Skorts are continuing to make a stylish comeback, blending the best of both worlds: the flair of a skirt and the practicality of shorts. Our Molli Athleisure Skort Set is a fresh take on this revived trend. It boasts a chic faux wrap feature on both the top and skirt, and if you’re feeling fancy, there’s even an optional ruching detail to up the flair! This pattern is a nod to the practical fashionista in all of us.

Purchase Materials Used Below:

• 1.5 yards of Santorini Light Parrot UV Protective Swimwear Tricot
• 1 Spool of 462 Tangerine 100m 100% Polyester Sew-All-Thread 
• MDF347 – The Molli Athleisure Set (free download below!)

Alternative Recommended Fabrics:

• Spandex

How to sew the top:

1 – Connect the back to the front pieces by sewing at the shoulders, right sides together. 

2 – Fold the binding lengthwise, wrong sides together. Pin along the entire top edge of the shirt, with the raw edges of the binding and shirt aligned. Sew. 

3 – Trim the seam allowance, and press it towards the shirt. Topstitch the seam allowance to the shirt. 

Optional: If you have a larger bust, or simply want the ruching detail, gather the short ends of each top piece until the top edge meets the lower notch indicated on the pattern piece. If you choose this option, gather now before moving onto the next steps. 

4 – Place 1 front to the back, RST. Align the edges, and pin. 

5 – Place the remaining front on top, right side up. Align the edges and pin. 

6 – Sew the side seams together, leaving a space unsewn where the bottom edges get sewn into the side seams. This will allow us to add the binding seamlessly around the entire bottom edge. See photo for more details. 

7 – Sew the binding to the bottom edges, as you did in steps 1-3. Because the short “wrap” ends aren’t yet sewn into the side seam, you will be able to add a continuous strip of binding to the entire bottom edge. 

8 – Tuck those free ends back into the side seam, and sew. Your side seams should now be completely sewn.

9 – Right sides together, sew the inner seams of each sleeve. 

10 – Attach the binding to the sleeves’ bottom edge. 

11 – Ease the sleeves into the armscye, right sides together, and sew.

How to sew the shorts:

1 – RST, place a front leg to a back, and sew along the outer and inner seams. Repeat with the back.

2 – Single fold the hem under ½” and sew. If your fabric frays, then finish the hems accordingly. 

3 – Turn one leg inside out, and place inside the other. Right sides should be facing. Sew together along the rise. Your shorts should now be complete. Set aside for now. 

How to sew the skirt:

Note: if you are using a serger before hemming, serge the bottom edge of each skirt piece before moving to the next steps. 

1 – Right sides facing up, layer the front skirts. Make sure the sides and waist are matched, and pin. 

2 – Pin the back skirt to the fronts, right sides together. 

3 – At the point where the skirt’s short sides get sewn into the seam, fold and pin the hem under. 

4 – Sew the side seams together. If you want the ruching detail, I find the easiest way to achieve this with a domestic machine is to use a zigzag stitch to sew over a thin elastic cord or thread. Make sure the stitches don’t sew through the cord, only over it. Once you’re finished, tie the cord in a knot and stitch over it a few times to secure. Pull the other end of the cord until you’re satisfied with the amount of gathers, then knot and stitch over the cord. 

5 – Finish the hem of the skirt.

6 – Place the shorts into the skirt, matching the side seams and making sure you’ve got both orientated into the same direction. Baste the shorts to the skirt along the waist, with a ¼” seam allowance.

7 – Sew the outer waistband together along the side seams, RST. Repeat with the inner waistband. 

8 – RST, sew the outer and inner waistband together along the top edge. Trim the SA, and understitch it to the inner waistband. Bring the waistband right side out.

9 – RST, align the waistband’s raw edges with those of the skort. Match the side seams, then sew together around the waist. Optional: finish the edges with a serger.

10 – Topstitch the SA to the waistband.