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Weekender Short Pants Sewing Pattern

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This probably is the most “luxurious” & comfortable weekend short pants I have ever made for myself –  “The Weekender“.

how to sew shorts

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!!!!

how to sew short pants

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!

free shorts sewing pattern
 

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

 
short pants

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, you probably don’t have an acrobat reader, download the latest version for free here.}

 
short pants

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 a tracing wheel.

 
short pocket

Sew to join pockets Y & Z. Press with seam allowance facing pocket Y. Topstitch on the right side near the sewing line.

 
sew short with pocket

Place the pocket (with the right side down) on the front pattern. Align the pocket markings & pin. Sew from mark to mark. Snip the seam allowance on the markings.

 
Invisible pocket

Turn, press & topstitch near the pocket edge & ¼” from it.
Repeat the process on the other side of the front pattern.
Set aside.

 
short pants with pocket

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.

 
sew pocket with lining

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.

 
how to line short pants

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.}

 
split hem pant

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.

 
split hem shorts

Turn the hem right side out & adjust the corner, press.

 
short pants

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.

 
sew split hem

Finish the split on the hem with narrow satin stitch.

 
center seam & crotch curve

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.

 
inseam & crotch point

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.

 
how to sew short pants

Topstitch the hem near the top edge, below the seam line.

 
sew elastic waist shorts

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.

 
how to sew elastic waistband

Overlap 1″ of the elastic ends, zig-zag stitch 2 vertical rows to join them up.

 
how to top stitch elastic band on short pant

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.

 

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Rocket

Sunday 24th of July 2022

Great pattern, but sadly too big for me. Wish there were a smaller version, or instructions for scaling it down. Oh well.

Donna

Thursday 10th of March 2022

How could the pattern be made smaller? A size small! Please! They look like very nice shorts!

Ianthe

Wednesday 24th of January 2018

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!

Pip

Thursday 24th of January 2019

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.

Craft Passion

Wednesday 24th of January 2018

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 :)

Melissa

Monday 7th of August 2017

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!

Malik F

Sunday 19th of June 2016

could you use polyester instead of cotton ?

Craft Passion

Wednesday 29th of June 2016

Yes you can :)