Summary
Highlights
Materials and Measurements Needed00:00:14
To draft the pattern, you will need patterned paper, rulers (meter rule, right-angle ruler), a drawing utensil, a tape measure, scissors, and a French curve. Essential measurements include waist circumference, hip circumference (at the widest part), hip depth, crotch depth, and desired shorts length.
Drafting the Front Piece: Initial Lines00:01:22
Start with the front of the shorts. Draw a horizontal and vertical line at right angles on your pattern paper. Measure 1 inch down from the top line for the waistband elastic allowance. Then, measure and mark the desired shorts length from this first line, extending it with a horizontal line. Add another 1-inch mark below the hemline.
Drafting the Front Piece: Hip and Crotch Lines00:02:40
Measure and mark your hip depth across horizontally and connect the marks with a line. Repeat this process for the crotch depth, measuring a few inches down from the hip depth line. Label these lines as 'hip', 'crotch', and 'thigh/hem'.
Drafting the Front Piece: Shape and Crotch Extension00:03:29
Divide your hip circumference by four and mark this measurement on all horizontal lines (waistband, hip, crotch, hem). On the crotch line, extend outwards by 2 to 2.5 inches for the crotch extension. Use a ruler to connect the waist to the hip vertically, and then use a French curve to connect the hip to the crotch with a smooth curve. If the hemline doesn't meet the crotch extension, extend it and draw a vertical line from the crotch to the hem.
Adding Seam Allowances and Finishing the Front00:04:56
Measure and mark a half-inch seam allowance around the sides of your pattern, connecting these marks with your ruler and French curve. The top and bottom already have 1-inch allowances. If not using a serger, add an additional half-inch to the top for neatening raw edges. Cut out the front pattern piece and label it clearly with 'front half', 'elastic waist shorts', and 'cut 2 pieces'. You can also note seam allowances.
Drafting the Back Piece00:07:17
To create the back pattern, place the cut-out front piece right side down on a fresh piece of patterned paper and pin it for stability. Trace around the entire front pattern. The main difference for the back will be the crotch area: extend the crotch line about 2 inches vertically. Use your French curve to connect the inseam line with this newly established crotch line.
Finishing and Labeling the Back Piece00:08:59
Remove the front pattern piece and label the new pattern 'back half of the shorts', indicating 'elastic waist shorts' and 'cut 2 pieces'. Mark any seam allowances and the size of the pattern for future reference. Finally, cut out the back pattern piece.
Conclusion and Next Steps00:09:51
This video fulfills a request for an elastic waistband shorts pattern. The creator encourages viewers to check out other pattern-making tutorials for joggers, spaghetti strap dresses, and garment construction. The next video will demonstrate how to use these drafted patterns to make the actual shorts.