Shorts are a staple for any summer wardrobe! Suitable for both boys and girls, our DIY summer shorts for kids are so easy to make and also perfect for customizing. Follow this guide to learn how to make kids’ summer shorts for your little one and design them as unique as the kid who will wear them!
These shorts are comfortable, easy to make in any fabric and pattern for the beach, swimming pool, or going out for a picnic in summer. However, like every DIY clothes project, this will require some basic sewing skills and, of course, time!
If you are a busy mom who does not have much time to DIY, try visiting BabyOutlet. This is one of our favorite children’s clothing brands. Best of all, they always have the trendiest collection of kid’s summer clothes with tons of cute shorts patterns for you to choose from or simply inspire your DIY project.
What You Will Need
- 3/4 yard of Jersey knit fabric
- The pattern of your choice
- Sewing machine
- Jersey ballpoint needles
- Other sewing essentials like a rotary cutter, scissors, and mat
Step By Step on How to Make Kids Summer Shorts
We guess you have everything ready by now. So, let’s get started!
Step 1: Assemble & Cut Out The Pattern
Once you’ve chosen the pattern, cut it down to a size that you want and start assembling. Use some weights to hold the pattern piece in place while cutting to make sure you do it perfectly. Also, remember to cut out two of the shorts patterns if you use double cloth. Next, mark the back with a pin or a pen before moving on.
Note: If you decide to upcycle old clothes like a T-shirt, the trick is to fold the bottom of the pattern up an inch. Then, place it at the bottom of the T-shirt, line up, and cut it out. If you do it this way, the bottom of the short is already finished!
Step 2: Sew The Shorts
Iron out your seams so the shorts should look like this. Now, it’s time to start putting your kid’s summer shorts together. Pin the 2 pieces together to make sure the right sides are touching. Then, use a 3/8 seam to sew the rise of the shorts. We used an overlock stitch for this one, but a Zig Zag stitch will work just fine.
Step 3: Sew The Inner Seam
Grab your shorts and fold them so the 2 seams that you just sewed are touching on the right sides. Sew the inner seam using a 3/8 seam allowance and a stretch stitch. Trim off any extra so nothing can irritate your kid’s skin.
Step 4: Prepare The Waistband
To make sure the shorts fit perfectly, you will need an elastic waistband. First, fold your elastic band around so it forms a loop (overlaps by an inch) and ensure there are no twists in the loop. Sew down the edges with a zig zag stitch to make the loop secure.
Mark the elastic band with pins (one at the front, back, and each side). Now, place the elastic around the shorts. Line up the pins with the seams on the shorts evenly into fourths.
Step 5: Add The Elastic Waistband
With the elastic band touching the other side of the fabric, sew it to the shorts using a stretch stitch. Just make sure you stretch the elastic band so it has the same length as the waist while sewing. Continue to do this all the way around.
Fold the band over so you can’t see any exposed elastic part. Next, we need to sew the elastic band into place using the same technique of pulling and sewing used above. Flip the shorts right side out and sew to the top using a regular straight stitch along the edge of the elastic.
Step 6: Make The Pockets (Optional)
Cut out four pieces of the pockets from your old fabric. Then, pin it to the inside of your shorts. Next, sew around the curved edge of the pattern to make the pocket. Finally, cut a hole on both sides – just enough along the seam so you can pull apart the stitching creating a hole. Sew around the opening to complete!
Step 7: Finishing Touches
The good news is you’re finished if you’re making the T-shirt version! But, if we make the shorts from cloth, we still need to finish those ends. Just turn under each leg 1 inch and sew up using a zig zag or double seam to complete. Of course, you can also cuff them into place or just leave the legs raw.
These DIY kid’s summer shorts can easily be shortened by folding up or cutting down to your desired design. With a comfortable no-roll elastic waistband, we are guaranteed that these cute lovely are sure to be a hit this summer!
