DIY: Pants to Shorts. Tutorial

DIY Pants to shorts! Here is another one of my no sewing clothing tutorials! Today I'm going to teach you how to transform your pants into shorts! 

Recently, I was going through my wardrobe and getting rid of the stuff I haven’t worn in a while, but I kept an eye out for things that I could mend or refashion. I thought these khakis would be a perfect candidate for a refashioning that would combine a couple of details from these shorts I found on Pinterest.

So here’s a simple tutorial on how to turn pants into a cute pair of shorts – just in time for summer. (Click on images for a closer look.)

Step 1:
Determine the length you want your shorts, taking into account additional length for rolling them up, and cut the legs off with scissors or, for a super straight cut, a rotary cutter.

Step 2:
Open the leg bottoms and remove all seams and hems.

Step 3:
Cut the leg bottoms into strips. To determine the width of your strips, measure your belt loops and add 1/4″. After you sew the sash, it’ll be narrow enough to slip through the belt loops.

Step 4:
Cut 45 degree angles on each strip end, overlap two strips right-sides-together, and sew a 1/4″ seam. Press seam open. Connect all strips together in this manner making two equal lengths. Determine the length of your sash by measuring your waist and doubling or tripling that length (depending on how big of a bow you want to be able to tie).

Step 5:
Pin sashes, right-sides-together, and sew a 1/4″ seam on both long sides and one short side. Trim corners.

Step 6:
Turn sash right-side-out and press. Edge stitch all four sides, closing the open short end.

Step 7:
Finish the raw edge of the shorts. I used pinking shears and a zigzag stitch. If you have a serger, that would be best (also, I’m totally jealous of you).

Step 8:
Insert the sash and roll the shorts (if you’d like, tack them in place with a needle and thread so they don’t come unrolled). Enjoy!