Elastic Waist Shorts for the Summer

Tools and materials:

• Fabric
• Shorts
• Measuring tape
• Tailor’s chalk
• Elastic
• Pins
• Thread
• Sewing machine

Cut out your fabric

Fold your fabric over and place your folded shorts (that you already own and like) along the edge. Use your tailor’s chalk to trace around the shorts and then grab a measuring tape to add some length to the bottom. Now, draw a straight line from the crotch to the waist to make sure that the pants are wide enough to fit your hips through. (Remember to add seam allowance when tracing out your shorts). Finish tracing and cut. 

Sew the pockets 

To cut out your back piece, place the front piece on your fabric, extend the crotch area by 1.5, trace the rest of the outline, and cut. Next, cut out four pocket pieces and pin them to the edges. They should resemble slightly abnormal rectangles. Once they’re in place, match up the side seams of the front and back pieces (placing them right sides together) and sew around the pockets and down. 

Add a waistband 

Pin the crotches of both pieces and sew from there down. Once that’s done, pin the two pieces together by the waist and sew them together. Make sure you match the crotch seams and pin all the way around. Next, cut out your waistband using the same measurements you took for the waist of your shorts. I cut out two separate pieces for the front and back and made sure to leave a seam allowance. Connect the two pieces on both ends to create one large loop, fold the waistband in two, and iron it down. Make sure to have one edge inserted into the other so you aren’t left with any raw edges. Pin the short end onto the shorts (using the seam allowance to attach the waistband) and sew. 

Finish the shorts 

Fold the waistband in and sew it in place, leaving a two-inch gap in the sewing so that you’ll be able to feed the elastic through. Next, cut out your elastic and weave it through the waistband (using a safety pin as a guide). Once it comes out the other end, overlap the elastic and sew it together. Push it back into the waistband and sew the gap closed. Finally, hem the bottom of the shirts and you’re done! 

There you have it; how to sew elastic waist shorts! I love how simple these are and how fun they are to style and wear. Try them with different patterns, lengths, fabrics, and sizes!