Okay, so I wanted to make some women’s drawstring denim shorts. I thought it would be a fun little project, and I needed a new pair of shorts for summer anyway. So, first things first, I needed to find some denim. I decided to use an old pair of jeans that I never wear anymore. This way, I could save some money and give these jeans a new life.
After I found my old jeans, I laid them flat on my table and grabbed a pair of scissors. I wanted my shorts to be a decent length, not too short, so I marked where I wanted to cut with a piece of chalk. I eyeballed it, honestly. I decided to go for a mid-thigh length. Then, I took a deep breath and started cutting. It’s always a little nerve-wracking cutting into fabric, but it’s also kind of exciting.
Once I had my shorts cut, I needed to make the drawstring waistband. So, I cut off the original waistband from the jeans. I kept it though, ’cause I thought I might use it later. I then measured a new piece of elastic that would fit comfortably around my waist. I wanted the shorts to have that ruched, gathered look at the top, so I made sure the elastic was a few inches shorter than my actual waist measurement.
- Cut the elastic.
- Sew the ends of the elastic together to form a loop.
- Create a casing for the elastic.
To create the casing, I folded over the top edge of the shorts about an inch and a half, making sure there was enough room for the elastic to fit through. I pinned it in place and then sewed along the edge, leaving a small opening to insert the elastic. Then came the fun part – threading the elastic through the casing. It can be a bit fiddly, but I used a safety pin to help guide it through. It’s like a little adventure, watching the elastic disappear into the fabric and then reappear on the other side.
Once the elastic was all the way through, I overlapped the ends and sewed them together securely. Then, I sewed the opening in the casing shut. For the drawstring, I decided to use a piece of soft cotton cord I had lying around. I threaded it through the casing using the same safety pin trick. It’s a good idea to knot the ends of the drawstring so they don’t fray.
And there you have it! My very own pair of drawstring denim shorts. I tried them on, and they fit perfectly! They’re super comfy, and I love the way they look. This project was a blast. It’s so satisfying to take something old and turn it into something new and useful. Plus, I got a new pair of shorts for summer without spending a dime. I can say making these shorts was pretty easy and super fun. If you’ve got an old pair of jeans and some basic sewing skills, I definitely recommend giving it a try.
A few final thoughts
These shorts are great for just lounging around the house or running errands. They’re comfy and easy to style. I can pair them with a simple t-shirt or a cute tank top. I’m so happy with how they turned out. I might even make another pair!
