Bubble Hem Micro Shorts
Very short women's shorts with a bubble hem: the leg hem is gathered and joined to the lining, with elastic thread stitched into the hem seam. Zip fly with a fly shield, curved front pockets and a straight interfaced waistband with one button.
When To Wear
- In summer, with a tucked-in blouse or a fitted top that shows the waistband.
- With a loose jacket or cardigan over a top for warm evenings.
Key Design Features
Silhouette: Fitted at the waist and hips, the legs widening into a rounded, gathered hem.
Length: Micro length, at the top of the thigh.
Waist: Straight waistband, interfaced, closing with one button and a buttonhole.
Closure: Zip fly on the centre front with a fly shield; the fly is topstitched at 0.1 and 0.7 cm and secured with a bar tack at the end of the zip.
Pockets: Curved front pockets in the style of jeans pockets, edge-stitched 0.5 cm from the opening, with a main-fabric underlay piece on a lining pocket bag.
Back: Plain back with a centre back seam, no pockets.
Legs: The hem of each leg is gathered from mark to mark along the outer edge, then stitched to the lining hem; a row of elastic thread in that seam holds the bubble shape.
Lining: Fully lined; the lining is joined to the shorts at the leg hem and hand-stitched along the zip.
Level Of Difficulty
Intermediate. A zip fly with a fly shield, curved pockets with pocket bags, and a gathered hem joined to a full lining.
Fabric Recommendations
Silk fabrics of natural or blended fibres.
Additional Supplies
- Lining fabric (shorts lining, pocket bags)
- Fusible interfacing (waistband)
- Zip for the fly
- 1 button
- Elastic thread
Cutter's Must
If the patterns have a double contour, they include seam allowances. If the contour is single, the patterns do not include seam allowances. Seam allowances: hem allowance for front and back upper pieces - 3 cm, other seams - 1 cm. Attention! First, print out the paper patterns and lay them out on the fabric width (fabric width can be from 90 cm to 150 cm) to determine how much material you will need.
- From main fabric:
- Back Half – 2 pieces
- Front Half – 2 pieces
- Waistband – 1 piece
- Button Catch – 1 piece
- Underlay Piece – 2 pieces
- From lining:
- Front Half Lining – 2 pieces
- Back Half Lining – 2 pieces
- Pocket Bag – 2 pieces
- From fusible interfacing:
Sewing Instructions
When stitching pieces, pay attention to the notches - they must match!
- Fuse interfacing to the Waistband.
- Overlock the lower edge of the Underlay Piece, place it on the Pocket Bag, and topstitch.
- Place the Pocket Bag on the Front Half and stitch along the pocket opening. Clip the seam allowances at the curves and turn to the wrong side. Topstitch along the pocket opening 0.5 cm from the edge. Stitch the Pocket Bag along its lower edge and overlock. Baste the Pocket Bag to the Front Half along the side and upper edges.
- Stitch the side and inseams. Press the seams towards the back.
- Stitch the side and inseams of the lining (Front Half Lining and Back Half Lining).
- Along the bottom of the shorts, sew a row of long, loose stitches (from mark to mark along the outer edge) and gather. Stitch the shorts and lining along the bottom edge. Stitch with elastic thread in the joining seam.
- On the left half, trim the fly allowance. Stitch the center seam of the front and back halves, starting the stitch at the edge of the fly. Clip the seam and press it towards the right half. Press the fly to the wrong side. Align the zipper with the center seam of the left half and stitch. Fold the Button Catch (fly shield) in half lengthwise, right sides together, and stitch the short lower edge. Turn it right side out, press, and stitch the long edges together. Stitch the Button Catch into the zipper seam on the left half. Attach the free zipper tape to the fly on the right half. Topstitch along the marked line on the right half of the shorts at 0.1 and 0.7 cm. Place a bar tack at the end of the zipper on the right side of the shorts, securing the fly and the Button Catch.
- Stitch the center seam of the front and back halves of the lining, starting the stitch at the edge of the fly attachment. Secure the lining along the zipper with hand stitches.
- Stitch the Waistband to the upper edge of the shorts. Stitch the ends of the Waistband, trim seam allowances at the corners, and turn right side out. Fold under the inner edge of the Waistband and topstitch into the attachment seam. Press the finished waistband.
- Mark and make a buttonhole (on the waistband). Sew on the button.
