Shalwar or chalwar are known by many names. Harem pants, pantaloons, and belly pants are among the names I've heard. Basically, it's a pair of very loose and baggy (and comfy!) pants with drawstring or elastic at the waistband and ankles. Not complicated.

Go for some lightweight fabric, preferably a gauzy kind of cotton. Anything gauzy and lightweight, really, though I've seen them in heavier fabrics like broadcloth. I like solids but I made a pair of white gauze with gold paisley patterned shalwar last year, and have gotten many compliments on them.

You'll need at least 3 yards of 45 or 60" fabric. 4 yards for preference. More if you lean toward being particularly poofy-panted.

And there they are! A very easy pattern. You'll want at LEAST 45 inches around each leg. Properly, 60 inches or more. Mine are two yards to a leg, 45" long so they blouse nicely. If you cut your shalwar longer than the necessary measurement by at least 5 inches, they'll be even more prettily baggy. Basically, I put measurement lines down, but cut the crotch so there's enough room to move. I used as a general rule 15 inches deep and four inches in (in other words, measurement #4 on the drawing would be 15 inches or more, and #5 would be four to five inches, depending on how big your belly is and how much room you like to have. Cut the pattern out, sew up the inner leg seams, sew the crotch with a bit of zigzag stitching to reinforce the crotch, sew your casings, put your elastic or drawstring in and you're done!

They're really easy. I promise.

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