A method of making a pant having side seams and side-to-side crotch seams
from a flat web. The method can be carried out in either the
cross-machine direction or in the machine direction. The method includes
providing a z-slit in selected areas along the flat web and folding the
resulting flaps back onto the flat web. In the cross-machine direction
process, the flat web is folded, side seams and crotch seams are formed
and individual pants are cut. In the machine direction process, the flat
web is cut into individual garment shells, which are folded, and side
seams and crotch seams are formed. In either the cross-machine process or
the machine process, the method can also include attaching an absorbent
structure to the flat web.