Keep cool and comfortable this summer with this guide on how to sew men’s shorts. This project is designed for a more masculine result but can be worn by anyone.
To complete the project, all you need to do is measure your favourite pair of shorts. This ensures that they fit perfectly, without the need for a belt. They make a great present for your brother, your partner, your Dad, or even yourself! Want to learn how to sew men’s shorts this summer? Let’s get started.
Requirements:
Here’s what you need to make a pair of men’s shorts:
- SINGER® Sewing Machine (We used the Professional C430)
- SINGER® Zipper Foot
- Optional: SINGER® Overlocker. You can use a Zig-Zag stitch or use an Overcasting stitch on your sewing machine to finish your seams instead.
- Drafting paper – you can use any type of paper that works such as wrapping paper, freezer paper, etc.
- Fabric – you can choose a woven or knit fabric, this style of shorts is a loose fit, so either will work. We used Trunk microfiber, which is a great choice for swim shorts.
- 1” wide elastic
- Coordinating thread
- Scissors
- Fabric Marker
- Pencil
- Ruler
Preparation:
To complete this project on how to make men’s shorts, first we need to draft our pattern.
- Take note of the size of your chosen shorts. For example if it is 32×34 this means that your waist measurement is 32 and the in-seam is 34.
- Lay your shorts out flat to get the hip measurement. With your ruler measure all the way around the pants at the hip level.
- Fold the shorts in half and this will allow you to measure the rise.
- Get your drafting paper of choice ready and draw a rectangle that is half of the hip measurement plus 4 inches or 10.5cm and the depth of the rise plus 2 and a half inches or 6.5cm tall.
- Locate the centre of the bottom line of the rectangle, and draw a line down that extends down one-third of the inseam length.
- Measure from the corner of the rectangle to the centre, and divide the measurement by 4.
- Measure out from one side of the rectangle with the amount found in step 6.
- For the other side, which will become the back, measure out the distance that matches to your hip measurement below:
- 36-38 = 4 ¼” or 11cm
- 39-40 = 4 ½” or 11.5cm
- 41-44 = 4 ¾” or 12.5cm
- 45-48 = 5” or 13cm
- 49-52 = 5 ¼” or 13.5cm
- On the front corner draw a 1” line at a 45 degree angle.
- On the back corner draw a 2” line at 45 degree angles.
- Create a curve that touches your mark for both the front and back.
- Next, add lines (⅓ of the inseam) down from the crotch point created. These will become your inseam.
- Now, move to the front inseam line in 1” towards the centre. Move the back inseam line 2” towards the centre. Connect these lines.
- Your pattern is now drafted!
Shorts Construction:
To create the garment and learn how to sew men’s shorts, follow the instructions below.
Seam allowances or ½” or 1.5cm unless otherwise stated.
- Cut x2 of your pattern, ensuring that you cut a right and a left.
- Overlock or zig-zag around the your pant legs.
- Pin and sew the center front and center back together.
- Fold your shorts so the 2 seams sewn in the previous step are on top of each other. Pin the inseam together, ensuring everything is lined up and sew the inseam in one go.
- Now, fold the top edge over by ¼” or 6mm, press and fold again by 1 ½” or 4cm and press it again. This will form the elastic casing. Stitch closely to the bottom fold, leaving an opening approx 1 ½” or 4cm to insert your elastic.
- Insert the elastic with a safety pin. Once you have fed the elastic all the way through, sew the ends of the elastic together with a zig-zag stitch. Go over it a few times to ensure it is secure.
- Sew the casing closed.
- Hem the short legs with a double-fold hem. To make a double-fold hem fold the hem up once by 2cm, and press. Fold it again by 2cm press and pin. Now using a stitch length of 3.0 top stitch in place.
- Your shorts are now finished!
Now you know how to sew men's shorts!
Congratulations, you’ve completed our guide on how to sew men’s shorts for summer. Now that you know how easy it is to draft up your own shorts, you won’t be able to stop at just one! You can even use this method of drafting to make full-length pants, for options you can use in any weather or time of year.
We would love to see the wonderful summery men’s shorts that you create. Be sure to tag @singersewingaus and #sewitwithsinger in your posts so we can see what you’ve been making!
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