This probably is the most “luxurious” & comfortable weekend short pants I have ever made for myself – “The Weekender“.
It is a pair of fully lined above-the-knee shorts with elastic waistband. The underlining makes the short pants so stable that it prevents the tendency of “seating” through wear and also hiding away underwear lines.
I love the structure it gave because I find the “seat” is very “unsightly” and “untidy”, just imagine, excessive crumples across the thigh-line, not mentioning the “view” of underwear lines, yucks!!!!
The master copy of this short pants sewing pattern came from a pair of shorts I bought many years ago, a famous 4 letters brand that starts with an “N”.
This pair of short pants was just an ordinary 1 layer short pants without underlining but priced sky-highly (oh yeah, I know I know, I have to pay for the brand name too).
One thing I like about it is, it’s comfortable with nice cutting…. at least my tummy looks “flat” when wearing Weekender Short Pants (this is why I bought it in the first place… LOL).
With some modifications to add in underlining, hidden pockets and decorative hems, it is now my most favorite weekend shorts of all. I wouldn’t stop at making only one!
Weekender Short Pants Sewing Pattern
Pattern suits US size: 8-10 or hip measurement: 38-40″
Download sewing pattern:
For A0 size paper printing, click here (1 page).
For letter size paper printing, click here (14 pages).
Sewing skill: Advance beginner
Material:
1. Fabric (Main A – polka dot): 1¼ yard (42″ wide quilting weight cotton)
2. Fabric (Main B – stripe): ½ yard (42″ wide quilting weight cotton)
3. Lining (white): 1 yard (42″ wide quilting weight cotton)
4. 1″ wide elastic band, length: approx. 3″ lesser than wearer’s waist measurement.
5. Matching color sewing thread
Tools:
1. Sewing machine
2. Letter size printer & 14 pcs of letter size paper & glue
or, A0 size printer & 1 pc of A0 size paper
3. Hot iron
4. Scissors
5. Sewing kits
6. Carbon and tracing wheel
Download the short pants sewing pdf pattern and print it out without scaling the printing, otherwise, the size won’t be correct.
For A0 size paper printing, click here (1 page).
For letter size paper printing, click here (14 pages). Glue pages together according to the numbers indicated on the corners.
Cut the patterns out.
{If you can’t download the pdf pattern, probably you don’t have acrobat reader, download the latest version for free here.}
Fold the fabric lengthwise to become double layer with the wrong side facing each other. Place the paper pattern on top of it, pin.
Cut the fabric out according to the pattern (including seam allowance).
Trace sewing lines and markings on the fabric by using carbon and tracing wheel.
Sew to join pocket Y & Z. Press with seam allowance facing pocket Y. Topstitch on the right side near the sewing line.
Place the pocket (with right side down) on the front pattern. Align the pocket markings & pin. Sew from mark to mark. Snip the seam allowance on the markings.
Turn, press & topstitch near the pocket edge & ¼” from it.
Repeat the process on the other side of the front pattern.
Set aside.
Place pocket Y on the front lining, align marking. Fold seam allowance (right) and double topstitch it.
You may topstitch a line at the center of the pocket Y.
Baste side seam.
Repeat the process on the other side of the front lining pattern.
Place pocket assembly (the front pattern) on the lining, right side facing each other. Align the marking.
Zig-zag stitch along the pocket curve & straight stitch on the top edge.
Flip the lining so that it is on the wrong side of the front assembly, align all markings, baste on the seam allowance.
Check and make sure the pocket opening is away from the sewing line.
Baste back linings to back patterns as well.
{Tip: Don’t baste on the sewing lines but a little away from it so that taking them off later is easier and neater.}
Pin, sew & press the hems to the front and back patterns.
Fold top seam of the hem down, center up and bottom seam allowance down, sew the side seam of the hem.
Slit on the seam allowance of the split hem marking.
Turn the hem right side out & adjust the corner, press.
Place front and back patterns with right side facing each other, align marking, pin & sew on the side seam.
Take note with reaching the pocket opening, make sure the opening is not caught in the sewing.
Mock flat fell seam or Welt seam the side.
For mock flat fell seam, you can either zig-zag stitch or overlock the raw edges.
Finish the split on the hem with narrow satin stitch.
Place both assembled front and back pieces together with right side facing, align marking, pin and sew on the center seams.
Finish with either mock flat fell or welt seam.
Press the top seams of the hem down, and bottom seam up.
Align crotch point and inseams, pin and sew. Neaten the raw edges by either zig-zag stitch or overlock them with a serger.
Remove all baste stitches.
Topstitch the hem near the top edge, below the seam line.
Fold the waistband down with seam allowance hiding inside, press, pin and sew. Leave a 2½” opening at the back portion of the waist for elastic insertion.
Topstitch approx. 1/8″ from the top edge of the waistband.
Insert the elastic band into the pocket by using a safety pin.
Overlap 1″ of the elastic ends, zig-zag stitch 2 vertical rows to join them up.
Sew to close the opening. Spread the waistband over the elastic so that it is even. Pin it to secure the position.
Set the sewing machine to the longest stitch space, stretch the elastic & sew at ¼” from the bottom sew line.
I was able to download and print out this pattern using my home printer with no issues whatsoever. This pattern fitted my (size 32) husband perfectly!! I used an inch seam allowance just incase it wouldve be to tight, so I’ll have enough allowance to let it out if it were too tight (better to be safe than sorry!), but it fit him so well! Thank you so much for this tutorial!
You are such a lovely wife, so sweet of you!!! Your lucky husband will feel so proud wearing the short pants you sewed for him 🙂
I’ve been reading your comments and I wanted to sew these shorts for my husband who is size 34. If you used 1″ seam allowance and your husband was size 32, do you think I should use less seam allowance to allow for size 34? Any thoughts would be helpful. I really want to sew a pattern that has lining and elastic waistband so this one looked to be good for what I am after.
Thanks for this pattern! I am just getting to the intermediate level where I want to start adapting and customizing patterns, and this one was the right level of challenge for me. I added some width to the front and back pieces to get a more drapey, gathered look in my shorts. The lining makes these really comfortable!
could you use polyester instead of cotton ?
Yes you can 🙂
how big arw the seam allowances?
The seam allowances infos are included in the pattern template.
im sorry i didnt understand how the pocket works at all? why is there only 2 z and 4 y? is it so there’s double layer of y compared to z? how does it work?
z is the white piece and y is the color piece of the pocket. There extra 2 color pieces of y are for the cover-up of the white lining at the opening of the pocket. You may leave it by having 2 y and 2 z, but your pocket will show the white lining when the slot is slightly open.
Yes, I did download the pattern. Have you noticed that no where does it say what width the seam allowance is? Nor how far to fold down the top, to make a waistband? I’m sorry this pattern didn’t work for me. I hope it does for others.
While I appreciate that this sewist is talented at creating garments for herself that apparently fit her well, and the concept of a double layer with pockets and cute hem finishes are inspired, I do not recommend this pattern. For me, it was a very poor fit. There’s not enough depth through the crotch so the shorts pull down in the front, and the fit is much baggier than I prefer. Also, the instructions are somewhat elusive, as no measurements are given for important elements such as seam width, or the depth of the waistband fold. I wasted six hours and more than two yards of lovely fabric, so I’m very disappointed.
I am sorry that this pattern doesn’t fit you well, but I find it very comfortable. So far, I have not heard any negative feedback about this pattern and tutorial. All details are in the downloadable pattern, did you miss out something there?
Hi, I love your shorts pattern. Have printed it but I don’t think my printer scaled properly. I didn’t scale it per the instructions but it seems too small. Could you provide one benchmark measurement for checking to make sure it’s printing properly? Thanks!
Hi Zana, You will need to open the document in Adobe PDF reader. If the pattern opens in browser, please save it to your computer and open it in the pdf reader for an accurate size. Some browsers will shrink the document without you knowing it.
hi would love to get this pattern as i am making childrens clothes for donation for the local hospital thanks in advance
Hi Helene,
There are free patterns for all the short pants shown here. The pattern page is usually on page 2, if you refer to the link at the browser, it is ended with “/2”, then search for the pdf document to download the free pattern.
I like it. and it is lovely shorts.
nicely described too.
Is there any boy shorts pattern for men ?
Ow…i loved your tutorial very much. soon i’m gonna try one !! thanks for this lovely tutorial :-)<3
Hi There, can these be boys shorts too? Is there anything different that needs to be made to the pattern for boys shorts? Want to make some for my brothers and this is such an easy and clear guide! 🙂
Yes, it can be a boy shorts as well 🙂 My husband and I wear the same cutting of shorts at home and for sports.
i got a project on makeing a short and now i know how to so thank you sow much
thank you i know how to make a short now
Hello! Just to be sure, I cut or fold along the dashed line on each page of the pattern??
Fold along on grey dashed line.
Alright thank you, I figured it out. Great tutorial!!
Can knits be used for this or boxer pattern? Thanks!
Sure, Shannon, knits should works well on this pattern too.
w0w nice shorts
thank u for sharing… its very helps me as beginner to start sewing… ^^
Why do I keep thinking that Kenley from Project Runway made this? 🙂 Must be the polka dots.
Ha ha ha really!!! I didn’t watch this program, wish I did 🙂
I am so happy to know that 🙂
Hi,
Thanks for this short pants pattern, now I will have a guide for my short pants. I dont have any idea about sewing garments, but with your clear basic pattern, I know I can make my own beautiful short now. Again thank you and God Bless you more and more.
Happy sewing, Anne 🙂
thanks a lot coz it helps us to do our work easily..
you are most welcome 🙂
Thanks so much for this great pattern. I’ve made some for my daughter….and plan to make some more. So easy.
I am so happy to know that 🙂
Отличная выкройка! Спасибо большое. Муж остался очень доволен новыми шортами 🙂
Translation (by Google):
Great pattern! Thank you very much. The husband was very pleased with the new shorts:)
Such a great news from you and I am happy to know that your husband likes it 🙂
I love this pattern – it’s well written and clear. But sadly, the 8-10 sizing is not me. Is there a trick to enlarging the pattern without distortion?
Thanks!
Sad to say that I am not good in grading. What I will do is check the measurements and enlarge the pattern according to suit our size, especially the hip (stand and sit), crotch curve etc. Expand the hip width and extend the crotch curve accordingly.
Do a google search on “grading pants pattern” and you will find some entries and ways to grade the pants.
Good luck!
could you also print the patterns on a4 paper?? your tutorials are amazing!!
Hi Jessie, printing on A4 is possible, just remember don’t scale the printing. Also, depends on printer printing margin, you might encounter some lost on the pattern on the edges but it can be traced back when you glue the pattern sheets side by side.
Those are really nice shorts- you thought of everything! Thanks so much, I’ll be linking.