Kemer — Boys’ Shorts – sewing tutorial

Kemer

Boys' shorts with an elasticated drawstring waistband, side seam pockets, and a buttoned flap pocket at the back.

Get the pattern Follow @fabrico_patterns

3–10 yrs Sizes included

61–79 cm Main fabric (24"–31.1")

9 Pattern pieces

1 cm Seam allowance included (0.39")

Relaxed shorts with a drawstring waist

Boys' shorts with an elasticated waistband and a drawstring cord threaded through grommets, side seam pockets, and a buttoned flap pocket at the back.

Cut from light cotton, light jeans, or cotton jersey — or a quick-drying thin raincoat fabric for swim shorts — this pattern is sized 3 to 10 years.

What you'll need

Suggested fabrics

For sewing these shorts we recommend light cotton, light jeans, or cotton jersey.

If you want to sew swimming shorts, choose a quick-drying thin raincoat fabric.

Also needed

• Main fabric — 61–79 cm (24"–31.1"), length by size, see table below
• Interfacing — 10 cm (3.94") with a width of 140 cm (55.1")
• Button — 1 cm (0.39") diameter
• Cord for the waistband
• Elastic for the waistband
• Grommets for the waistband
• Seam allowances of 1 cm (0.39") are already included on every pattern piece

For fabric width 1.8 m (70.9")

All our patterns already contain a 1 cm (0.39") seam allowance.

Specification

Main fabric, width 1.8 m (70.9")

SIZE 3 YEARS

SIZE 8 YEARS

Interfacing Iron the interfacing to the back pocket opening (7), the pocket flaps (8), the front pocket opening, and the waistband (3) where the grommets will go.

Sewing instructions

Back pocket

1. 1

   Iron the interfacing to the wrong side of the back pants at the pocket opening.

2. 2

   Iron the interfacing to the pocket flaps.

3. 3

   Iron the interfacing to the pocket opening of the front pants.

4. 4

   Draw the stitching lines on the wrong side of the frame for the back pocket, and matching lines on the right side of the back pants. Pin the frame to the lines, baste, and sew in place.

5. 5

   Slash the pocket opening, cutting diagonally to the corners. Turn the frame to the wrong side and press. Baste.

6. 6

   Topstitch the pocket opening.

7. 7

   Pin the big pocket piece to the upper edge of the frame, right sides together. Sew in place. Press.

8. 8

   Pin the small pocket piece to the bottom of the frame, right sides together. Sew in place. Press.

9. 9

   Pin the pocket pieces together and stitch. Press.

Pocket flap & front fly

1. 1

   Pin the pocket flap pieces right sides together and stitch, leaving the upper edge open for turning. Clip the corner and curves.

2. 2

   Turn the flap right side out. Press. Topstitch.

3. 3

   Stitch the buttonhole on the flap.

4. 4

   Pin the flap to the back pants, right side up.

5. 5

   Stitch to 0.5 cm (0.2") from the edge. Press toward the pocket and trim the allowances to 0.3 cm (0.12").

6. 6

   Fold the flap down and stitch 0.5 cm (0.2") from the edge. Press.

7. 7

   Pin the front panels together, right sides together, along the crotch. Stitch. Press.

8. 8

   Turn to the right side. Fold the fly, matching the center front marks, and pin it in position from the right side. Press.

9. 9

   Draw the lines for the fly with chalk, using the fly pattern.

10. 10

    Topstitch the crotch seam.

11. 11

    Topstitch the fly and sew the bar-tacks.

Side pockets & seams

1. 1

   Serge or zigzag the raw side edges of the pocket pieces and the front and back pants.

2. 2

   Pin the pocket piece to the front pants, right sides together. Sew in place, leaving 1 cm (0.39") at the edges. Press the allowances toward the pocket piece and understitch. Press.

3. 3

   Repeat on the back pants — no need to understitch.

4. 4

   Pin the pocket pieces of the back and front together and stitch. Sew the bar tacks.

5. 5

   Clip the side allowance of the back pant and fold.

6. 6

   Serge the pocket pieces. Press.

7. 7

   Press the side allowances open.

8. 8

   Pin the back pants together, right sides together, along the crotch. Serge. Press.

9. 9

   Topstitch along the crotch.

10. 10

    Pin the front and back pants right sides together. Stitch and serge the raw edge. Press.

Hem & waistband

1. 1

   Fold the hem of the shorts, pin, stitch, and press.

2. 2

   Iron the interfacing to the waistband where the grommets will go.

3. 3

   Place the grommets.

4. 4

   Pin the waistband together, right sides together, along the short edge, and stitch.

5. 5

   Stitch together the elastic.

6. 6

   Insert the cord through the grommets.

7. 7

   Fix the elastic in place with pins.

8. 8

   Stitch four equal lines along the waistband, stretching the elastic as you sew.

9. 9

   Pin the waistband to the upper hem, right sides together. Sew in place. Serge the raw edge. Press the allowances down.

Finishing The shorts are ready!