Knitted pants you say? If someone had suggested this for me some years back, I think I would have laughed so hard my coffee would have splurged out my nose. I mean, my kids grew up wearing super cute soakers and me-made leggings for sure, but seriously – for adults? I totally could not have pictured myself making some, and even much less so, actually wearing them!

Then something weird happened, pants kept showing up on my feed and I became increasingly intrigued – much to do with my nerdy techniques appreciation, I haven’t done this before so I must try it! – but even more so – now, I can totally picture myself wearing them! I’ve seen stylish ones, beautifully constructed ones, half-length, full length, and even shorts, cabled ones, fair isle ones, with flair, baggy ones, you name it. This might be an age thing, but every single one of those looks incredibly comfy to wear.

So I’m on a mission – I am going to find my perfect pair of pants to make this autumn. Please help me narrow down my options and tell me – which ones are your favourite?

New Pants in Town

New Pants in Town by Pickles (link to Ravelry page) are narrow style joggers, but way too stylish to only be running around in them. These could be dressed up or down, absolutely suitable for both work and lounging on the sofa. They are worked top down with quite a few fun techniques for the experienced knitter, but the design can easily be adapted for a simpler version where you just skip the pockets and short rows.

Made in pure wool, to prevent sagging and to make sure the pants keep their shape, you still want to choose a yarn that is lightweight and delicate to prevent bulk. I would choose G-uld No. 4 and work it with 2 strands held together. The New Pants in Town comes in sizes XS (S) M (L) XL (XXL), and when using the G-uld No.4 held double stranded you would need 4 (4) 5 (5) 5 (6) hanks in total.

Cable Crush Joggers

Cable Crush Joggers (link to Ravelry page) is Chantal of Knitatude’s take on the classic sweat pants. Can you imagine wearing anything else as comfortable as these? These comfy pants are designed with a loose fit in the tush, have short rows for an ample rump, and are tailored down to the ankle to give a cute “run-out-to-the-grocery store” type vibe. With a classic tie at the waist, double brim for a band and pockets with the cutest cable design, what more could one wish for. This is a project suited for the adventurous beginner, knit top-down, in the round, and seamless.

The pattern is written in nine sizes – XS (S, M, L, XL) (2XL, 3XL, 4XL, 5XL) using a worsted weight yarn, there can be no other choice that the Fibre Co. Cumbria for these ones. The Merino will give comfort, the Masham will give sturdiness and keep the shape, where as the Mohair adds strength and wearability. In Cumbria you’ll need 4 (5, 5, 5, 6) (7, 7, 7, 8) hanks to complete your dream joggers!

Laplace

Admittedly, this is not a project for the faint-hearted, but these trousers have flair! I mean, have you ever seen anything as elegant? Laplace by Linda Marveng (link to Ravelry page) are proper Palazzo Pants; long, wide-legged and worn high with an elasticated waistband. Named after the mathematician Pierre-Simon Laplace, this design features side seam cables and pockets, but if the original seems like too much of an undertaking why not turn them into culottes by making them shorter, to below the knees?

The pattern is written in sizes XS (S/M, L/XL, 2XL/3XL, 4XL, 5XL), and I feel that Laplace deserves that little extra luxury feel to them, so I would totally choose the Fyberspates Scrumptious 4ply/Sport for these. The merino is smooth and the high silk content will not only add that luxurious sheen to the design but give strength and help hold the shape. In the Scrumptious you would need 7 (8, 9, 9, 10, 11) hanks to make the Laplace pants.

My favorite pants

For working from home or lazy evenings of the sofa, still looking good for when you want to pop out and grab a bite or something. My Favorite Pants (link to Ravelry page) by Yvonne B. Thorsen sits between the New Pants in Town and Cable Crush Joggers coming to their width, but just as high on the being comfortable scale. And can I just mention that of all the pants I’ve found, and am considering, the waistband of these are definitely the most well-tailored ones I’ve seen. I know if I go for these I will quickly have a new every day favourite to wear!

This design calls for a Merino – so the options are bottom less. All though I wouldn’t choose the busiest of colours I think that given the simplicity of this design with less stitch patterns and textures, a hand dyed option would add interest while working on those endless rounds of stockinette, and make the unique colour ways shine through the design when finished. I would go for the Fyberspates Vivacious 4Ply in one of their more subtle variegated colours, but if you feel a bit more adventurous choose those with more colours combined – the result is bound to be stunning no matter what. The pattern is written for sizes Small, (Medium, Large), X-Large, and you’ll need 6 (6, 7) 8 hanks in the Vivacious to make these pants happen.

Feelgood Trousers

Another pair of joggers, but what I really like about the Feelgood Trousers (link to Ravelry page) by Sari Nordlund is that they look a bit more fitted rather than just being ‘baggy’. The legs seems straighter, and I do adore the fold ups, The Feel Good Trousers are just a little bit more tailored I think. These are made in a thinner 4ply, meaning that you could easily make these with the G-uld No.4. The naturally dyed colours of G-uld will simply make this design shine and have I mentioned that the meterage of those hanks just goes on and on – so we’re talking cost efficiency here as well! Not only that, but this is a FREE pattern up for grabs!

The Feelgood Trousers are graded in sizes XS (S) M/L (XL) and you’ll only need 3 (3) 4 (4) hanks of G-uld No. 4 to make them.

Kalaloch

The Kalaloch (link to Ravelry page) by Andrea Rangel are a cables dream, and I absolutely love how they add not only to the design but to the shape – these are some incredibly flattering leggings! They are perfect for being active, the fit will keep it’s shape and look good no matter what you do, whether going for a jog or just hanging in the park, the Kalaloch will not sag. There are plenty of exciting techniques to sink your needles into, short row shaping, provisional cast-on, picking-up stitches and cabling of course, still I would say that with a little bit of guidance even an exploring beginner could tackle these with ease.

Made in DK weight yarn, I’m definitely looking at the Fyberspates Vivacious DK for the Kalaloch. You’ll get the hand dyed variegated effect as shown on the original, if you prefer for your stitch pattern to really pop go for the more subtle shades, if you are more into showing off the yarn itself then choose some of the more dramatic colours. This pattern is graded in 7 sizes with full hip measurements of: 29 (32, 35, 37.75, 39.25, 42.25, 45) in / 73.5 (81.5, 89, 96, 99.5, 107.5, 114.5) cm, you want to choose a size that has 3 – 5 inches / 7 – 12cm of negative ease compared to your body measurements. When using the Vivacious DK you’ll need 4 (4, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6) hanks to finish your Kalaloch.

Fair Isle Pants

Another pair of cropped leggings for more active wear, but we’re swapping cables for fair isle this time. Again a very clever move in terms of creating a sturdy fabric that won’t loose it’s shape. But even more so, The Fair Isle Pants (link to Ravelry page) comes with instructions on how to take proper crotch measurements and how to adjust so you are absolutely sure there will be no sagging happening. With the Fair Isle Pants, designer Emily Ringelman offers a design which is highly customisable, if the mood strikes you, make shorts, Bermuda shorts, or full-length pants. Use all of the colours or pair down the chart to just two colors. Skip the colour work entirely and just make plain pants! So many possibilities!

The Fair Isle Pants are graded in sizes S (M, L, XL, 2X, 3X), and for a worsted yarn with lots of colour options I would choose The Fibre Co. Cumbria! Sticking to the colour work you’ll need 4 different colours: MC, CC1, CC2 and CC3.
In Cumbria that adds up to: MC 3 (3, 3, 4, 4, 5), CC1 2 (2, 2, 2, 3, 3), CC2 1 (1, 2, 2, 2, 2), CC3 1 (1, 1, 1, 1, 1) hanks, and off you go to make the Fair Isle Pants!

Fabdabbadoozie

Not only are the Fabdabbadoozie (link to Ravelry page) comfortable, they are stylish too!!! And they’ve got EVERYTHING: a tuck for the cords, glorious cables along the side and pockets! When creating the Fabdabbadoozies designer Grete Jenssen set out to make pants that could be adapted to any shape or need. She encourages you to try them on as you go, and she offers lots of suggestions on how to make them perfectly yours with examples and instructions through out the pattern.

The Fabdabbadoozie pattern calls for Hillesvåg Tinde, the Norwegian Peltwool will give the structure needed for these pants to keep their shape, but they will be soft and comfy to wear, the fabric when knitted in Tinde gives a subtle halo which will make this design truly stand out from the crowds – I am seriously considering the colour Cognac for my own pair. The pattern comes in sizes Xsmall, (small, medium, large, Xlarge, XXlarge, XXXlarge, XXXXlarge) and you’ll need 5 (6, 6, 6, 7, 7, 8, 8) hanks of Tinde to complete yours.

OMG Overalls

might, I think I covered all options now, we’ve got joggers, cropped pants, full length and customisable shorts – but I could not do a proper post about pants leaving out overalls now could I. To be honest – overalls, knitted, seriously??? For adults??? Then I found these, and my heart stopped – I mean, how insanely cool are the OMG Overalls!!! According to Pickles these are the most comfortable pants ever, and who am I to argue?

With such a huge garment, I would turn to a lightweight yarn that is sturdy enough to maintain the shape even when used repeatedly, I really couldn’t face to wash and block by measurements every time these got worn, so for me there can only be one alternative and that is the Hillesvåg Sølje. The pattern is graded in sizes XS (S) M (L) XL, and when using Sølje you will need 4 (4) 4 (5) 5 hanks.