15+ Shorts Sewing Patterns to Try Out this Summer!
Summer is officially here and if you want to get in on the latest shorts sewing patterns trends, now is your chance!
This blog post will provide a list of 15+ best women’s shorts sewing patterns that will show you how to make different types of shorts at home.
There are no more excuses not to sew something for yourself or your loved ones with these exciting sewing patterns!
Now’s the time to maybe kickstart that dressmaking business you’ve always dreamt of! By the end of this blog post, you will have a whole collection of shorts, all in different styles!
Table of Contents
Harper Shorts and Skort Sewing Pattern by Megan Nielsen Patterns
Image: Megan Nielsen Patterns
A classic pair of Harper shorts has curved patch pockets for personal items.
Remembering where you left your keys can be challenging, which is why two zippers and slash pockets on this design are more than helpful.
The sewing pattern has two pattern views:
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- Plain shorts with patch pockets
- Mid-thigh length skort pleated on the front with slash pockets.
The manufacturer of the pattern has rated it a three out of five in the difficulty level. We do not recommend this sewing pattern to a novice who’s just learning to sew since it requires sewing expertise.
Both the patterns are available in sizes XS to XL, meaning women of all sizes can sew it for themselves.
Fabric requirements for this pattern are:
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- Denim
- Twill
- Poplin
- Broadcloth
- Linen and blends
- Suiting
- Gabardine
- Pique
- Wool blends
Additional things you would require for this project are a 20 cm invisible zipper and fusible interfacing. This pattern is available for purchase in PDF format only.
It includes the following:
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- Instruction Booklet consisting of 17 pages
- A4 printing: 56 pages
- A0 Copy Shop print: Three pages only
Moxi Women’s Shorts Sewing Pattern by Green Style Creations
Image: Green Style Creations
Moxi shorts let you stay cool and comfortable while showing off your personal touch.
The possibilities are as limitless as your imagination! Make it one way or make it three ways – the choice is up to you.
Add an optional thong, briefs, and compression shorts for a super sleek look, or keep it simple with just the built-in briefs for an athletic and cool urban vibe.
Keep options versatile by adding a zipper pocket option.
This pattern is perfect for everyone from sizes 0-18.
If the Moxi Shorts sewing pattern sounds like something that you’d love to sew, then head on over to their page right now and get your instant download!
Maritime Shorts by Grainline Studios
Image: Grainline Studios
Are you looking for a cute new pair of cheap shorts to show off this summer? Carve out some time today and make a Maritime Short!
The Maritime Short is a comfortable, easygoing pair of shorts that will wow your friends with its creative design.
Its standout features include curved front pockets and back patch pockets.
Pair this style with one of the cotton ikat fabrics, or sew it in breezy linen for a daytime walk on the beach. There are different lengths included, too, so you’re assured of a comfortable fit no matter your height.
The inseam instructions include both pre-curved lines, which keep their shape nicely. The Maritime Short is an intermediate level pattern featuring:
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- straight seams
- curved seams
- fly closure insertion
- basic hemming.
Because it requires some sewing expertise, we do not recommend this pattern to a beginner sewer. With a bit of practice and going through some quick sewing tips and tricks, it may be possible for you to complete this project in one go!
Measurements are in both US and metric versions, and the pattern also has instructions on creating more casual looks such as double tiers or classic cut-off length.
These shorts are one style choice that will fit any body type. They are comfortable and flattering all around thanks to a modern cut with plenty of room for customization.
Sewing essentials for this project are:
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- Matching thread
- Zipper
- Hook and eye closure
- Fusible interfacing
This sewing pattern is available only in PDF format on the official Grainline Studios website.
Iris—Easy Shorts Sewing Pattern by Seamwork
Image: Seamwork
If you’re looking for a cute sewing project that only takes a few hours to complete, then this new Iris shorts pattern is perfect for you.
It’s like your favorite pair of jeans or yoga pants but simplified to be shorter with no pockets in the back. It is a welcome change from those over-complicated denim gussets.
You’ll also love how quickly they sew up!
These simple, quick shorts are perfect for all your summer sewing projects. They come in every color and sport an invisible side zipper to make them quickly put together.
We suggest wearing them with a buttoned shirt and over leggings for a chic look. If you want to make one at home, you can refer to our blog on shirt sewing patterns.
These cute easy-breezy bottoms have pockets that sit on the front side seam, so you’ll always be organized yet hands-free!
The optional buttons on the pockets will keep them securely closed while not sacrificing style. You may have some trouble with this part of the project (adding buttons and zippers is no beginner’s play). So, make sure you’ve learned how to sew before jumping onto it!
This easy to sew short is a beginner-friendly sewing pattern so you can spend less time reading through instructions and more time starting onto your next project.
The 4 ½ inches in-seam length keeps these shorts secure and ends at just below the knee for a comfortable fit.
Pattern name |
Iris |
Sizing |
Suitable for women of sizes 0-18 |
Fabric recommendations |
Medium-weight fabrics:
Lightweight fabric for the pocket lining:
|
Skill level |
Beginner |
Things you need |
|
Available formats |
Available in PDF format:
|
Soho Shorts Plus Skirt Sewing Pattern by Oliver and S
Image: Oliver + S
The versatile Soho shorts plus skirt sewing pattern by Oliver and S packs the elegance of a skirt and sporty vibe of a pair of comfortable shorts into one pattern!
This sewing pattern features:
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- a pleated skirt—without doubt, one of the most uncomplicated and chic skirt sewing patterns we’ve come across,
- and a loose pair of everyday shorts.
Both the patterns come with side inseam pockets making your life a tad bit easier.
Both the patterns feature pleats in the front, which makes them look almost identical. You won’t be able to tell a Soho short apart from a skirt, which makes it a perfect camouflage to pull off at work without coming off as inappropriate.
The length of the skirt and shorts is also appropriately long so that you can stay cool without showing too much skin.
This sewing pattern is available in sizes 0-20, meaning even our plus-size babes can whip these garments up for themselves!
This sewing pattern is an excellent start for an advanced beginner wanting to learn some new sewing hacks.
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- The pattern instructions teach you a contour waistband technique to help the waistband keep its elasticity for long.
- Both the skirt and shorts sit one inch below the waistline.
- You can also customize the garments by lengthening or shortening them according to preference.
- You will also learn how to add an invisible side zipper with sewing instructions on this technique.
- You can also add optional belt hoops to the Soho short and skirt to personalize it further.
- The Soho shorts alone will take five days to complete.
- Fabric recommendations for this pattern are any woven material such as rayon or wool.
Refer to the sew-along tutorial for the Soho shorts and start making your personalized shorts right away! Do not forget to buy the pattern first to know what you’re doing as you sew along.
Simone Wide-Legged Shorts and Pants by Jalie Patterns
Image: Jalie Patterns
The Simone sewing pattern features a pair of fluid, loose shorts and flappy pants.
The wide-legged pants are one of those pants sewing patterns that are easy to sew and even easier to wear.
These wide-leg pants can even pass as a modern jumpsuit pattern when you wear them with a matching or contrasting sleeveless blouse. Learn how to make sewing patterns to produce your personalized jumpsuit sewing pattern for others to use.
These garments are perfect for hot summer days as they’re lightweight and most comfortable to wear.
They do not include any complicated notions like zippers or buttons, so that’s a plus for novice sewers new to the sewing world.
Some notable features of the Simone sewing pattern are:
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- Elasticized back
- A front-tie ribbon belt
- Pleated front
- Slant inseam front pockets
The sewing pattern includes 28 different sizes, so women of all sizes can benefit from it.
The PDF instruction booklet is available in two languages: French and English. The pattern includes a seam allowance of 1 cm throughout.
If you’re printing the pattern at home on A4 papers, you may find their guide on How to assemble a PDF pattern useful. There are a total of 25 pages in A4 format and one page in A0 copy shop format.
You can purchase the pattern online for around CAD 17.
Duathlon Ladies Shorts Sewing Pattern by Fehr Trade
Image: Fehr Trade
This is the perfect pattern for someone who wants to take their first plunge into sewing knits.
With a high-rise, elasticized waistband and the option of adding some padding to keep it comfortable on rides, these duathlon shorts are designed for comfort.
The elasticated waistband means these shorts will stay put as you move around, so no more worrying about them falling down mid-run!
The instructions for this sewing pattern come in two languages: English and French. You will get both copies on your purchase.
These tight-fitting shorts require stretch fabric such as a jersey with excellent recovery. The pattern includes negative ease, making it skin-tight, just how sports shorts should be!
There are three length options available for this sewing pattern:
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- Capris (below knee-length)
- Booty shorts (falls slightly below the butt)
- Biker shorts (above knee-length)
Features of the sewing pattern include:
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- Integrated side pockets
- Gussetted crotch with optional padding
- Stretchy waistband
- 1 cm seam allowances
- Six sizes included—XXS to XL
- A4, US Letter, and A0 copy shop PDF formats
- Negative ease
This pattern is only available as an instantly downloadable PDF file.
Winslow Culottes by Helen’s Closet Patterns
Image: Helens Closet Patterns
Design your version of our favorite wide-legged pants from the standard Winslow Culottes pattern, available at reasonable prices.
This sewing pattern creates anything from mini culotte shorts to full-length, wide-leg pants.
The Winslow Culotte features an oversized leg with wide pleats at the front and back. Large back pockets mean you’ll always have a place for your phone, passport, or wallet too!
Fabric recommendations for this pattern are:
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- Cotton lawn
- Tencel twill
- Viscose poplin
- Rayon challis
- Crepe de chine
- Linen
Their pattern work features:
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- large back pockets
- an invisible zipper front closure for cuffing options
- inverted box pleats in the upper thighs for a comfortable fit without pulling and tugging
- a fitted waistband interfaced for quality fabric response to drape smoothly over your curves.
- Four pattern views
-
-
- View A: mid-thigh shorts with front and back pleats
- View B: Knee-length fluid shorts
- View C: midi-length wide-leg short pants sewing pattern
- View D: ankle-length pants
-
Combine these modern culottes with your favorite accessories or a crop top to slay the evening! You can refer to our blog on crop top sewing patterns for some sewing inspiration.
Chataigne Shorts by Deer and Doe
Image: Deer and Doe
Made from a buttery-soft Jersey fabric, these stylish and customizable shorts offer options for every waist size!
Chataigne shorts boasts an innovative design with inverted box pleats at the sides for a fresh look. The invisible zipper makes them go from office to street seamlessly.
There are two variations to this sewing pattern:
-
- Version A features a regular waist and folded cuffs
- Version B is a unique pattern with an elevated high waist and a scalloped hem.
The Chataigne shorts are a plus-size sewing pattern for curvy women. The pattern comes in sizes 34-52 in PDF format and 34-46 in printed paper format.
We recommend this sewing pattern to advanced beginners since it deals with fabrics like twill, denim, gabardine, and wool blends and complex notions like invisible zippers.
You can purchase and download the sewing pattern here.
Chi-Town Chinos Shorts Sewing Pattern by Alina Design Co.
Image: Alina Design Co
Nothing says “hot summer days” like a pair of fresh, colorful chinos. Alina designed the Chi-Town Chinos pattern to help sewers create that perfect summer wardrobe staple—the quintessential beach outfit in your backyard.
These medium-rise shorts are straight from the hip bone through the leg, making this pattern versatile for many figure shapes.
With four back pockets and plenty of hip room for freedom of movement, you can use these simple shorts every day, all year long!
This sewing pattern also features a skirt in addition to the shorts. You can resize the pattern according to preference to lengthen or shorten either garment.
If you want to go a step further, you can purchase the full chino collection instead of just the chino shorts.
This entire collection comes with four different lengths—short, knee, below-knee, and ankle-length, and has instructions on how to add welt pockets. The pricing varies for the complete collection.
Pattern name |
Chi-Town Chinos |
Sizes |
0-18 |
Notions |
|
Fabric recommendations |
Medium weight woven fabrics:
|
Pricing |
$15.00 |
Required skills |
|
Skill level |
Beginner |
Pattern details |
|
Ladies Shorts Sewing Pattern Free
Below is a list of free shorts sewing patterns available for download at zero cost to you!
These free sewing patterns may not have instructions as elaborated as the paid ones do, but they’re great for beginners who are just experimenting with different sewing patterns.
These are also excellent inspirations for expert sewers whose creativity has run dry from sewing all the time. You would love these sewing patterns, especially if you own a dressmaking business.
Do not forget to add custom woven labels to the back pocket to impart a brand identity to your clothing line. Adding care labels or hang tags are also a great way to impart professionalism to your brand.
RELATED: Different types of Sewing Labels
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- The Myrtle Shorts by Mood Sewciety—Ladies Shorts Free Sewing Pattern
Image: Mood Sewciety
The myrtle shorts are a mid-thigh length that falls above the knee. These are loose shorts with considerable sewing ease. Use a patterned fabric to make this pair.
The myrtle shorts are a perfect representation of the Bermuda short trend currently making its mark in the fashion industry.
You can create a matching crop top taking inspiration from the bodice of a simple dress sewing pattern such as the Bridgerton dress.
The pattern features a pleated waistband, making it suitable for all body types!
Fabric recommendations for this project include:
-
-
- Sateen
- Linen
- Suiting
-
You can download the free shorts sewing pattern here. You will receive a link via email, allowing you to download the pattern instantly.
2. Jogging Shorts Sewing Pattern by Me Sew Crazy
Image: Me Sew Crazy
This is another free ladies’ shorts sewing pattern by Me Sew Crazy. It is a pretty short pair of jogging shorts that you can make out of lightweight fabrics such as cotton lawn.
The sewing time that this project will take is only two hours!
Things you will need for this project:
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-
- Pins
- Scissors
- Bias tape
- Matching thread
- Sewing machine
- Elastic (1-inch wide)
- Woven fabric (one yard)
- Universal regular point needle
- Free jogging shorts sewing pattern
-
For step-by-step instructions with relevant pictures, refer to the ehow blog.
3. Summer Shorties for Kids by Paper Dahl
Image: Paper Dahl
This free summer shorties sewing pattern for kids is the cutest sewing pattern you’d come across in this entire blog post. It is available in sizes 12 months to 8 years.
These shorties take less than an hour to whip up.
The pattern features fold-over waistband elastic. Use knit fabrics for this project.
The whole pattern has only four pages to print.
You don’t have to print all sizes. Instead, you can choose to print only one or two sizes, which you want to use.
Because the pattern is for a little girl, the fabric requirement is also the least! You can upcycle an old printed t-shirt or patterned shirt to create these cute tiny shorts out of old clothes.
These shorts are unisex so that you can sew them for your baby girl or boy.
For detailed sewing instructions, refer to Paper Dahl’s blog on summer shorties.
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