Protea Pants

I love the look of these pants but I ruined expensive fabric because I had to unpick the side seam so many times due to the fussy construction of the pocket. This was the most complicated pocket I've ever sewn. I'm trying them again but leaving out the pocket.

The Protea Pants are one of those patterns that look polished while still being incredibly comfortable to wear. The fit is relaxed without feeling oversized, and the silhouette is modern and flattering.

The instructions are clear and easy to follow, making the sewing process enjoyable from start to finish. The construction is well thought out, and the finished garment has a professional look. They're also versatile—you can dress them up with a linen shirt and sandals or keep them casual with a tank and sneakers.

I especially love how the pattern works in linen, giving the pants beautiful drape and making them perfect for warm weather. They're comfortable enough for everyday wear but elevated enough to become a wardrobe staple.

Overall, I highly recommend the Protea Pants to anyone looking for a stylish, wearable sewing pattern. They're the kind of trousers you'll want to make more than once in different fabrics and colours.

I really enjoyed sewing the Protea Pants. The instructions are clear and detailed, and I learned a lot because this was my first time sewing trousers of this kind. I especially appreciated being able to print only the size I needed—it made the process much easier.

I was between sizes 12 and 14. Since my waist measurement was exactly 86 cm, I chose size 14. The instructions explain how to measure the crotch depth, but this is where I made a mistake. I initially kept the original 28 cm depth, and once the trousers were finished, I realised the waist sat much too high on me. I’m 162 cm tall, so shortening patterns designed for a taller height is a common adjustment for me.

My first pair was made from white linen. The fabric was slightly transparent, so my underwear and the ends of the pocket bags were visible. Because the pockets extend to the centre front, their lower edge created a visible line across the front. I also found that the open pleats added more volume around my stomach than I preferred.

For my second pair, I used a khaki midweight cotton with a little elastane and shortened the crotch depth by 4 cm. The overall result was much better, although there was still some pulling from the waist. Next time, I may try size 16 together with the shortened crotch depth.

There is definitely a learning curve when sewing trousers, as so many fitting details need to work together. Since I didn’t make a toile first, my linen pair became a wearable toile. I think a third version could be the one where I get the fit just right! Overall, this is a very good pattern with excellent instructions, and I would happily sew it again.

Great pattern!! Perfect pants for any occasion.

The instructions are written so clearly. I'm very much a beginner sewer (this was my third project) and I had no issues following along. I'll definitely be sewing more patterns from paradise patterns