inside: sew an amazing pair of athletic shorts with this free sewing pattern. Stretch woven fabric and all the zippers make for the most incredible shorts. These shorts in sizes xxs-3xl will be your new favorite athletic shorts.
I know I say I’m excited about every new pattern I create, but it’s really true. I’m SO excited about my new athletic shorts free sewing pattern. One reason I love them all so much is that I design what I want and like so when I’m done I think they are all amazing {hahaha} This shorts are sewn with stretch woven {which is amazing}, and are full of pockets, so I’m just thrilled with them. I hope you will use this pattern to create some amazing shorts for yourself.
Athletic shorts free sewing pattern –
So cute right? The stretch woven is simply amazing and they shorts are designed perfectly for that fabric. Below you will find a link to the fabric seen here, but you can fin stretch woven fabric in many places… Like my top? You can find the free workout tank pattern HERE.
My favorite part about any piece of clothing is the pockets and these shorts are no different. The back welt pocket, the side pockets and a zipper pocket are all perfect.
A comment on sizing before we get to the sewing tutorial… You will notice the size chart has a several inch range for each size. I fall right in between the S and M. I sewed the blue fabric in a S and the tan fabric in a M. They both fit fine, but I do really love the smaller version better. If you fall between size you can choose you size based on personal choice. Use the same idea if you fall on the very bottom or top of a size range.
Ready to sew? Let’s get started.
Use this size chart to sew these athletic shorts free sewing pattern. Choose the size to sew based on this size chart. As mentioned above I fall right in between the S and M and you can see how they both fit me above. If you fall between sizes or at the top or bottom range of a size, choose a tighter or looser fit depending on your preference.
Athletic shorts pattern supplies:
- 1 yard stretch woven fabric {here’s where I got mine}
- 6″ zipper
- optional – sports mesh for fabric
- 2″ wide elastic
The free pattern AND a premium version are available. The premium version includes the pattern pieces as well as the tutorial in printable PDF form. This is for those of you who don’t want to use the tutorial in this post.
Use this as a guide to tape your printed pattern together. Need help downloading and printing your pattern? See the tutorial HERE.
You will use these charts to cut the shorts welt pockets and waistband. You can cut before you begin sewing or when you get to that step in the tutorial.
NOTE: 3/8″ {1cm} seam allowance included. Top-stitching should be done with double needle or coverstitch 1/8″ from seam on right side of fabric. Tips for double needle use HERE. Use a serger or zig zag to finish all raw edge.
Cut out pattern pieces as directed on pattern pieces – You should have:
- 2 Fronts
- 2 Backs
- 2 Pockets
- 2 Pocket Pouches
- 1 waistband
- 1 welt pocket
- 1 welt pocket flap
- 1 zipper pocket
How to sew Sports Shorts –
Once you have everything cut out you will begin by sewing the welt pocket on the back right shorts piece. {the picture shows the back seam sewn, but I realized it was easier to do the pocket first before sewing the back} Place the pattern piece on the back fabric and mark the welt pocket line as well as the top dart. {Mark the top dart on both back pieces}
I marked both ends of the pocket, then used a straight edge to connect the dots.
Fold the dart markings right side together and pin. Mark from the top pins to the welt pocket line you marked on the front. Sew this dart, fold the dart towards the back middle, then top-stitch close to the seam.
How to sew a welt pocket –
Gather the welt pocket flap and pocket. Place the pocket over the line on the shorts right side up. The pocket should extend past the sides of the line and 1.5″ above, the rest will be below the pocket. Place the pattern piece back on top and mark the pocket again. Pin the two layers of fabric in place to hold.
Sew 1/4″ above the line and then down the side, sew another 1/4″ below the line and up the other short side. This should now be a stitched rectangle. Cut down the center of rectangle, then clip into each corner. Cut as close as you can to each corner. DO NOT cut the stitched.
Tuck the fabric of the pocket to the back side of the shorts. Press edge then pin around. Sew the sides and top of the pocket edge.
Place the welt pocket flap over the opening. The top should just reach the top of the hole the side should overlap. {trim sides if needed.
Sew the bottom edge of the pocket and tack the sides as well. This complete the front of the pocket. Fold the pocket up and align the top and sides of the pocket. Sew these three sides to finish the welt pocket.
Place the two front pieces together and two back pieces together right sides touching. Sew the curved center seam of the back, and the front faux fly curved edge of the front. I used a serger to sew the front, but did reinforce the tight corners. Also, Pinch together and fold over the faux fly.
Pin or clip the faux fly, then top-stitch the edge of the fly and continue down the rest of the front edge. Also top-stitch the back.
Place the pocket pouch right sides together matching the angled edge of pocket and shorts. Fold the pouch back and topstitch the straight edge.
Add a zipper side pocket –
From the back of the shorts, place the pocket on top of the pouch, lining up the curved edge. Place the zipper pocket on top of the pocket and line up the top and left side. {Only one side pocket has a zipper pocket too} Stitch two sides of the zipper pocket rectangle to the pocket. Sew both curved edges of the right and left pockets.
On the pocket that you sewed the rectangle zipper pocket place the 6″ zipper right sides together along the pocket edge. Trim the zipper if needed. The zipper should be clipped/pinned to the pocket NOT the rectangle zipper pocket. Keep the rectangle zipper pocket out of the way and sew the zipper with a zipper foot. Fold the zipper back and clip the seam allowance right under the zipper. {see this step in the video}
Place the front and back together at the side seam. Match up the shorts top and make sure to catch the zipper pocket, zipper and back in the side seam. Sew from the top of the shorts to the bottom of the pocket, then stop! I used a zipper foot to sew this side seam from top to bottom of pocket. Finish the raw edges of the bottom of the shorts sides.
Fold back the finished edge of the side and sew 2″ from the bottom {this is for the side slit} Sew the rest of the side seam from bottom of pocket to where you hemmed the edge. This is shown between my two fingers in the photo.
Top stitch the side seam allowance to the back of the shorts and zig zag the bottom of the pocket V to reinforce.
Sew the inseam from the bottom edge of one leg to the other. Finish the raw edge of the leg opening. Turn back and hem a 3/4″ hem. The side edges should be open with the slit.
Grab the waistband, shorts and elastic. Measure your low waist {just under belly button} and subtract 2″. Cut elastic to this length. On the top edge of the shorts, make sure the two parts of the zipper and pinned or clipped together, so they don’t separate. Measure the waistband so it matches the top of the shorts, then sew the short ends together.
Fold the long sides of the waistband together and pin waistband to top of shorts. Sew the three layers together {shorts and two waistband edges} and leave a 2.5″ opening to thread the elastic. I leave the opening at the back of the shorts.
Thread the cut elastic through the opening then sew the ends of the elastic together to form circle. Pull the elastic back into the casing and sew the opening closed. I like to top stitch along the top and bottom of the elastic. I use the edge of the presser foot for distance from the top and bottom of the waistband. You need to stretch the waistband as you sew so you don’t sew any fabric puckers.
Here is the waistband with the top stitching. I love the finished look of the shorts. Haven’t downloaded the free pattern yet? Here’s another link.
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