I am so addicted to sewing shorts for my kids with the fabrics I recycled from my old cotton shirts. This time, instead of sewing out of the same pattern repeats, I made some variations on the kid shorts sewing pattern for this girl shorts, by adding a knot or tie to the shorts’ hem.
Last time, I sewed the hem with a ribbed band in the kid shorts tutorial, in this girl shorts I modified the hem band to a tie-band. In addition, I used coordinating color with strawberry print fabric on the waistband, pockets, and tie-hem bands to cheer up the girl shorts further.
My daughter loves this pairs of shorts so much that she wears it to her tuition class showing off to her teacher and friends “Mommy sewed this for me from her old shirts!” and proudly walk into the classroom with a **BIG smile**… Knowing that my daughter appreciates it so much really pays off the time I’ve spent in the craft room every night. The same astonishing feeling happened when Jennifer showed me the boxer shorts she sewed for her husband by using the unisex boxer shorts pattern & tutorial… I am truly thrilled, and this is the best way you gals motivated me to make and share more here. Please feel free to feedback to me with your amazing handmade if you have made something from here.
What’s Next
- Start sewing and share your completed handmade on Facebook and/or Instagram. Remember to tag us, @craftpassion, so that we are able to see them.
- Pin it to Pinterest for future To-Sew List
- Share with your sewing groups for a sew-along event.
- Learn more about the basic of hand sewing and how to choose a sewing machine for beginners.
- Browse more free sewing patterns to sew, especially sewing for summer wearables.
Girl Shorts Sewing Pattern
Last time, I sewed the hem with a ribbed band in the kid shorts tutorial, in this girl shorts I modified the hem band to a tie-band. In addition, I used coordinating color with strawberry print fabric on the waistband, pockets, and tie-hem bands to cheer up the girl shorts further.
Download basic sewing pattern: Toddler shorts (3 years old), Kid shorts (7 years old), Pre-teenager Shorts (12 years old)
Enjoy sewing them!
Materials
- Cotton fabric, 3/4 yard or a woman short-sleeve blouse (at least a USA size 10 or UK size 12)
- Cotton fabric, coordinating print or color, fat quarter
- Ribbon, short length
Tools
- Sewing machine with matching thread
- Serger/overlock machine or zigzag stitch
- Printer, letter size (8.5″ x 11″) paper 2 pcs. & glue
- Pencil & ruler
- Carbon and tracing wheel
- Scissors
- Sewing kits
- Iron
- Safety pin
Instructions
- a. Download this tie hem variation pattern in a pdf document and print it with your inkjet printer. Download & print the kid’s shorts sewing pattern too if you haven’t had the copy from the recent tutorial.
b. Feed the letter-size paper into your printer and print the pattern without setting any scale on the printing.
Or, draw your own by referring to the pattern.
c. Cut the paper pattern out.
{The pdf download will either open in a new tab or open a small window asking you to save it as a file. If you can’t find the saved file on your computer, the default folder usually is in “/downloads”}
{If you can’t download the pdf pattern, probably you don’t have an acrobat reader, download the latest version for free, here.}
- a. Shorten the front of the original shorts pattern by 1 1/4″ from the hem.
b. Repeat the same to the back.
- a. Place the tie-hem pattern onto the new shorts length, align the side seams, don’t glue.
b. Tear or cut vertically on the swirl line on the tie hem pattern (shorts side) to split the tie side and shorts side.
c. Move the shorts side to align with the inseam.
d. Glue a piece of paper in between, draw with pencil and ruler to extend the seam lines and seam allowance lines.
e. Repeat the same to the back pattern.
f. Cut both tie hem with the shorts fabric and a piece of coordinating fabric, 1 of each side. You will end up with 8 strips altogether.
- a. Sew the pockets and join the front and back of the shorts at the side seam.
b. Mock flat fell on the side seam.
c. Cut 2 curve notch patterns from the same fabric as the shorts.
d. Over-lock stitch or a zig-zag stitch on the outer edge of the curved notch.
e. Place a curve notch on the right side of the shorts, align the center to the side seam and both hemlines.
f. Sew on the inner curve and trim the seam allowance to around 1/8″.
- a. Turn the notch curve to the wrong side of the girl shorts.
b. Press and topstitch around 1/4″ from the curve.
c. Repeat the same to the other side seam.
d. Continue sewing the inseam and center seam of the shorts.
e. Either sew the elastic band now or after installing the tie hem band.
- a. Join the front-back pair of the tie hem on the vertical edge (inseam of the shorts).
b. Sew the matching pair with right side facing each other, a little away from the notch marking, sew to the end, then go down diagonally, then to the bottom hem all the way to the other side, go up diagonally, then upper horizontally until you almost reach the notch marking.
c. Remember to backstitch a few stitches at the beginning and at the end of the sewing.
d. Clip corners on the seam allowance.
- a. Align and pin the front tie hem’s notch marking with the hem of the shorts. Marking to marking.
b. Sew the front tie hem to the shorts, leave out the back portion to later step.
- a. Turn the tie hem right side out and adjust the corners.
b. Press with a warm iron.
c. Either stitch in the ditch or hand slip stitch the back tie hem to the girl shorts.
d. Topstitch near the edge, around.
- a. Repeat the tie hem attachment steps to the other side.
b. Embellish the shorts with your girl’s favorite iron-on embroidery patch.
c. Sew the waistband and the ribbon if you haven’t done so.
~~ Girl Shorts with Tie-Hem is DONE ~~
Notes
Get the full articles at https://www.craftpassion.com/sew-tie-hem-girl-shorts/
James
Tuesday 7th of June 2022
is there a video me and grand mother are having trouble with this can you please explain
Ana
Tuesday 10th of March 2020
Love it, but I'm stucked in the hem part, images and tutorial are not well explained. I would love to watch a video about how you did everything.
Gerd
Sunday 12th of March 2017
Disse shortsene er så fine, nå fikk jeg masse inspirasjon for å sy til mine tantebarn til vi skal på ferie i mai. Gleder meg til å starte syingen. Du forklarer så godt så det ser enkelt ut. Jeg kom tilfeldigvis over siden din og gjett om jeg er glad?.. Tusen, tusen takk for at du deler mønstrene dine. Ønsker deg en god og kreativ ny uke.
Translation (by Google): These shorts are so fine, now I got a lot of inspiration to sew for my aunt children we are going on holiday in May. Can not wait to start sewing. You explain so well so it looks quite simple. I happened to come across your page and boy am I happy? .. Thank you so much for sharing your designs. Wishing you a good and creative new week.
Amosmum
Wednesday 25th of September 2013
I really enjoyed sewing these shorts for my 7 year old. They're lovely and fit perfectly.
Craft Passion
Wednesday 25th of September 2013
That's great, Amosmum! Love to know this!!! :)
Caroline
Friday 28th of June 2013
Hello, those shorts are so pretty! I really need one for me! Can you help me how to enlarge pattern to size 12? Thank you very much!
Craft Passion
Monday 1st of July 2013
I found a cool diagram for you to enlarge the size of the shorts, please click here. I haven't try it out but it seems like a good instruction for any pants and shorts size alteration.