https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/bermuda-shorts-to-shorts-refashion • Posted by Nicole D.
I'm not sure why I bought these bermuda shorts. Maybe because everyone else was wearing them at the time. But they looked so unflattering on me. I needed to throw them out or change them immediately.
I'm not sure why I bought these bermuda shorts. Maybe because everyone else was wearing them at the time. But they looked so unflattering on me. I needed to throw them out or change them immediately.
MARK THE SHORTS LENGTH I choose a pair of shorts with an inseam I like as a guide. An alternative method would be to try on the shorts and mark how short you want them. Mark with tailor's chalk or a water soluble marker the hem line of the shorts. This will be the fold line. Next, decide how wide you want your hem to be, and whether you want to single fold or double fold the hem. I want my hem to be 1" and single fold, so I made mine 1 1/4". Mark a line the width of your hem below your fold line. So I made a second line 1 1/4" below where I wanted my shorts to hit. This is your cutting line. Cut off excess fabric below the line. Repeat for the other side.
MAKING THE SIDE SLIT This step is important because bermudas tend to be cut narrower that regular shorts. Mark along the side seam how high you want your slit to be. I marked a line about 1/2" wide and about 1" above my fold line.
Turn your shorts inside out. My side seam was serged together, so I used a seam ripper to open up the seam to just above the top of the slit. Press seam open.
Turn your shorts to the right side. Using a narrow zig-zag stitch, secure the the top of the side slit. I used contrast thread that matched the other contrast stitching detail on the belt loops. You can use matching thread if desired.
Using a seam ripper, carefully open up the seam up to the zig-zag stitching. Repeat for making the side slit on the other side. Now is a good time to finish your raw edges. Serging would be best if you have a serger (I don't). Otherwise, you can use an overcast or zig-zag stitch on your sewing machine.
HEM YOUR SHORTS Fold up your hem along your fold line and pin into place. I'm single folding the hem to reduce bulk, but you can double fold if you want a cleaner finish. The top of my inside hem ended up being about 1/4" shorter on either side of the side slit (because the shorts tapered), so that's why the side slit is important.
Turn your shorts right side out, and sew into place. I topstitched 1" up from the fold to catch the entire hem. Sew a "V" shape up and down the side slits to secure the seam. I used denim thread so my stitches are nearly invisible on the fabric. And that's it!