Posted on 6 Comments

Eureka! Shorts that Fit

Linen shorts finished!

Earlier this summer, I came across a post (I think on Pattern Review) by a happy Eureka! wearer who had made shorts with her pattern.  What a great idea!  I don’t know why I hadn’t thought of it sooner.  Like all testing projects, I began with a look through my and Rae’s stash for a few appropriate lengths of fabric, figuring I didn’t need much more than a yard (especially if the fabric is 54-60” wide).  I pulled out a nice piece of ecru linen and a hefty denim for my experiment.

 

I started with the linen; it seemed to me that fabric cried out for a “dressier” style of shorts, so I turned to my Trouser Details (TD) pattern for Eureka! Pants that Fit.  I decided to make them longish and cuffed, so I measured and guessed at how far above the knee I should cut to have 3” beyond the finished length for a cuff.  I folded the legs of my TD pattern up and pinned them out of the way.  Realizing that I would need to make the bottom 4 to 5 inches of the pattern drop straight down for hemming, I pinned the front and back patterns to some tissue and redrew the inseam and side seams straight down to the hem (remembering to keep the distance from grainline to cutting line the same for both seams at the hem).

Pattern laid out for linen shorts
Pattern laid out for linen shorts (Sorry, hard to see the extra tissue creating straight side seams against the ecru fabric as its almost the same color.)

 

Construction followed the Trouser Detail instructions with a slash pocket and cuffs.  Here you can see me trying them on to check fit before I added the waistband, and then again with the hem pinned up to assess the length.  I’m feeling pretty good about these shorts!

Checking fit
Checking fit on linen shorts before adding waistband (sorry for the belly shot).
Assessing hem length on linen shorts
Assessing hem length on linen shorts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Linen shorts finished!
Linen shorts finished!

Since it has been hot and I’ve been wearing shorts a lot, I’ve had plenty of opportunity to think about the style I prefer in shorts.  My original plan had been to make the denim shorts with my Sporty Details (SD) pattern, but by the time I got to making them I had concluded that I don’t like shorts hugging my legs the way jeans do.  So, I took a close look at my favorite shorts – 7” inseam, looser in the leg, shaped waistband, and front pockets that slash horizontally rather than vertically.

 

I won’t bore you with the nitty gritty of my pattern work, but I ended up creating a new pattern that merges my trouser and sporty details.  It has a wide leg and redrawn front pocket opening and pocket patterns from TD, shaped waistband and back patch pockets from SD, and a 7” inseam.

New pattern pieces for denim shorts front
New pattern pieces for denim shorts front
New pattern pieces for denim shorts back
New pattern pieces for denim shorts back

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I used a heavier navy blue thread rather than the classic jeans orange for all of the topstitching.  I am loving the result!  Look at these great shorts – utilitarian and attractive!  My thanks go out to the customer who inspired me to try shorts.  I can’t wait to make a few more pairs.

Denim shorts front finished
Denim shorts front finished
Denim shorts back finished
Denim shorts back finished

 

Looking for help to modify your Eureka! pants pattern to other shapes and uses?  Come to our Sew! Let’s Get Dressed Retreat later this month where Rae and I can help you with the pattern work and fitting.  Follow this link to our events calendar for more info and a registration form.  Hope to see you there!

Hope you, too, are enjoying sewing in the cool indoors AC this summer.

Happy Sewing, Carrie

6 thoughts on “Eureka! Shorts that Fit

  1. I just love the denim shorts!! They’re very versatile and would look great with a linen/cotton fabric. I prefer the look over the linen shorts. You did a great job on your pattern work. Very inspiring! Thanks.

    1. Thank you all! Please do give this a try with your Eureka! patterns. The shorts fit just right and you can make them the length you prefer!

  2. Wow, those look great! I’ve had a hard time finding RTW shorts, so I’ll definitely be trying this.

  3. Carrie, your shorts look great.

  4. I’m just now making some Eureka! knee-length shorts. So you added 2″+ to BOTH inseam and outer seam to make the finished circumference 4-5″ wider than the standard narrow-cut pants? And you started this transition 4-5 inches above the hem? So does this mean you started the transition of the inseam about 2″ down from the crotch seam? Sorry for all the questions, but I am concerned I’ll end up with a wad of fabric between my legs. Thanks so much in advance for the help! I have used this pattern at least a dozen times!

    1. Hi Martha – I went back to my pattern to check it out. The inseam straightened out from about 2 1/2″ below the notch to the hem. I added 1″ to both the inseam and side seam on both the front and back, so I guess that does add up to an increase of 4″. In retrospect, it was a little too open for the denim shorts. I have since made a pair of shorts cutting that increase in half and straightening the inseam from about 3 1/2″ below the notch; these shorts hang much closer to my leg. It all depends on what you find comfortable!

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