It seems I have a shorts addiction lately 🙂 Today we’re going to learn how to make some super basic shorts- nothing fancy but cute nonetheless and you can whip them up in no time
Perfect for using up a bit of leftover fabric so your kiddos can have matching outfits
Get the Madison Dress pattern here– it’s quick and easy too 🙂
I love these 2 little ones! Even when little miss tries to give little man a toupee…
Simple shorts are perfect for little man- he really doesn’t need pockets, or belt loops, or buttons. And if you’re sewing with a busy print there isn’t really a need to embellish
But if you want a nice professional product with loads of instructions you can pick up the pattern for the Beach Bum Bermudas– they have a flat front, pockets, faux fly, etc.
Alright let’s get started!
1. Grab some shorts that fit well and line up the side seam of the shorts with the folded edge of your fabric. Use the shorts as a guide to cut out your pieces- you want an extra 1.5″ at the top, an extra 3/4″ at the bottom and the width of your seam allowance  (I use 1/2″) along the inseam and crotch.
2. To make the shorts fit a bit better I like to make the waistline a little lower in the front than the back so I angle it down towards the center on each piece- see how in the middle it’s just a bit lower? Make sure you do this on the right side on one piece and on the left on the other so they fit together
3. With right sides together sew up the shorts inseam on each piece
4. Then slide one leg inside the other so right sides are together and sew up the crotch seam.
5. Press and fold the bottom edge of the shorts up 1/4″ and then another 1/2″ and topstitch along the 1st fold line to hem your shorts.
6. Serge the top edge of the waistband and then fold it over 1.25″. Or you can fold it over 1/4″ and then another 1.25″ if you don’t have a serger. Topstitch all the way around to create your casing leaving a 1″ gap to thread the elastic through.
***I used 1″ elastic- if you’re using a different width you’ll need to adjust the width of the casing
7. Cut your elastic to 1″ shorter than your kid’s waist measurement, slide it through the casing with a safety pin and then sew the ends together. Sew up the gap you left in the casing and you’re all set!
Happy Sewing:)
8 Responses
So I am very much a beginner and want to try this project! But I keep reading it and I am so confused from steps 3 to 4. I don’t understand the sewing of the inseam and the crotch part and sliding one leg inside of the other to see the crotch line. I would really love to try this because it does seem simple, but I am just so new to this world that I do t fully understand it all! Can you help explain those steps a little dumbed down? Haha! Thank you!!
Is there a pattern for the matching dress?
This was an excellent tutorial. Perfect for a newbie like me. I made a pair within minutes for my little man. See them here:
http://sewfanny.blogspot.com/2015/02/fast-easy-sewing-projects.html
There’s certainly a great deal to find out about this subject.
I like all the points you have made.
Your work is so neat and the finish is so professional. I will try this out.
Those two little kiddos… omg.. they are so lovely. **hugs to them.
Your children are just adorable, and I love the “wig” picture!
How cute is this Amy?!! I love it! You know I am going to ask you to upload it into SewSet…if you haven’t already! HA. You can get used to a lot of comments like that from me in the future. You just have such cute creations!