Since it’s summer, I made shorts. 🙂

Making your own pants or shorts without a pattern is SO easy.

Trust me, if I can do it, so can you!

Now make sure to read the ENTIRE tutorial before you begin.

If you don’t, you may end up with shorts that look like this:

Can any one catch what I did wrong? 😀

Fortunately, these were my practice shorts, done with scrap fabric. I looked ahead and missed an important step and now these shorts show the right side AND wrong side of the fabric.

– Supplies –

1/2 to 3/4 yard of fabric

(1/2 yard would be fine for 2T size)

Matching thread

1″ wide (or whatever size you’d like) Elastic

Freezer paper (or any paper large enough)

I love this project, because it is SO easy and you can make it for girls AND boys.

I love making my boys things too. 🙂

First, find a pair of pants or shorts that fit your child perfectly.

Then you will turn them inside out and put them on paper.

I put the shorts on the papery side of freezer paper.

You will then trace around the shorts, giving about 1/4-1/2 inch of space.

I gave myself a little over an inch on the top to make the elastic band. And I put lots of space at the bottom, because you can always cut those down.

Trace two pieces, one for the front, and one for the back of the shorts.

And then be sure to label your pattern pieces with front and back on them.

Then cut your pattern pieces out.

Remember the reason for doing this on scrap fabric, is so you can make changes on your pattern so they fit better. I didn’t make any changes, but the purpose of the scrap fabric is to test out your pattern.

See how the front and back pattern pieces are a little different?

The back piece leaves a little more room for the bum.

Now I made these shorts to be worn on the Fourth of July (I love this holiday!!!) so I chose this cute fabric, Red Random Dot from American Valor for Timeless Treasures.

After your pattern pieces are cut out, lay them on your fabric.

Fold your fabric so that the right or wrong sides are touching.

In my picture you can see I have the wrong sides touching.

After cutting, you should have four pieces. Two fronts and two backs.

You will only cut the pattern pieces once and get two pieces for each pattern piece.

Make sure to mark front and back on your fabric with a fabric marker.

If you put your fabric right sides together, you are ready for the next step.

If you put them wrong sides together, like I did, then take the two front or back pieces and place them right sides together.

You can start with either your back or your front pieces.

Once you have your front OR back pieces ready,

you will sew using a 3/8″ seam down from the top of the shorts down to the crotch.

Stop there.

Either serge or zig-zag down the edge to stop fraying.

Do this to both the front and back pieces of the shorts.

They will look somewhat like this when you’re done sewing.

Iron the seams open so they look nice and crisp.

The next step is to put the legs and crotch of the pants together.

Pin, sew, serge/zig-zag, and iron.

You will sew straight through from the bottom of the leg to the other side.

When you put the front and back pieces together to pin, start in the middle and go out.

Once you have that part sewn, you will pin and sew the sides together.

(Apparently after sewing, one side of my shorts are longer than the other.

I just cut the excess off so the length around the legs was the same.)

After you sew the sides together, make sure to serge/zig-zag, and iron the seams.

Now bring the shorts right side out.

We are going to start with the top.

Serge or zig-zag around the fabric.

Now fold down your fabric.

Put your elastic down so you can make sure you have enough room to thread it through.

I put about 1/4 inch on both sides of the elastic.

Pin down and iron the crease.

Now leave an opening in the back when you sew the fabric down.

You need this opening to thread the elastic through.

Sew the fabric down.

I sewed along the zig-zag.

The length of your elastic depends on the waist of the child.

You can either measure the waist or, if the child is napping like mine :), you can measure the waistband of the shorts you used.

Once you have that length, add one inch.

Now thread your elastic through.

I pinned a safety pin on the end to pull the elastic around.

Once you get the elastic through, sew both ends together.

I sewed using a zig-zag stitch so it would have a strong hold.

Then sew the opening closed.

I sewed back and forth a bit so I would know which side was the back.

You can also put a tag or maybe even some ribbon or Ric Rac to help with that. 🙂

Next, serge/zig-zag the edge of the bottoms, iron a crease, and hem them to the preferred length.

I did a little bit of a larger hem.

And you’re done!

Now if you want to make the outfit complete, you probably have enough fabric left over to use HeatnBond and make a cute shirt. 🙂

Once you have the whole outfit done, take lots of pictures! 🙂

I LOVE the end result!

This project was way easier than I expected so don’t be afraid, just try it out. 🙂

If you have a question, comment, or suggestion, don’t hesitate! We love to hear from you!

I have two bows to feature next week for the 4th of July.

If you’d like your bow to be added to this list, please email me a picture at shirley@theribbonretreat.com.

If you have a shop, we’ll be sure to link up to it as well.

Thanks!