Get Creative with Cute DIY Shorts and Pants Patterns!

By Sarah LewisMar 15, 2025

Hi everyone! I'm a guest blogger today for the Ellie and Mac Sewing Blog. I have my own blog over at www.letsgohobby.com, but I have written many posts for E&M too since the patterns are so fun and easy to make.

Today I'm talking about one of my go-to patterns

My Go To Easy Shorts and Pants Sewing Pattern

I love the Ellie and Mac Patterns Feel Pretty Shorts & Pants Pattern! They are so easy to make - no darts, no zippers, no buttons - and you can use all your woven fabrics for them.

This sewing pattern is well loved, it has over a 100 raving reviews on the Ellie and Mac website (read them HERE)

I've sewn this pattern 4 times all with different fabrics/looks.

From Left to right fabric types are - Light Weight Denim, Double Brushed Polyester, Linen, Ponte.

Do you have a favorite of the four I sewed above?

This is a great beginner sewing pattern since it comes with detailed instructions, a video sewing tutorial, and no complicated sewing techniques. Simple. Easy!

The only caveat to the pattern is that has no pockets. But if you look in the photos above, you'll see that two of the shorts HAVE pockets. I just added them!

The light blue linen shorts have slat pockets which I added using the Ellie and Mac Paperbag Skirt Pattern pieces and instructions. (You can also watch the video tutorial on how to make the Paperbag Skirt HERE)

The Sunflower Fabric Shorts have patch pockets added to them. I got this idea from a sewist friend on Instagram.

How to Sew Patch Pockets

There are a few different ways to sew patch pockets:

Single Layered Patch Pocket - Cut 2 pockets. Fold and iron the raw edges 3/8" to the wrong sides around the bottom and sides. Fold and iron the top edge down 1/2" and sew across the top. Then sew the sides and bottom of the pocket directly to the front of the shorts/pants.
Double Layered Patch Pocket - Cut 4 pockets pieces (2 for each pocket). Sew each set of pockets Right Sides Together leaving a 1 inch gap at the top for turning. Turn pockets right sides out and press well. You can top stitch the top closed, or just put the side with the opening at the bottom and top stitch the pockets onto the shorts/pants on the bottom and sides of the assembled pocket.

DIY Shorts Details - Sunflower Fabric Pair

Don't feel limited to only use woven fabrics for this pattern. The sunflower fabric is ponte (a stable knit fabric).

For these shorts I used the Double Layered Patch Pocket Method. The pocket was 7.25" Wide x 7.5" long. Each pocket was placed 2.5" from the top of the front short pieces.

I also added length to the shorts when I cut the pieces out. The final inseams were 2" long. You can cut the length to whatever you find comfortable. I recommend finding a pair of shorts you already own that you love the length of. Measure the inseam (from the crotch down to the hem). Be sure to account for the hem allowance when deciding the length to cut.

I made the waistband just a tad different on this pair too. Instead of sewing 3 lines for the waistband and inserting elastic into the casings, I...

Sewed the Waistband onto the shorts but left a 1" gap unattached to the pants.
Sewed a line of stitching 3/8" from the top of the waistband (for a slight paperbag look).
Then, inserted a 2" piece of elastic into the waistband casing and sewed the elastic together at the ends forming a loop
Closed the gap between the pants and waistband that was left for inserting the elastic
Topstitched across the middle of the waistband (through the elastic).

You can technically add the elastic and topstitch the waistband before or after sewing the waistband onto the shorts/pants pieces. I think it's easier to sew the waistband on first and then add the elastic through.

Where to Find this Sewing Pattern

If you want to sew this pattern yourself, you can find the PDF pattern on the Ellie and Mac Patterns website, tap the title! - Feel Pretty Shorts & Pants Pattern

Feel free to ask any questions in the comments or join me on Instagram (which I check more often) - www.instagram.com/sewletsgohobby

Previous EM Sewing Blog Posts

Interested in more sewing ideas, techniques, pattern hacks, and inspiration? You can select any of the previous posts I've written for the Ellie and Mac Blog by clicking the titles below: