Ready for Summer: 10 Best Shorts Sewing Patterns for the Whole Family

It is the first warm Saturday of the year, and the shorts in the drawer are either too tight at the waist or so short they only work in the garden. The store racks offer the same three lengths in the same stiff denim. A shorts sewing pattern fixes both problems: you pick the fabric, the waistband and the exact length, and most pairs take less than a yard of fabric and one afternoon.

Ten patterns made the cut, and they are not all for the same person: two are for men, two for kids and six for women, from knit biker shorts to a tailored pair. After the cards: who each pair is drafted for, which two need a particular fabric, how the waists work and how to check the inseam while you move.

Shorts Sewing Pattern Picks for Women, Men and Kids

A no-pattern tutorial did not make the list, and neither did duplicate listings of one design. TakeAndSew and some other designers split sizes across two or three listings, so the size range on each card is the one you get.

TL;DR: Two pairs for men, two for kids and six for women: stretch lounge shorts, high waisted shorts with a video, tailored Pixie shorts, a base pattern with three fits, knit biker shorts, knee-length Danielle shorts, Daniel men's shorts, swim shorts with a drawstring, board shorts and bubble shorts for ages 2 to 10.

• Comfy Shorts – Best everyday shorts
• High Waisted Shorts Sewing Pattern – Best with a video
• Pixie Tailored Shorts – Best tailored shorts
• Base Pattern Shorts Women Shorts DIY – Best adjustable fit
• Women Biker Shorts Sewing Pattern – Best biker shorts
• Women Shorts Danielle – Best long shorts
• Summer Men Shorts Daniel – Best men's shorts
• Men's Swim Shorts Sewing Pattern PDF – Best swim shorts
• Cool Dudes Board Shorts – Best kids board shorts
• Bubble Shorts Bloomers Kids 2-10 Years – Best bubble shorts

Quick Comparison

Who the Ten Pairs Are For

Six patterns are drafted for women, and they range from pull-on lounge shorts to a tailored pair with an elastic waistband. The Daniel shorts and the swim shorts are the two for men: check their charts by waist and hip as for any pair, and use the model photos to judge the length.

The board shorts and the bubble shorts are for children, sized by age, so compare the chart with the child’s own measurements rather than the age on the label. For young children an elastic-only waist is the safer choice, so leave the optional drawstring out of the board shorts. For an older child, tack it at the center back so it cannot pull out, and keep the loose ends short.

Two Patterns That Need a Particular Fabric

The biker shorts are drafted for knit, so pick one with good stretch and recovery, sew the seams with a stretch stitch or a serger and hem them with a twin needle or a stretch stitch. The swim shorts call for woven swim fabrics such as polyester, nylon or a quick-dry blend, which dry faster than cotton.

The rest are open to everyday wovens. Cotton, linen and poplin press well and are easy to sew for a first pair. Denim shorts work best with a pattern that has a proper waistband; for a pull-on style, a soft lightweight denim or chambray is easier to gather. The same light cottons and linens suit the halter and tie-back tops in my summer top sewing patterns.

Elastic and Drawstring Waists on These Pairs

• Full elastic: the comfy shorts use a 3-cm-wide elastic and the high waisted shorts a 5 cm one. On shorts with elastic all the way around, a wide band like this is less prone to rolling than a narrow one.
• Elastic or drawstring: the base shorts offer either, and the swim shorts combine both, which gives a second way to tighten the waist.
• Faux fly: the kids board shorts have the look of a fly with an elastic waist, so they go on and off without a zipper.

For any pull-on pair, both the waist edge of the shorts and the elastic at its comfortable stretch must pass over the widest part of your hips. That is why simple elastic shorts are sized by the hip measurement more than the waist.

Common Shorts Questions

How much fabric is needed to sew shorts?

Two tutorials in the top say about 1 meter (a little over 1 yard) is enough for adult shorts, one of them for hips up to about 40 inches. The comfy shorts ask for about 112 x 112 cm of stretch fabric, while the base pattern lists a more generous 2 m at 150 cm wide, so the chart for your pattern comes first.

Are there plus size shorts patterns here?

Yes. The biker shorts run from size 36 to 54, the swim shorts to 3XL, and the base shorts to 2XL. The comfy shorts show sizes up to 4XL on the cover.

Can I turn a pants pattern into shorts?

Yes, for a simple elastic-waist style, for example with one of the pants sewing patterns. Mark the length you want on the leg, add the hem allowance and cut there. The leg will be as wide as the pants were at that point, so a tapered pants pattern gives slimmer shorts than a wide leg one.

Check the Inseam While You Move

A shorts sewing pattern works best when its inseam length suits how you plan to wear it. The inseam runs from the crotch seam down the inside of the leg to the hem, so measure it on a pair of shorts you like and compare it with the pattern. Before hemming, pin the length, then sit, squat and take a long step: short legs ride up when you sit, and close-fitting biker shorts should not pull at the crotch. One tutorial in the top leaves at least an inch for the hem, and the TakeAndSew pairs include a guide to changing the length. More garments are in the skirts and pants section.

You May Also Like

• From Elastic Waist to Zip Fly: 7 Best Pants Sewing Patterns
• High Waist, Single Seam or Custom: 5 Best Leggings Sewing Patterns
• One-Piece, Bikini or Swim Shorts in 9 Best Swimsuit Sewing Patterns

This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more.