How to Turn Pants into Shorts

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In this demonstration, I am going to show you how to take a pair of long pants and turn them into shorts. This is a great method to use if you are looking for a pair of khaki shorts and cannot find any. It is very easy to find a pair of khaki pants or white pants that you can turn into shorts. Also, if you have a hole in the knees or somewhere else on a pair of long pants and you want to turn them into a pair of shorts so that you can keep wearing them, this might be the perfect method for you.

Supplies:

1. Long pants
2. If possible, pair of shorts for cutting guide
3. Thread to match long pants
4. Pins
5. Scissors
6. Sewing Machine

Directions:

1. Choosing Your Materials

This step is easy. Find a pair of long pants that you want to turn into pants. Usually, these pants are a pair that you already have but they have holes in them, are stained or for some other reason are no longer usable in their present form. Occasionally, when unable to find a pair of khaki or white shorts, you may want to cut a pair of long pants and cut them down to shorts.

The next step is to find a pair of shorts, if possible, that you like how they fit, especially the length. Use these shorts as a guide to determine the length of the shorts that you are going to make from the long pants.

2. Marking and Cutting Long Pants

As you can see, I folded the pair of pants in half and laid them down. I then folded the pair of shorts in half and laid them down on top of the pants matching the waist and the sides of the legs as much as possible. Remember, if the legs of the pants are wider than the shorts, or vice versa, they will look different. So, if possible, it is best to use a pair of pants and a pair of shorts with legs of equal or close to equal width at the thigh. Once you have laid the shorts on top of the long pants, measure the length of the shorts. Now on my demonstration, I took a little cut that marks the length that I want the new shorts to be plus 1” for the hem. Make sure the pants are straight and flat, the inseams are all even and the hemline of the shorts is even. If you are nervous about cutting freehand, you can draw a line across the long pants with either tailor’s chalk or bar soap at the length you have just determined. Then cut across the width of the long pants at the length you have determined that you want the shorts to be.

3. Sewing the Hem

At the end of the shorts’ legs, fold the raw edge over a half inch and then fold it over another half inch. I am used to sewing hems down using the guide on my sewing machine without pinning the hem down. However, you may want to pin the hem in place before sewing. Just remember you will need to pull all those pins out when you are done. When you are pinning the hem in place, you may come across a side seam that is really thick like the seams in a pair of jeans. When that happens, you can trim away a little of that thick seam on the first fold to make it less thick. But, make sure you do not compromise the seam by cutting away too much.

Next, turn on your sewing machine and start stitching. I suggest you start with the inside seam so that you can overlap the end of the stitching over the beginning of the stitch line and it will not be noticeable since both the beginning and end will be between the legs. If you do not want to use pins, you can mark the inside of the shorts with soap or tailor’s chalk where you want the fold to go. I just use the sewing guide on the top of my sewing machine. So, just stitch around the hemline of the shorts preferably stitching on the inside of the shorts. I use a slightly bigger stitch than usual. If you are sewing without pins, stop every once in a while to make sure that the hem has not slipped, it evens up and all sides match. When you get to the end, stitch over the beginning stitch and then go back and forth to secure that beginning and ending stitch.

Do the same thing with the other leg and, viola! You have a new pair of shorts!

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