Easy Flare Yoga Pants

Relaxed positive-ease knit pants with gentle flare

Comfortable pull-on pants inspired by yoga leggings—roomy through the hip and thigh (2–4" positive ease), then flaring softly from below the knee to the hem. Worked seamlessly top-down in worsted-weight yarn. Easy skill level: knit/purl, simple increases, basic in-the-round construction.

Materials

• Yarn: Worsted weight (category 4), approximately 1100 (1250, 1400, 1600) yd / 1005 (1145, 1280, 1465) m. Soft acrylic, wool, or cotton-blend recommended for drape and easy care.
• Needles: US 7 (4.5 mm) 24–32" / 60–80 cm circular for body; same size DPNs or small-circumference method for legs. US 6 (4 mm) 24–32" circular for waistband (or one size smaller than gauge needle).
• Notions: Stitch markers, waste yarn or stitch holders, tapestry needle, 1 yd / 1 m smooth scrap yarn or cord for drawstring (or ¾–1" elastic), scissors.

Gauge

20 sts and 28 rnds = 4" / 10 cm in stockinette stitch in the round on larger needles, blocked. Check gauge carefully—fit depends on it.

Sizes

Women’s S (M, L, XL) Finished hip circumference: 38 (42, 46, 50)" / 96.5 (106.5, 117, 127) cm
Finished waist (unstretched rib): approx. 30 (34, 38, 42)" / 76 (86.5, 96.5, 106.5) cm
Inseam: approx. 28 (29, 30, 30)" / 71 (73.5, 76, 76) cm (adjustable)
Ankle/flare circumference: approx. 16 (17.5, 19, 20.5)" / 40.5 (44.5, 48.5, 52) cm

Choose size by hip measurement + 2–4" ease. Sample shown in M.

Abbreviations (US)

• BOR: beginning of round
• CO: cast on
• k: knit
• kfb: knit into front and back of stitch (1 st increased)
• p: purl
• pm: place marker
• rep: repeat
• rnd(s): round(s)
• RS: right side
• st(s): stitch(es)
• St st: stockinette stitch (knit every rnd in the round)
• tog: together
• wyif: with yarn in front

Pattern Notes

• Pants are worked top-down in one piece to the crotch, then each leg is completed separately.
• Positive ease is built into the hip/thigh numbers; fabric will skim the body rather than cling.
• Flare is created with paired increases every few rounds on the lower leg only.
• Waistband is folded for a casing; finish with drawstring, elastic, or both.
• Length is easily customized: try on before binding off.
• All stitch counts are given as S (M, L, XL).

Instructions

Waistband

With smaller circular needle, CO 170 (190, 210, 230) sts. Join to work in the rnd, being careful not to twist; pm for BOR.

Rib rnd: *K1, p1; rep from * to end.
Work Rib rnd until waistband measures 2" / 5 cm.

Turning rnd (creates neat fold line): Purl 1 rnd.

Change to larger needle. Next rnd (casing setup): Knit all sts.
Continue in St st until piece measures 1½" / 4 cm from turning rnd.
This section will be folded to the inside later to form the casing.

Body (Hips to Crotch)

Continue even in St st until piece measures 8 (8.5, 9, 9.5)" / 20.5 (21.5, 23, 24) cm from turning rnd (or desired rise to crotch).
Stitch count remains 170 (190, 210, 230).
(At gauge: 170 sts = 34" unstretched fabric that relaxes/blocks to ~38" finished hip with ease; larger sizes scale the same way ✓.)

Divide for Legs

Next rnd: K85 (95, 105, 115), place next 85 (95, 105, 115) sts on waste yarn or holder for Left Leg, remove BOR marker.
You will now work only on the 85 (95, 105, 115) sts remaining for the Right Leg.
Using the backward-loop method or knitted cast-on, CO 10 sts for crotch ease, pm for new BOR at center of these 10 sts. Join to work the Right Leg in the rnd.
Right Leg stitch count: 85 + 10 = 95 (105, 115, 125) sts ✓.

Right Leg

Work even in St st until leg measures 14 (14.5, 15, 15)" / 35.5 (37, 38, 38) cm from crotch CO (or to just below knee—try on).

Begin flare increases
Inc rnd: K1, kfb, knit to last 2 sts, kfb, k1. (2 sts increased)
Rep Inc rnd every 6th rnd 7 more times (8 increase rnds total).
Stitch count: 95 (105, 115, 125) + 16 = 111 (121, 131, 141) sts ✓.

Work even in St st until full inseam measures 28 (29, 30, 30)" / 71 (73.5, 76, 76) cm from crotch, or 1" / 2.5 cm less than desired finished length.

Cuff
Change to smaller needles (or stay on larger for softer edge).
Rib rnd: *K1, p1; rep from * to last st, k1 (sizes with odd count).
Work 1" / 2.5 cm of rib.
Bind off loosely in rib.

Left Leg

Return 85 (95, 105, 115) held sts to larger needles.
With RS facing, join yarn at the crotch edge.
Pick up and knit 10 sts across the crotch cast-on edge of the Right Leg, pm for BOR at center of these 10 sts. Join to work in the rnd.
Left Leg stitch count: 85 + 10 = 95 (105, 115, 125) sts ✓.

Work exactly as for Right Leg: even to below knee, same 8 Inc rnds every 6th rnd to 111 (121, 131, 141) sts, even to match inseam length, then matching rib cuff and bind-off.

Finishing

Weave in all ends securely.
Block gently to measurements, encouraging the flare.

Waistband casing: Fold waistband to the wrong side along the purl turning rnd. With tapestry needle and matching yarn, whipstitch the CO edge neatly to the inside, leaving a 1" / 2.5 cm opening.
Thread drawstring or elastic through casing; tie or join ends securely. Close opening.

Optional: Add a second line of stitching to create a channel if using both elastic and drawstring.

Wear & Care

Pull on like yoga pants. The positive ease and flare give a relaxed silhouette that still moves with you. Machine-wash gentle or hand-wash according to yarn label; lay flat to dry.

Enjoy your handmade flare yoga pants!