The Whitney bottoms are high waist and provide moderate to full coverage. They look very cute with so many different tops, and they're a great basic to have.
We have a separate video tutorial on how to sew the Whitney bottoms, however we've found that the best method is the one used to make the Ranger bottoms.
If you prefer video instructions, click on the image below to watch the tutorial:
-3/4 yards of swimwear fabric
-Swimwear elastic (recommended for the best fit)
-Seam ripper
-Overlock machine OR zig-zag stitch on a regular sewing machine
Assemble your pattern by cutting out the pieces, taping them together, then cutting out the size you would like to make.
Cut your pieces. If you want to make your bottoms reversible, make sure to have two different fabrics to use. In total you’ll cut 1 of the front and 1 of the back in EACH fabric. If you’re using one fabric for the bottoms, cut 2 in the front and 2 in the back.
Once you’re done, you should have 4 pieces total- 2 fronts, and 2 backs.
Match your fronts and backs with right sides together. Pin and then sew along the leg holes and waist.
If you're using swimwear elastic, we recommend adding elastic to these same areas. Some prefer not to have elastic in the waist in order to have a looser more comfortable fit. Where you decide to put elastic is up to personal preference!
Once you've sewn the leg holes and waist, flip your FRONT piece out to the right side. With your BACK piece still inside out, insert the front piece inside of it. If you do this correctly, right sides should be together since your front piece is right side out and your back piece is inside out.
With the front piece still inside of the back piece, guide the sides and gussets so they're matched up. Pin them down to secure before sewing. You should be pinning through 4 layers of fabric.
Now sew the sides and gusset straight across. You should be sewing across 4 layers of fabric.
Now we can take the bottoms to the right side. To do this, seam rip a small hole where the tag would usually be.
Note that the size of the hole in the image below is NOT to scale, ideally make a hole as small as you can while still being able to pull everything through it.
Through the hole, pull your bottoms all the way through to bring them to the right side.
Now all that's left is finishing off the hole. You can either to a top stitch or you can use an invisible stitch.
That completes the Whitney bottoms! Thanks for following along with the tutorial.
If you have questions about sewing or construction, our Facebook group is a fantastic resource for new and experienced sewers alike. You can join here: https://facebook.com/groups/edgewaterave
