Our newest free sewing pattern is one that you’ll be adding to your sewing list again and again. With a clean silhouette and simple seams, The Eucalyptus Shorts let your fabric take the spotlight. Whip them up in a cotton print like we did for a fun summertime look, or even try a bold mikado! With a whopping sewing time of one hour, I’m a little tempted to make a pair in all 23 shades of Mood’s organic cotton twill to match every shirt in my wardrobe.
Purchase Materials Used Below:
- 1 yard Blue and White Geometric Printed Cotton Twill
- Pastel Blue 9″ Invisible Zipper
- MDF161 – The Eucalyptus Shorts Sewing Pattern (free download below!)
Alternative Recommended Fabrics:
All seam allowances are 1/2″ unless otherwise stated. See chart below for sizing specifications. Note, this specific pattern is available up to a size 30.
First, sew your pocket onto the angled edge of your front shorts panel, like you see below. Fold the pocket bag in half and sew the bottom closed using a French seam. Press and pin pocket into place along the side and top waistline.
Attach your front shorts pieces at the rise using a French seam like you see blow, and repeat with the back panels. Using French seams again, attach the front and back of your shorts at one of the sides and both inseams. (Note: the back panel is slightly longer than the front for fitting purposes as some people prefer long shorts in the back. This can be curved into the side seam or simply cut off altogether based on your preference.)
Create one layer of your waistband by sewing the front and back together at the same side that you’ve already closed on your shorts. (Note: if using a fairly lightweight fabric for your shorts, you may want to interface your waistband pieces first.)
Pin and sew one waistband layer to your shorts, matching up the closed side seams.
Insert your invisible zipper along the open side of your shorts and then sew the remainder of the side seam closed.
Lastly, create your waistband facing and attach it along the very top of your waistband, fabric faces together. Flip it right side out and press, tuck in your raw edges and slip-stitch closed.
Hem the bottom of your shorts and they’re ready to wear!
What kind fabric do you have in mind for your shorts? Let me know in the comments below and be sure to check out the Elaeis Shirt, also available as a free pattern here!
55 comments
In a stretch fabric, it seems to, me, it could be very comfortable summer loungewear or PJs Have to be resized but i look for things with a yoke.
Me gusta la blusa
This pattern is great, but, to save someone some grivance, the sizing chart is off, so you might want to size down.
THANK YOU!!!!!! I always have trouble with sizing
I always buy cheap fabrics and test my patterns first to see how well they fit and where to make adjustments.
I use old sheets. They work great! Just finished making these with an old sheet. I’m quite short and took the crotch up by almost an inch. Will be making them in a stretch linen. Love the front pockets!
Yes! I have 37″ waist but the 20/22 was 5″ too big for me! I’m going to have another go with the 16/18
This is beautiful
Good to know. I always rather the pattern run too big than too small
Made mine over the weekend, and ‘over-sized’ myself, so I had to take it all apart, but instead of re-cutting the whole pattern I only sized the yoke to the correct size, and put darts in the front and back. I have to work a bit on the crotch as that is still to long, but overall I do love these pants, and I will be making them again, just in the right size this time round.
Thank you for your patterns – love all of them
Hi there, I see quite a bit of comments regarding the sizes. Do you recommend that it should be true to sizing measurements that you mentioned here, or I should take one size up/down from the sizing mentioned?
Hi, I was wondering if seam allowances were included in the pattern or would we have to add them ourselves?
Yes, a 1/2″ seam allowance is already included! 🙂
I love pants with yokes. Want to do it in a knit for comfort. Since my waist is almost the same as my hips I will try it without a zippier first.
Is 1/2” seam allowance enough to do a French seam?
Hi Cathy! It depends on what kind of fabric you’re using. If I use something thin (poplin, voile, sateen, and some twill), I have no trouble with a 1/2″, but I’ll sometimes add another 1/4″ or so if working with something thicker.
Is there a pattern for the gorgeous shirt?
Yes, this is our Elaeis Shirt!
I love this pattern! I’m a high school seamstress and i love that it is both stylish and easy to follow 🙂 I used a half inch seam allowance and the sizing ended up fitting me perfectly, and I opted for cute buttons down the side since I’m still learning how to install an invisible zipper.
Does the pattern include seam allowances?
Yes, our patterns include a 1/2″ seam allowance! 🙂
Love the finesse of the two fabric collar on the shirt, the elegance of the lace, preserved.
Love the visual style domination of the wide waistband on the shorts. Also very pragmatic, since it’d pair well with a crop top, on the “It’s so hot I wish I were naked” summer days, and minimizing fabric stress while crouched over for gardening and building sand castle work.
I love these shorts….I made a pair out of denim. They fit so well!!
This was my first make and am hooked! Will make again as well all the other patterns.
Some comments and questions:
The measurements seemed much larger. I cut my usual 12-14 and had to do a lot of adjustments.
Didn’t understand why the back length was so much longer than the front hem. My thought was for a booty adjustment. More yet, it’s most likely my doing.
I made my usual sway back adjustment.
My fabric was a thin cotton so I flat lined the whole short.
Used a decorative exposed zipper.
I consider myself an advanced beginner. Self taught.
Absolutely in with my shorts!
Made a second pair out of a black on black stripped silky pant fabric. Not enough fabric left for pants but perfect for these shorts. Very formal looking due to the fabric and cut, yet casual being shorts. This time the back was left long and added a bit of a slit to emphasize the different lengths.
Looking for the right top to make this a New Year’s Eve outfit. I’m thin, in my 50’s and looking for fun, bit sexy, and age appropriate.
If you’re keen to sew the top for your New Years ensemble, you should look at Mood’s Foxglove bodysuit pattern – it looks like a blouse that has been perfectly tucked in!
Frankie, that’s a great idea! Thank you it’s perfect.
Hi Corinne! I know your comment is 2 years old but I thought I’d try anyways lol… I was wondering what kind of adjustment you made for your swayback? I have kyphosis and scoliosis and the result of that gives me a dowagers hump + swayback and Ive been trying for weeks (using several different drafting methods, trying to tweak the slopers afterwards, etc) and NOTHING seems to come out right… I cant find any videos or explanations for this so not only do I not have a sloper (which I desperately need to make my historical gowns) but I cant be sure that patterns like these shorts will fit right. I plan to make a mockup but I figured that someone much more experienced like yourself might have some advice for me (and maybe I can even use that advice to FINALLY make a correct sloper/sleeve/pants that I know I can use in the future to just create my own patterns from and hopefully make sure that patterns I use from here/joanns fit lol)
If you see this and are able to respond tHANK YOU SO MUCH!!!
https://www.pinterest.se/pin/88805423894176610/
i’ve found this post incredibly helpful with my pants projects, a super nifty cheat sheet to keep on hand 🙂
Hope your shorts turned out awesome!
Does the pattern come up big depending on what size paper it’s printed on? I’ve just tested the first page, actual size on A4 and it’s almost 5mm bigger. Should it be printed on Letter size?
Hi Farina, our patterns are formatted for both page sizes, so that shouldn’t be an issue. Are you printing at 100% scale?
I also had a length issue with the front and the back, but didn’t make any pattern adjustments. I’m curvy and found that sizing up one size was right for my body.. The length was perfect for me.
I love this shorts…I made one and it was a great fit. I’m making more.
These shorts are perfect for beginners like me. I made two already. They are great for the tropics.
I love the look of these! I generally do not wear shorts. Is there a similar style for pants? Alternatively (since I’m a complete sewing novice) is there an easy way to just make the shorts longer?
Hi Jen! Some pants that are similar include our Jamesia Pants and Ash Pants. 🙂
I’m having trouble printing the pattern to the correct size. The test square has been too big when printed on letter and A4 paper. What size paper should I be using?
Hi Marcia! Our patterns should be printed on US Letter sized paper. Be sure to scale to 100% and do not click ‘Fit to Page’. If the square is still too large, try decreasing the percentage. 🙂
Thank you. How much fabric do I need if I’m using 45″ width fabric?
1.5 yards should be more than enough! 🙂
Hi there! I’ve printed my pattern on A4 pages and have a border along the right and bottom of my pages, is this normal?
Hi Claire! Our PDFs are sized for US Letter paper. There should be a border along the right and bottom edges to allow the pages to overlap for taping.
I love this pattern, but can’t wear shorts like this to work. How do I best lengthen the legs to make pants? Would I hem them the same? Sorry for the newbie question!☺️
Hi Oneida! You may want to check out our Douglas Pants pattern – it has the same top, but it’s a pants pattern. 🙂
Me encanta la costura.
Instructions not hugely clear but did fine. Pockets are too small for those with big hands tho! Nice pattern, will adapt . Thsnks
I made these in a navy linen with a bit of stretch. They look fabulous! I added a back pocket to hold my phone. I always need pockets! Great pattern!
My first clothing project- these shorts look so professional and I’m incredibly proud of them! It was a journey to get here though- my measurements were about size 3, and I made size 2 after looking at comments and pattern. When I finished, the waistband was too wide, they were too bulky, and the legs were very long. I added two darts to the back, pulled up the crotch seam and cut off 10cm of fabric before hemming with a 4cm wide hem. Now they’re perfect!!! And this project taught me how to do darts, French Seams, pockets, zippers and pant construction! Thank you 🙂
I would love a similar pattern in long pants. I ended up making a second pair of the shorts this past summer. Used a stretch twill with elastic in the waist and was able to eliminate the side zipper. I also added welted pockets in the back. They are my favorites!
Is the 1/2 inch seam allowance assuming you’re doing 1/2 inch for each step of the French seams, or 1/4 for wrong sides together and then 1/4 to finish right sides together?
Hi Harlan! The 1/2 inch is the total seam allowance, meaning that you would do 1/4 for each step of the French seam. 😀
I wish this was stated in the write up..like in a bracket…just saying
could not get this fit to work. I resized, made many adjustments and mock ups. the thighs are just massive! If your like me and have narrow hips, full stomach and a low bum. I do not recommend this pattern.
Tried this pattern.
Tried it for myself (size 28), and for my daughter (size 2) both did not work out well at all.
The image shows a slightly baggy hem line, but that was not the case, both on myself and my daughter, there was an unacceptable amount of extra fabric. Mine had about 6 inches, I’d need to take it in, inorder for it to look similar to the model image. My daughter could fit both legs in one leg, with extra room.
If you plan on making these, I’d suggest a dart on the front middle and back middle, if your looking for the same look as the model image.
Used the glorious Anna Sui Black and Ecru Floral Scallop-Edged Lace fabric in the Spring 2022 Mystery Kit. Turned out runway chic, I love it! The French seaming throughout was a new to me, I had only used it in skirt patterns previously. I enjoyed. The pattern doesn’t go into great details (free), so you need to be a somewhat well versed seamstress or you might get frustrated.