial enough for pants but not so stiff that I lose the relaxed silhouette. And then there’s linen. Summer is winding down, so I’m not sure I want to make a lightweight linen pair right now. But if I find a medium-weight linen in my stash (cause no fabric shopping right now) that can transition into early fall, I may change my mind. A richer fall color with a little more weight could be really good.

Cost of My Lane Pants

I paid $16 for the Lane Pants pattern. Both versions used just under 3 yards of fabric and my fabric came from Fabric Mart, very deep stash, but I originally paid around $6 per yard. That puts the fabric cost at roughly $18 per pair, plus notions and the cost of the pattern. I will say, fabric is getting expensive so I don’t see me getting these types of prices on fabric but you never know, there are still some good sales sometimes. Once I make the pattern several times, that $16 pattern cost gets spread across multiple garments, which makes this a pretty economical workhorse pattern especially if I continue shopping my stash.

Fit and Final Thoughts

I cut a straight size 16, and the amount of ease worked well for me. After two versions, my biggest takeaway is that I probably did more fitting than I needed to do. The center front doesn’t need to be lowered for me, so I’ll return to the original drafting there. The original leg shape is also perfectly good. My narrower version gives me another silhouette, but I wouldn’t call it an improvement to the pattern, more like an alternative. That’s a good sign.

When I can make a pattern and realize afterward that most of my changes were preferences rather than necessary fit corrections, I consider the drafting successful. The Lane Pants are comfortable, the instructions are easy to follow, and the pattern changes personality depending on the fabric. Canvas gave me a casual pant, while rayon suiting moved it surprisingly close to workwear.

Would I make the Syd Graham Lane Pants again? Absolutely.

My next pair will probably have:

• Belt loops
• A faux fly
• The center front left as drafted
• The original leg or my TNT narrowed-leg variation
• Possibly back patch pockets

At this point, I’m less interested in “fixing” the Lane Pants and more interested in seeing how many different versions I can get from the pattern.

What’s Next on My Sewing Table?

With summer winding down, my sewing brain is already moving toward fall. I want to make a few tops, wrap dresses, and a vest, and I’m starting to think about fabrics that can transition into cooler weather rather than making pieces that will only get a few weeks of wear. And then there’s the question of whether I should start a costume, I’m not sure I’m ready to commit to that yet! Every year I ask the same question lol.

The pictures may not be the greatest, but they do what we need them to do: we can see how the pants look. And sometimes that’s enough.

Pattern: Lane Pants by Syd Graham Patterns
Size Made: Straight size 16
Fabric: Printed canvas and rayon drapey suiting
Fabric Used: Just under 3 yards per pair
Pattern Cost: $16
Fabric Cost: Approximately $6 per yard from Fabric Mart
Would I Make It Again? Yes, and I already have plans for the next pair.

Have you made the Lane Pants? I’d love to know what fabric you used and whether you made any fit or style changes. Leave a comment below, and if you’ve been thinking about making a pair, I hope seeing my two versions gives you a few ideas!