It seems I have a shorts addiction lately 🙂 Today I’m going to share a super basic shorts tutorial. They are nothing fancy but cute nonetheless and you can whip them up in no time.
Basic Shorts Tutorial | Sewing baby Shorts
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!
Basic Shorts Tutorial Step 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.
Basic Shorts Tutorial Step 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
Basic Shorts Tutorial Step 3: With right sides together sew up the shorts inseam on each piece
Basic Shorts Step 4: Then slide one leg inside the other so right sides are together and sew up the crotch seam.
Basic Shorts Step 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.
Basic Shorts Step 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
Basic Shorts Step 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:)
Here are a few other tutorials for you:
10 Responses
Looking for toddler size 2 patterns for t-shirts and shorts
Is the Beach Bum Bermudas pattern still available for purchase? I searched but did not see it in the pattern shop. Do you have a similar shorts pattern that you recommend?
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!