Something new for this day, I will show you step-by-step shorts. I will use this for homewear, but depending on the type of fabric used you can use them whatever :).
Pink shorts |
- 1 yard of 44-45" wide fabric. I used Itty Bitty Polka Dots by Andrea Turk for Camelot Fabrics in Pink
- Scrap of mediumweight fusible interfacing
- Long ruler or yardstick
- Fabric pen or pencil
- Iron and ironing board
- Scissors or rotary cutter and mat
- Tape measure
- Medium sized safety pin
- Straight pins
- Optional: 2 yards of 1½" width cotton ribbon with a soft drape for waistband tie. You can use this instead of making if from fabric.
First of all you need your measures and find a pattern that fits you.
In this case, I will make shorts with pockets, the next image shows you how to cut your fabric:
Once you have all your pieces cut, it is useful to transfer seamallowance to all pieces, I used loose threads:
Making button hole
You will need something similar to a button hole for the ribbon in the waistband.
Following manufacturer's instructions, fuse the small interfacing piece in place.
On the other side, pin right sides together the small piece of fabric:
At your sewing machine, stitch all around the mark, pivoting at the corners and two millimeters wide:
Cut with scissors to open the hole.
Turn in the piece of fabric and stich all around the hole, very closed to the edge. Repeat all the steps in the other piece.
Pin in place the front piece and pocket piece right sides together. Using a ½" seam allowance, stitch the pocket piece in place.
Turn the pocket, wrong sides together and press.
Find the other pocket piece and pin it in place. Stitch all around the pocket to close it.
Repeat with the other pocket.
Making the legs
In the next steps, you will sew each leg closed, then sew the two legs together.
Once you have both pockets stitched, find the back and front pieces from one leg and pin them right sides together. Using a 1/2" seam sew from the bottom edge to the crotch, and the other long straight edge side in the same way. Repeat for the other leg.
Once you have both legs stitched, put one inside the other wright sides together and using a 1/2" seam allowance stitch the curved section.
Making the waistband tie
Find the long strips of fabric and stitch them together to make a longer one.
Fold it right sides together and pin it.
Using a 1/4" seam allowance stitch along both ends, along the long side leaving a 3" open. Clip the corners at the sewn end, making sure not to cut your seam.
Turn it out and press. Hand stitch the opened side.
Waistband tie done:
Waistband tie |
Making the waistband
Turn and press 1/2"
Again, turn using the waistband marks and press
Stitch very closed to the edge all around the waistband.
Repeat the stitch on the other side of waistband.
Now we are finishing the legs by making bottom hems.
Turn and press 1/2"
Turn and press 1"
Stitch the hem:
Finally, place a safety pin through one end of the waistband tie. Push the safety pin through one buttonhole, and use it to work the ribbon through the waistband until the safety pin emerges from the opposite buttonhole.
Shorts |
Hope you like my shorts and try to make one for you!