Shorts Sewing Patterns: Athletic, Cargo and Tailored for Production

Shorts use little fabric, so the cost is decided by labor, pockets and marker efficiency. The catalog offers athletic shorts with piping and side stripes, cargo, tailored with darts, high-rise, wrap, paperbag, skorts and soccer shorts, for women, men and kids, with the sizes you choose on each pattern page.

The Modeltex catalog has 179 shorts sewing patterns (94 for women, 38 for girls, 28 for men, 11 for boys, 6 for unisex kids, 2 for babies), all approved with a sewn sample and with the size range available on each product page; the most affordable PDF starts at US$23 with the standard size selection.

Shorts styles: athletic, cargo and tailored

Athletic shorts with a drawstring, piping or side stripes and pockets are the base of team and gym lines, and soccer shorts usually carry a printed number. Cargo adds side pockets with a flap or gusset. Tailored shorts have darts, an interfaced waistband and a fly, and paperbag shorts, with a fabric belt, appear in women's and girls'. There are also skorts and party shorts with sequins.

Shorts fabrics and sewing points

Athletic shorts are cut in lightweight polyester or in fabric with spandex. Dress and cargo shorts go in gabardine, cotton or linen. Casual summer shorts go in light French terry. The waist can be elasticated with a drawstring and eyelets, or have a waistband with interfacing, and that decision changes the pattern.

On athletic shorts with piping or side stripes, the piping goes into the seam before it is closed, so that it follows the drape. Check the inseam length across the whole size range: the same length in every size comes out disproportionate.

How to produce shorts with little fabric waste

Because shorts pieces are small, waste depends on how they nest. Mixing sizes in the same marker lets you fit the small pieces into the gaps of the large ones, and for that it pays to ask for the marker in MRK. If the shorts are printed or sublimated, plan the direction of the graphic on each leg. For teams and schools, the uniforms and sublimation guides help you put the order together.

Common fabrics for shorts: athletic polyester, gabardine, cotton, light French terry, linen, stretch fabric.

Available shorts sewing patterns

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Shorts sewing patterns by category

Frequently asked questions about shorts sewing patterns

Which shorts should I produce for a team or a club?

Plain athletic shorts with a drawstring or side piping are the best fit, because they take sublimation or a crest and number print. There are soccer shorts with a number, two-tone and color-block styles, in men's, women's and kids' ranges. Read the sublimation guide before defining pieces and fabric.

Are there skort and cargo shorts patterns?

Yes. There are cargo shorts with side pockets and flaps, skorts and skirt-shorts with a cargo pocket, and wrap styles. The skort combines the look of a skirt with the comfort of shorts and adds pieces compared with plain shorts, so calculate consumption with the actual style.

How is the waist of athletic shorts put together?

With a waistband that holds elastic inside and a drawstring that comes out through two eyelets at the front, which is the usual finish for athletic shorts. The elastic length is set for each size, not a single one for the whole range. On dress shorts, by contrast, the waistband takes interfacing and closes with a button.

Is a mixed-size marker worth it for producing shorts?

Yes. When the run mixes sizes, a mixed marker usually uses the fabric better because the small pieces fill the gaps of the large ones. Since shorts have few pieces, the saving shows in the total fabric of the spread. The MRK file is available on request and the marker guide explains how to use it.

Guides for producing shorts

Related garments

See all garments, the full catalog (more than 2,000 sewing patterns), the PDF A4, plotter and DXF/AAMA formats, or request custom patternmaking.