Free Pattern & Tutorial: The Anyday Banded Shorts

I am so ready to get started on Back To School clothes!  

My family and I are taking a much needed vacation soon, so this will be the last tutorial until I get back at the end of August.  (although I might find something to share) 

I really felt like I was running out of inspiration this last leg of summer, but my head is swimming with ideas for the fall and winter.  Since you can wear these now into the fall, I thought I would go ahead and share them now.

I'm calling these shorts the AnyDay shorts because you really can wear them any day, and type of weather.  I wanted to show you a picture of them with a sweater and tights...but typical model behavior was in effect this morning.  And trust me...they looked adorable with the sweater!  We also couldn't take any pictures outside because we had some seriously dangerous weather this morning.  So crappy lighting in my daughters bedroom was our backdrop.

Some things you need to know about this pattern before you download:

1. I suck at converting my hand drawn pattern into a pdf file.  I scanned it in, realized my mistake, wanted to recan it, and then my scanner stopped functioning.  SO...when you print, you have to set it to "print to fit page".  The pattern still came out in the correct size, you just have a big empty border around the edges.

2. I placed arrows on each page.  After each page is printed, the arrow orientation should be top right corner.

There are also color coded shapes on each page. That is just to help you line up the papers correctly.  So the red square should line up directly over top another red square, before you tape it in place.

3. This pattern will fit a range of sizes.  The green line fits sizes 2/3.  The red line fits sizes 3/4. The blue line fits sizes 4/5.  But in reality, these are such roomy shorts, there is not a major difference between the 2/3 and the 4/5.  It's all in the leg bands.

4. The seam allowance on the pattern is 5/8 inch. EXCEPT when attaching the leg band.  The seam allowance for the leg band is 1/2 inch.

5. I forgot to include in the pattern on the leg band, that you cut on the fold. I will remind you during the tutorial.

6.  This is the first time I've uploaded my files to Media Fire.  The files are out of order, but I guess it really doesn't matter because you need to download all of them anyway.

7.  Finish your seams how you like....pinking shears, serger, overcasting stitch, etc.  I won't be covering that in this tutorial.

LET'S GET STARTED!!!

Materials:

DOWNLOAD PATTERN

1/2 yard of material for shorts

1/4 yard of material for the band

1/2 inch elastic

basic sewing supplies

Print out all pattern pieces.  Before cutting them out, arrange them.  There are arrows on each page.  Every arrow should point up in the right corner of the page.  That will help you with page orientation.  You will also notice colored shapes.  These shapes should line up on top of each other for proper alignment of the pattern pieces.

Cut out your pieces.  Cut 2 for the front and cut 2 for the back part of the shorts.

The leg band should be cut on the fold because it needs to be double the width of the pattern piece.  You need to cut 2.

Lay out your cut pattern pieces, they should resemble this.

Start with the back pieces.  Line them up with right sides touching.  Pin in place and sew 5/8 inch away from edge.  Do not sew the front of the crotch yet.

When you open it up it will look like this.  Put this piece aside for now.

Repeat process for front pieces.  Right sides should be touching.  Do not sew the crotch.

Take your completed front and back pieces and with right sides touching, align the crotch and sew it across.

Now that the crotch is sewn, line up the sides of your shorts.  They should look like a pair of shorts now.  Sew up the sides.

Turn your shorts right side out.  

Gather the edge of the leg openings by setting your tension low and setting your stitch length long.

Take your leg band pieces and fold the length in half with right sides touching.  Sew each one separately 1/2 inch away from the edge.

Fold your band in half so wrong sides are touching.

Press flat.  Yes, I have red crayon on my cutting mat...doesn't everyone?

Slip the band over the the gathered opening of the leg.  Raw edges should line up with raw edges.  The outside of the band that is facing you now, is going to end up facing inside (just an FYI in case you preferred one side and need to flip it.)

Now sew 1/2 inch away from the raw edges. Finish your seams how you like (pinking shears, serge, overcast)  

As you can see here, I could really use the serger that I entered to win from Sew Mama Sew.

Almost done!

 

The waistband in simply finished by making a casing for the elastic.  You can either serge the raw edge and fold over 3/4 inch and press, or you can fold over the fabric 1/4 inch and press it, and then fold over again 3/4 inch and press it.  Sew around 1/4 away from the open edge, leaving a small opening for you to insert your elastic.  

Sew the elastic ends together, and close up the small opening.

All done!

As with any of my work, you may share, and reprint this pattern and tutorial, but credit must be placed with Create and Delegate.  You may not sell this pattern, but you may sell clothing made from this pattern.

I will be sharing this pattern and tutorial with the fun and awesome link parties found at the bottom of this page.  You can also find them listed in the "linked to" button on my navi bar!