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Effortlessly tailored with a nod to classic menswear, these Bermuda shorts feature a pleated waist, slash pockets, and a crisp front fly. Cut just above the knee with a loose, relaxed silhouette, they’re finished with back waist darts and structured waistband. Ideal in linen or lightweight suiting, they’re a polished warm-weather staple—and a satisfying sew for the skilled hand.
Download the FREE PDF sewing pattern, and sew your own handmade skirt now!
1 cm (3/8″) seam allowance included!
Material
- 1.5 m (1 5/8 yd) lightweight suiting (gabardine, twill, chino…)
- 0.4 m (1/2 yd) light poplin
- 1 m (1 1/8 yd) fusible interfacing
- All-purpose thread
- Universal needle
- Stay tape, 1 cm (3/8”) wide
- 1x pants zipper, 15 cm (6”) long
- Loop turner
- 1 m (1 1/8 yd) single fold bias tape, 1.3 cm (1/2”) wide
- 1x button, 1.5 cm (5/8”) wide
- Buttonhole cutter or seam ripper
- Hand sewing needle
Important: Fabric requirements are based on a fabric width of 150 cm (59″). If your fabric is narrower, additional yardage may be required.
Download the free PDF sewing pattern…
… and once you’re done, share a photo of you wearing proudly your new bermuda shorts with #unfetteredpatterns or tag us @unfetteredpatterns!
Need help to print your pattern? Check our detailed tutorial here! Also, find out how you can customize your pattern for A0 printers and projectors here.
Need help completing the project?
Check our Kofi store for printable sewing tutorials, including detailed sewing instructions, line sketches, a sizing guide, and a list of the materials needed!
Sizing Guide
This pattern is drafted according to the following body measurements. Standard height is 1.64 m (5.4 ft). Check this tutorial if you want to add sizes to your pattern!
If you want to adapt the length of your garment to your height, check this helpful tutorial here!
| XS | S | S/M | M | M/L | L | XL | |
| Bust | 85 cm (33 1/2″) | 89 cm (35″) | 93 cm (36 1/2″) | 97 cm (38″) | 101 cm (39 1/2″) | 105 cm (41″) | 109 cm (42 1/2″) |
| Waist | 64 cm (25 1/2″) | 68 cm (27″) | 72 cm (28 1/2″) | 76 cm (30″) | 80 cm (31 1/2″) | 84 cm (33″) | 88 cm (34 1/2″) |
| Hips | 92 cm (36 1/2″) | 96 cm (38″) | 100 cm (39 1/2″) | 104 cm (41″) | 108 cm (42 1/2″) | 112 cm (44″) | 116 cm (45 1/2″) |
Finished garment measurements
Ease is included in the measurements below to make the garment larger than the body.
| XS | S | S/M | M | M/L | L | XL | |
| Waist | 67 cm (26 3/4″) | 71 cm (28 1/4″) | 75 cm (29 3/4″) | 79 cm (31 1/4″) | 83 cm (32 3/4″) | 87 cm (34 1/4″) | 91 cm (35 3/4″) |
| Hips | 109 cm (43″) | 113 cm (44 1/2″) | 117 cm (46″) | 121 cm (47 1/2″) | 125 cm (49″) | 129 cm (50 1/2″) | 133 cm (52″) |
| Rise | 30 cm (11 3/4″) | 30.5 cm (12″) | 31 cm (12 1/4″) | 31.5 cm (12 1/2″) | 32 cm (12 3/4″) | 32.5 cm (13″) | 33 cm (13 1/4″) |
| Inseam | 23 cm (9″) | 23 cm (9″) | 23 cm (9″) | 23 cm (9″) | 23 cm (9″) | 23 cm (9″) | 23 cm (9″) |
Sewing Guidelines
Here are some tips we recommend for a successful sewing project:
Fit and style
- Choose a size based on your hips. Take a look at the body measurements chart to guide you.
- To get your hip size, measure around the fullest part of your buttock. Just make sure the measuring tape isn’t too tight. You want it snug, but not squeezing you.
- On the finished garment measurements chart, see how long the garment is and if it’ll work for your height. It’s a good idea to compare the length with something similar you already own. Just keep in mind this is a Bermuda short, so the hem should sit above the knee, but not mid-thigh.
- If you want to adapt the length of your garment to your height, check this helpful tutorial here!
Fabrics
- This pattern works only with non-stretch fabrics. Going for a lightweight fabric is a smart move to keep things from getting too bulky. For the ultimate summer vibe, I’d say go for natural fibers like cotton, silk, or linen since they keep you nice and cool.
- Try to choose a fabric and lining with similar fiber content. That makes it easier to wash and care for later. For example, if you’re using 100% cotton fabric, stick with a 100% cotton lining.
- Choose a lightweight interfacing so it doesn’t add bulk to the fabric. Also, grab a color that’ll blend right in with light-colored fabric!
Cutting out
- Before you start cutting your fabrics, wash and dry them like you’d do for the finished piece. Keep in mind the fabric type and what it’s made of so you choose the right cleaning method (like how hot the water should be or what kind of cycle to use…). Plus, the dyes used on certain fabrics tend to bleed when washed, so wash yours separately, or with similar colors.
- After you wash and dry the fabric, give it a good press to get rid of any creases. Just make sure your iron is set to the right temperature for the fabric. Generally, synthetic fibers like acrylic, spandex, or polyester should be pressed on low heat, while natural fibers like cotton, wool, or linen can handle higher heat.
- When you’re set to cut the fabric, just fold it lengthwise right sides together. Make sure the fold is straight and doesn’t twist up. If it does, unfold it and refold until it’s nice and flat. Then, lay out the pattern pieces so the grainline runs parallel to the selvages.
- Make sure you don’t cut the notches too long; aim for them to be around 0.3-0.4 cm long (1/8″). Also, be sure to also trace all the pattern markings on the fabrics with a tailor’s chalk or a fabric marker.
Sewing
- Before you start sewing, grab a scrap piece of fabric and try out a few stitches to see how the tension and stitch length look. If the seam isn’t turning out great, try re-threading your machine first. Still not working? Then go ahead and adjust the tension. As for stitch length—thicker fabric usually needs longer stitches, so adjust that as needed. And if your stitches are skipping, switch to a new needle or to a bigger one.
- If you’re unsure how to sew buttonholes, just take a look at your sewing machine manual. The process can differ from one machine to another.
Good luck with your sewing project!
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I just finished a pair of linen shorts following this pattern and the fit is amazing on my first try at sewing pants! I have favorited your website and can’t wait to try other patterns. Thank you!!!
Thank you for your kind words!
Hi ! I just got into sewing and i found your beautiful pattern, I’m very excited to start it ! I was just wondering while printing though, is it normal that there are margins? The square is true to size but I’m just worried to start my project on the wrong foot! Thank you so much for your hard work and have a great day 🙂
hi, I really love the pattern and am very excited to start sewing it! I just have one question: is the fit supposed to be high-waisted, as in: sits at the natural waist? Or is it rather “regular waist”?
Yes it’s high waisted so natural waist
Is there any video tutorials you’d recommend for this specific type of slash pocket and welt pockets?
Thanks
No, I’m currently working on a tutorial for this pattern. It will be added to my Kofi shop. For the videos, slash pockets are very standard, so you can surely use any video. For the welt pocket, check for how to sew a single welt pocket.
Eagerly awaiting your tutorial :)))
Hi Zelena,
I purchased your pattern and have made a tiole, can you tell me are the pleats supposed to face towards the pockets or the center front. ?
I think I have done them wrong 🤷🏼♀️ as I can clearly see them as pleats on the rights side but they are more discrete on the wrong side…
Any advice appreciated.
Hello, you need to press toward the center front. Make sure you stitched them right sides together before!