Effortlessly chic and endlessly wearable, these relaxed Bermuda short shorts are cut mid-thigh with a drawstring waist and pockets discreetly inserted in the side seams, perfect for everyday wear. Designed with beginners in mind—no trims needed—they shine in crisp linen or fluid viscose. The ultimate beach cover-up or summer staple with a minimalist edge!
Download the FREE PDF sewing pattern, and sew your own handmade shorts now!
1 cm (3/8″) seam allowance included!
Material
- 1.2 m (1 3/8 yd) lightweight linen, seersucker, lawn, double gauze, viscose fabric or satin
- Fusible interfacing
- All-purpose thread
- Universal needle
- Safety pin
PLEASE NOTE! Fabric requirements are based on a width of 150 cm (59″). If your fabric is narrower, you may need more fabric!
Download the free PDF sewing pattern…
… and once you’re done, share a photo of you wearing proudly your new handmade 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!
| 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 (min) | 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″) |
| Waist (max) | 90 cm (35 3/4″) | 94 cm (37 1/4″) | 98 cm (38 3/4″) | 102 cm (40 1/4″) | 106 cm (41 3/4″) | 110 cm (43 1/4″) | 114 cm (44 3/4″) |
| Hips | 100 cm (39 1/2″) | 104 cm (41″) | 108 cm (42 1/2″) | 112 cm (44″) | 116 cm (45 1/2″) | 120 cm (47″) | 124 cm (48 1/2″) |
| Rise | 28 cm (10 3/4″) | 28.5 cm (11″) | 29 cm (11 1/4″) | 29.5 cm (11 1/2″) | 30 cm (11 3/4″) | 30.5 cm (12″) | 31 cm (12 1/4″) |
| Inseam | 22 cm (8 3/4″) | 22 cm (8 3/4″) | 22 cm (8 3/4″) | 22 cm (8 3/4″) | 22 cm (8 3/4″) | 22 cm (8 3/4″) | 22 cm (8 3/4″) |
Sewing Notes
Here are some tips I recommend for a successful sewing project:
Fit and style
- Pick a size that matches your hip measurement with the body measurements chart. The waist is adjustable with the drawstring, so you don’t have to adjust the pattern at the waist.
- On the finished garment measurements chart, you can verify the length of the garment to see if it’s a good fit for your height. It’s smart to compare the length with something similar chilling in your closet. These shorts should cut above the knee.
- If you want to adjust the length of your garment to get that look, just cut the pattern above the bottom edges and hip level. Then, if you need it longer, spread it out; if you want it shorter, just overlap it. And when you spread the pattern, don’t forget to fill that gap with some scrap paper. Tape everything back down and you’re good to go!
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.
Cutting out
- Give the fabric a wash before you start cutting! Just toss it in the wash and dry it 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…).
- 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 stuff like acrylic, spandex, or polyester should be pressed on low heat, while natural fibers like cotton, wool, or linen need that high heat to look their best.
- 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″).
Sewing
- This short is super easy to sew and perfect for beginners! You don’t need any special trims—just grab a regular needle and some all-purpose thread, and you’re good to go.
- However, if you’re planning to use satin for this project, definitely grab a “microtex” needle made for slippery fabrics. And here’s a handy tip: when you’re cutting out your pattern in the fabric, throw a layer of silk paper between the fabric layers. It helps keep the slippery stuff in place and makes cutting way easier!
Good luck with your sewing project!
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I tried to download the pattern thru my iPad. That didn’t work. The scale was slightly too large. So I had my husband try it on his lap top. The scale was spot on. But it said that because of borders- I would lose some of the details. Tried till we were blue in the face. Gave up and opened a bottle of wine. Still don’t have a pattern-but we are much happier than when we began.
Weird! Try changing the border width in the print settings. To get there, you need to click on “page setup” button.
These are soooo cool!
Thanks 😀
I do not understand your method for the pockets. Pockets are not complicated, but these are, I have had to unpick twice, I am just going to skip the pockets and move on.