Sew Like My Mom patterns presents:

You may sell items made from this pattern but you may not reproduce or resell the pattern itself.

© 2014 Sew Like My Mom Sycamore Shorts 1

*I recommend reading through the materials list and all instructions before you begin*

- Prewash your fabrics to make sure there’s no shrinkage.

- When printing pattern pieces, make sure you are printing from Adobe Reader. The pieces will not print
correctly from Mac Preview.
- Be sure the “Actual Size” radio button is selected when printing.
- Make sure the test square measures 1” to ensure proper sizing on the pieces.
- I recommend tracing your pattern pieces on craft or butcher paper and keeping the pieces whole, so
you don’t have to reprint to make a different size. And I know you’ll be making lots of sizes of these!

Materials Needed:
- Fabric -Tape -1” non-roll elastic
- Scissors -Thread -Pins
- Ruler -Lightweight Interfacing -Fabric marking pen

Fabric Requirements:
Fabric requirements do not
allow for excessive overages.

-Recommended fabrics:
cotton woven, seersucker,
linen, corduroy, denim, duck
cloth and any other
bottomweights.

Sizing: Print chart based on style:

Pattern Piece Assembly:

***ALL SEAM ALLOWANCES ARE ¼” UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED***

© 2014 Sew Like My Mom Sycamore Shorts 2
 Step 1: Fold fabric in half and cut 2 pieces
simultaneously on the fold. This will give you 2
mirror pieces.

Step 2: We’re now going to cut the top of the fabric

to make the rise come up higher in the back than in
the front to keep little tushies covered.

Keep your 2 pieces together from the step above.

You should have either wrong sides together or right
sides together, but do NOT lay both pieces facing
up or down. Using a ruler, measure down 1” on one
side, but keep the ruler even with the top corner on
the other side. Use a rotary cutter or mark the line
with a pen and cut the fabric at the angle marked.

The lower side will now be your front and the higher
side will be the back.

Step 3: Just like the body of the shorts, keep your

fabric together and fold it over. Place the pocket
piece on the fold and cut 2 pieces simultaneously.

You’ll need 4 pocket pieces total, either all from the

same fabric (so fold again and cut 2 more), or 2
more from a contrasting print.

© 2014 Sew Like My Mom Sycamore Shorts 3

 So with your shorts body pieces and your pocket
pieces all cut and ready to go, let’s get started!

***BOY POCKETS are made in the exact same

manner, they just have a straight edge instead of a
curved edge. Follow the lines of the pieces for
proper pocket construction.

Step 4: This pattern will teach one of my favorite

short cut tricks to making pants. It’s also going to
work on the pockets to ensure enclosed ends and a
beautiful finish.

Lay the pocket pieces right side down, fold up ½”

and press. Then fold the pocket in half with wrong
sides together and press the middle fold.
Repeat for all 4 pocket pieces.

Step 5: Unfold the pressed seam at the bottom,

place right sides together, and stitch down ONLY
the curved seam (straight top and edge for boys).
Clip the top corner(s) at an angle and clip the seam
allowance along the curve to allow it to lay smoothly
when turned.

Repeat for all 4 pocket pieces.

Step 6: Turn the piece right side out and press well,
making sure your seam is flat and smooth. Fold the
bottom in on itself along your previous press marks
and you’ll find a perfectly hemmed.

Repeat for all 4 pocket pieces.

© 2014 Sew Like My Mom Sycamore Shorts 4

 Step 7: If using 2 different prints for the pockets,
decide which will go on the back half. Take the back
pocket piece and top stitch the curved edge 1/8”
from the edge of the fabric.

Repeat for the other back pocket piece, but

remember it’ll be the mirror of this piece since
they’re on opposite sides of the shorts.

Step 8: Overlap by the measurements below:

Pin the pieces together and top stitch the curved

seam of the front pocket piece, catching the back
piece under it so they’re now sewn together.

Repeat for the other pocket, and remember to make

them the mirror image of this set because they’re on
the opposite side of the shorts.

You’ll now have a matching pair of pockets!

Girl pockets

Boy pockets

© 2014 Sew Like My Mom Sycamore Shorts 5

 Step 9: Both boy and girl pockets should now be
prepped and ready to go.

Grab one shorts body piece and lay the right side
down. Fold them bottom hem up ½” and press, then
½” and press again.

Repeat for the other shorts body piece.

Step 10: Fold the top casing down ¼” and press,

then 1¼” and press again.

Repeat for the other shorts body piece. Remember

your tops will angle in opposite directions.

Step 11: Lay the shorts body piece right side up and
place pocket even with the pressed bottom edge,
centering it on the shorts. Pin in place.

Don’t forget to make sure the front pocket piece is

the one you use on the lower front side of the shorts
body piece.

Make sure you unroll your hem so it doesn’t get

caught in the stitching.

Step 12: Top stitch the pocket on the front and back
sides 1/8” from the pocket edge.

Repeat for the other side.

© 2014 Sew Like My Mom Sycamore Shorts 6

 Step 13: Now lay your shorts right sides together
and unfold the pressed casing, matching up the
press lines, and pin the front and back rise. Sew and
serge or zigzag the edges to finish.

Step 14: Unfold the pressed hem, matching up the

press marks, and pin and sew the inseam. Serge or
zigzag the edges to finish.

Look at that! Your casing and hems are all ready to

sew! No more turning the shorts on the ironing
board, trying to press tiny openings into perfectly
straight lines!

Step 15: Sew the casing closed from the inside,

making sure you stay about 1/8” from the edge of
the casing to ensure proper room for the elastic.
Leave a hole 2”-3” to feed elastic through.

Elastic requirements are listed per size in the fabric

requirements chart on page 2.

Once elastic is in place, sew the hole closed and

your casing is complete!

© 2014 Sew Like My Mom Sycamore Shorts 7

 Step 16: To hem the bottom, sew ¼” from the
bottom edge, going slowly over the pockets where
it’s thicker.

Then sew another line ¼” above that, which will land

right at the top of the fold inside, keeping the fabric
laying flat, while simultaneously giving a double-
stitched, professional-looking short.

© 2014 Sew Like My Mom Sycamore Shorts 8

Sew Like My Mom
Sycamore Shorts
Girl Shorts
1 12m-8
Cut 2 on fold
FOLD

2
3
FOLD

4
Sew Like My Mom
Sycamore Shorts
Boy Pocket
12m-8
Cut 4 on fold
 12m
18m
24m/2
3
4
5

1”
6
7
8

square
5
 6
12m
18m
24m/2
3
4
5
6
7
8
1”
square
FOLD
Sew Like My Mom
Sycamore Shorts

Girl Pocket
12m-8

7
Cut 4 on fold
8
 9
FOLD
Sew Like My Mom
Sycamore Shorts
 Boy Shorts
12m-8

Cut 2 on fold

10