Now that the weather is warming up, we all want to get outside and work on our land. When we’re working in the yard or garden, it’s a good idea to wear strong, durable work pants.
We’ve looked at several suppliers for good quality outdoor work clothes before. Take a look at the best knee pads for work for our reviews and we compare them.
Sewing Kneepads into Work Pants – Step by Step Instructions
To sew knee pads into work pants, you’ll need a sewing machine with air-feed for leather and vinyl if you have access to one at home or elsewhere. If not, take your pants to a local seamstress shop and ask them to do it.
You may have to wait until they are less busy so that they can give the job due attention! A good tip is to make sure that the repair shops where you might get canvas tent patches sewn on don’t mind doing sewing jobs on clothing too.
Step 1: Get Some Knee Pads
The first step is to get some knee pads. You’ll need about two pairs of knee pads for each pair of work pants you want to sew them into. They should be made from a durable material like leather or neoprene, which will help prevent wear and tear on the knee pads themselves.
Step 2: Find the Right Spot on Your Work Pants for Sewing Kneepads
The next step is to find the right spot on your work pants for sewing kneepads. You’ll want them near the knee area but not too close that it will cause discomfort when bending over and working with tools or other equipment.
Step 3: Measure the Width
Measure the width of your calves and thighs. This should equal about 1″ less than what the waist measurements are on your pants (assuming they fit OK). If not, get a sewing pattern with adjustable straps to measure yourself properly so as to get perfect-fitting pants for work or play.
Mark at least two lines 1/2″ to 3/4″ apart across each knee pad where you want them sewn in place. You can use a non-permanent marker to make these marks.
Just mark on top of the fabric that is folded over. Leave enough room between the lines so there is room to move without wrinkling or tearing of the material.
If you want even more cushioning, make a “tube” for each knee pad out of an old comforter or other soft fabric. Sew 5-6 stitches at 3/8″ intervals across one end and then roll up starting from that end. You could even wrap up several layers of foam sheeting to get extra padding.
Step 4: Sew Each Knee Pad
Sew each knee pad so that the knee pad is held in place between two lines of stitching, placing the kneepad seam directly over where you’ve placed a line on the pants. Some people recommend using a heavy-duty sewing needle (e.g., leather) for this step but if you have thick fabric on your work pants it probably won’t matter what kind of needle you use.
Make sure to remove any pins or other objects before switching the machine to “sew” rather than “zig-zag”! The 3/8″ gap will allow extra room for using different-sized foam sheets as needed making these pads adaptable to many preferences and body types.
If desired, also sew another pair of knee pads to the inside of your pants legs (usually called “calf pads” in this case). That way you will have a total of 4 layers over each knee, shoulder, or other vulnerable area.
Even though these are thicker than some of my previous pairs, we don’t find them restricting at all! They look a little funny when worn alone but work great together with a pair of lightweight cotton athletic socks and allow you to kneel down to plant bulbs or do yardwork without worrying about bruising any part of your body.
To anchor the straps into place, simply sew on snaps or buttons and use buttonhole stitches so they can be removed for easier washing.
Step 5: Wear Your Pants with Pride
The last step is to wear your pants with pride! You’ve put a lot of time and effort into making these work pants, so make sure everyone knows how hardworking you are by wearing them around town or at home while doing housework.
