We’ve skipped over Spring and are knee deep in 85 degree summer weather here in NY and that means it’s time to ditch the pants for the foreseeable future. I can never seem to find shorts that fit well in-store, so I absolutely adore the opportunity to make a pair. I went with a bright and summery linen, and after discovering it’s lovely drape, I knew it needed to be something gathered. The Piper Shorts feature a faux-belted paper bag waist, with an elastic insert so you vacation in both comfort and style this season.
Fabrics & materials used:
- 1 yard Italian Flax Striped Woven Linen
- 1/2 yard Black Single-Faced Woven Fusible Interfacing
- 1 yard 1/2″ White Elastic
- MDF050 – The Piper Shorts Sewing Pattern (free download below!)
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Begin by sewing your front panels together at the rise, followed by each of the back panels at the back rise. If you’re using the same fabric as me, you won’t need a lining, so French or Hong Kong seams are recommended.
Before connecting the front and back of your shorts together, you’ll want to add you back pockets. Fold the top edge of your pocket panel down 1/2″ and then another 1″ toward the wrong side of the fabric, like below.
Pin, press, and then fold each of the other raw edges back and press again.
Using the guides on your pattern, place the pockets on each back panel and top-stitch into place.
Attach the front and back of your shorts at the inseam and outseam, and then fold your waistband down 1/2″ and then a full 2″ like in the photo below.
Stitch around the waistband toward the bottom of the fold, like below, and then again about 3/4″ above that to create a casing for your elastic.
Cut a piece of elastic to fit snugly, yet comfortably along your waist. Seam rip a small opening in the casing along the back seam and feed your elastic through. Stitch elastic together at the ends, evenly distribute the gathered fabric along the waistband, and slip-stitch the casing closed again.
Lastly, triple fold the hem of your shorts, 1.5″-2″ depending on your desired length, and hand tack into place in a few spots.
To make the belt, fold in half along the length with the fabric faces together and sew around the three raw edges, leaving a few inches open to pull it right side out. Iron, and then slip-stitch the opening closed.
15 comments
TY – more free cute patterns in BIG sizes keeps me buying your stuff. AND – big people buy MORE! 🙂
Thank you ! Planning a trip to the store Saturday hopefully I can find this fabric still in stock. Beautiful
I love this fabric! It was so lovely to work with. It’s an online closeout fabric though, so I’m not sure if they’ll have it in store!
These shorts are so cute! Tying that perfect bow is the hardest part! Thank you!
Really love the size range on this! I found a free PDF pattern for similarly styled shorts and (after printing it out) found that the largest size was three sizes smaller than what I would need. So glad to have seen this pattern announced on Instagram. Just what I needed. And as a bonus, because of the extended sizes, I can sew up a pair for my mother as well!
Very cute! But it need FRONT pockets as well!
I was trying to keep them simple! Hahah, you’re totally right though – more pockets are always better. A quick and easy remedy might be some in-seam pockets. If you’ve never tried them, we have a pretty easy tutorial here! 🙂
Download patterns, transferring to Swedish tracing paper and noticed both pattern pieces say “Front”, is that correct?
Whoops! That’s an error. The piece on the right, with the pocket guidelines, is the back piece. Fixing now, thank you for the catch!
Thanks Courtney, I thought as much but wanted to make sure 🙂
Hi, Can I ask where the interfacing is used also are these uk or usa sizes please?
Good morning! These are US sizes, and you use the interfacing along the belt pieces 🙂
Sooo cute!
Hello, I have a question. The italian M size, also 42/44 size,what american size does it match? Thank You.
You’d get the best fit by measuring yourself and referring to the size chart below the materials list.