Sailor-Front Shorts
Stylish, high-waisted shorts featuring a distinctive sailor-front flap closure with decorative buttons and practical front slash pockets.
When To Wear
Perfect for warm weather, these shorts offer a chic yet comfortable option for a variety of casual to smart-casual occasions:
- Summer Outings & Vacations: Ideal for beach trips, strolls in resort towns, or casual holiday wear.
- Daytime Social Events: Suitable for garden parties, brunches, or relaxed gatherings where a polished casual look is desired.
- Everyday Chic: a comfortable and fashionable choice for daily wear during warmer months, paired with simple tops or blouses.
Key Design Features
Silhouette: a high-waisted, slightly a-line silhouette that offers a comfortable yet flattering fit.
Waist: Features a structured waistband, complete with practical belt loops for accessory styling.
Front Closure: a distinctive sailor-front flap design, adorned with two rows of decorative buttons, concealing a functional zipper closure.
Pockets: Curved slash pockets are integrated into the front, providing convenient and subtle storage.
Length: Designed as short shorts, ending well above the knee for a youthful and warm-weather appropriate look.
Hem: a clean, straight hem with a specified allowance for a neat finish.
Level Of Difficulty
Intermediate. Involves detailed construction techniques including a tailored sailor-front flap, button placement, and zipper insertion.
Fabric Recommendations
Select lightweight fabrics with good drape and breathability for optimal comfort and style:
- Lightweight linen
- Linen blends
Additional Supplies
- Fusible interfacing
- Zipper
- 10 buttons
Cutter's Must
- From main fabric:
- 1. Front – 2 qty
- 2. Back – 2 qty
- 3. Front facing – 4 qty
- 4. Back facing – 2 qty
- 5. Flap facing – 1 qty
- 6. Inner front – 4 qty
- From fusible interfacing: front facing, back facing, flap facing, inner front, grain line strip
- Grain line strip – a strip of fusible interfacing 4 cm wide and 2-3 cm longer than the pocket opening.
Sewing Instructions
- Fuse fusible interfacing to the back facing, front facing, flap facing, and inner front.
- Mark the position of the slit on the front and reinforce with the grain line strip.
- Mark and stitch darts on the back. Press darts towards the center of the back.
- Serge: inseam and side seam allowances, center front and center back seam allowances.
- Press the side edge of the flap facing along the marked line. Serge the curved edge of the flap facing.
- Fold the inner front pieces. Stitch the center front and curved edges of the inner front. Turn right side out and press the inner.
- Place the pressed flap facing to the marked slit line on the front and stitch. Place the inner to the slit line on the other side and stitch. Check the correctness of stitching from the wrong side: stitches should be parallel, end at the same level; the distance between the stitches should be equal to the width of the welt, formed by the flap facing when finished. Cut the front in the middle along the stitches. At a distance of 1-1.5 cm from the end of the stitch, make diagonal cuts. Through the resulting opening, turn the inner front and the flap facing to the wrong side, straighten the edges. Secure the ends of the slit from the wrong side with a double backstitch at the base of the corners. Serge the bottom edge of the flap facing and the inner front.
- Stitch and press open the inseam and side seams of the shorts. Stitch the center front seam and the seat seam. Lay a second stitch next to the seat seam.
- Stitch the side edges of the front and back facings. Press open the side edges of the facings.
- Finish the upper edge of the front with the flap facing. Lay a topstitch along the upper and curved contours of the flap facing at a distance of 0.2 cm from the edge.
- Serge the outer edge of the lower facings. Stitch the facings to the upper edge of the inner front and the upper edge of the back, aligning the side seams. Stitch the corners of the facings. Trim seam allowances at the corners, turn right side out and press. Topstitch the serged edge of the facing into the stitching seam.
- Mark and serge buttonholes on the front. Mark and sew buttons on the inner front.
- Serge the bottom edge of the shorts. Fold and press the hem. Topstitch the hem to the shorts. Mark and serge buttonholes on the right side of the front facing. Mark and sew buttons on the left side of the front facing.
