Projects

Flirty Cut-Off Shorts

Created By: Regena Carlevaro - Janome Educational Coordinator
Skill Level: Beginner

Don’t throw away your kids jeans just because they have holes in their knees! Show your kids that your practice the 3 R’s: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. It will take you less time to make these adorable shorts than it would to drive to the mall and back.

 

Janome Supplies Required


• Any Janome machine - Regena uses a Horizon Memory Craft 12000
• Any Janome serger (optional)
• Empty bobbin
• Red Tip Needle #14
• Zig-Zag foot A
• Overcast foot M
 

Fabric and Notions Required

Fabric and Notions Required:

• All-purpose sewing thread to match topstitching in jeans
• Serger thread (optional)
• Fabric marking pen/pencil
• Fabric pins
• Fabric scissors
• Ruler
• Iron and ironing board
• A pair of your daughter’s old jeans (bootleg or flare is preferable)



 

Instructions

Cutting Instructions

  1. Determine how short you want the shorts to be. You may want to try them on your child to decide the length of the shorts. Add a ½” for hem and use a fabric pen to mark the length.
  2. Line up the ruler edge on the mark. Use the outside seam line of the pants as your “selvedge edge”. This will ensure that you cut the pant legs off at the correct angle. Using the ruler as a guide, draw a line across the pant leg. This will be your cutting line.
  3. Cut off the pant leg at the cutting line.


  4. Lay the cut leg on top of the other leg and use as a pattern. Cut off the second pant leg. Put pant legs aside.


  5. Lay the cut off short on cutting surface on its side.
  6. Measure 2 ½” up from the cut edge of short and mark fabric.
  7. From the side seam, measure 2 ½” toward the front of the short and mark the fabric.
  8. From the side seam, measure 1 ½” toward the front of the short and mark the fabric.
  9. Using these three marks, cut out a rectangle opening from the side of the short. 


  10. Cut off the bottom 4” of each of the cut off pant legs.

     
  11. Cut open the inseam of each of these pieces.
  12. Open up each of the pant legs and lay them flat on your cutting surface.

     
  13. The back side of the pant leg will be slightly larger in width. Cut a 2 1/2” x WOF rectangle from the back panel of the jeans, as close to the hemline as possible.

  14. Repeat step #6 for the other pant leg.

Sewing Instructions

  1. Attach Zig-Zag foot A. Insert Red Tip needle #14.
  2. Thread machine and bobbin with thread that matches topstitching on shorts.
  3. Select straight stitch. Adjust stitch length to the longest length setting.
  4. Place long edge of fabric rectangle under presser foot, lining up fabric edge with left side of presser foot.
  5. Sew down the length of fabric. Do not back stitch, Lockstitch or cut thread. Leave a thread tail.
  6. Line up same fabric edge under the foot again. Line up left side of presser foot with previously sewn stitch. Sew down length of fabric again.
  7. Repeat steps 18 – 20 on second rectangle cut of fabric.
  8. On right side of fabric, pull the top two threads gently, creating a gathered edge on fabric.
  9. Adjust fabric for even gather.

     
  10. Pin gathered edge to 4” opening in shorts, right sides together.

     
  11. Adjust stitch length to 2.6.
  12. Leaving 3/8” at the beginning and end of the seam free, sew a ½” seam allowance.

     
  13. Repeat steps 24 – 26 for other side of short.
  14. Clip corners of short at end of seam.

     
  15. Pin sides of gathered fabric to the inset sides of short.

     
  16. Place seam under foot. Manually turn the handwheel of machine to drop needle in the last stitch sewn when attaching gathered piece to short inset. Lockstitch or back tack and sew 3/8” seam allowance. Lockstitch or back tack at end of seam.

  17. Repeat on remaining three seams.
  18. Finish seams and bottom hem by using 4-thread overlock stitch on a Janome serger. If you do not have a serger, attach Overcast foot M and select an overcast stitch to finish.

  19. Press seams toward short.
  20. Fold up bottom edge of fabric ½” to create hem. Press.
  21. Attach Zig-Zag foot A and sew hem in place.
Everyone is Talking about Flirty Cut-Off Shorts
Reviews


Tako
Beautiful
Wednesday, November 23, 2016

cpindzola
Around the Table Dresden Placemats
Saturday, December 17, 2016

I like the concept, but the directions are "sloppy." Nowhere in the supply list does it mention the felt or the batting (how much?). Also, I would never use a high loft batting in a placemat, or a table runner, as I think that it would be too unstable for a glass. The next time I make these, I will cut out the batting (I use flannel) and spray baste it to the wrong side of the Dresden plate before I put the Dresden plate on the felt to cut out. I have not yet washed the finished placemat, and am hoping that the single layer of felt does not curl up, or become distorted after washing/drying.
Txmaid
Fun Great Gift!
Tuesday, February 21, 2017

MargieARK
Teatime Quilted Tablecloth
Friday, February 24, 2017

I made this today but your cutting directions need to be changed. You only need 4 of color 1 and color 3 4.5 squares for the triangles. Also the inner border, you only need 2 cuts as WOF is long enough to cut each in half to fit the sides.
MickelSews
Great Machine
Wednesday, August 30, 2017

I've had this machine for only a week now. I bought it used from a lady who makes her own clothes, but she no longer needed the machine. During the purchase, she noted that she is almost sad that it's better to give it away because of how well the machine performed. (I also bought it along side a computerized machine of another brand.} She demoed the machine for us, showing it worked and gave us everything (including the box it came in!) She took amazing care of this machine. I have used it a few times now, and the directions for threading were easy to follow (albeit my hands are quite large so the lower looper was a pain, but that is no fault to the machine or brand.) And I recommend this machine to anyone who wants to learn to serge and wants a machine that can grow with them. I will happily use this machine time and time again.
rvstan
S9 Review
Sunday, February 25, 2018

I love, love, love my S9! It's sews and embroiders beautifully and it's simplicity of use amazes me. I would recommend this machine for both a beginner and an experienced seamstress. If I would ask anything of Janome it would be to upgrade the programming to run a larger hoop size. I understand that it can't get much wider but there is most definitely room for it to go longer. That is the only limitation of this machine.
pjmnana
PJMNana
Monday, February 26, 2018

I purchased a Memorycraft 15000 a few years ago and it was the best purchase I ever made! This machine can do just about anything you would would ever want! I love the capability of using the Acuedit app to set up my embroidery pattern on my Ipad and then download it to the machine! I love how my embroidery looks upon completion and I love all the good lighting it has to light up your workspace. That way you don’t need to worry about where to set up your machine. It also has plenty of room to do machine embroidery on any size quilts! There are many decorative stitches from which to choose that are outstanding! It’s hard to choose which one to use! There are so many great features it is hard to decide what I love the most. If you want to buy only one machine to last a lifetime, I would recommend this one!
KLWash
S9 Review
Sunday, February 24, 2019

The S9 is amazing. I learned to sew by hand when I was just 5 and in my grandmothers way as she was quilting. I took seeing classes in high school until they would no longer let me sign up. The S9 makes me appreciate my current skills as well as motivate me to want to learn more. This machine is awesome.
SewSueMe2002
Horizon Memory Craft 15000
Thursday, November 19, 2020

My Janome Horizon Memory Craft 15000 is fantastic! I love, love, love this machine! When I came across the Eye for and Eye embroidery design today, I wanted to make it. However, the embroidery file is missing. Nothing downloads when I select the download button. Please help!
Jillfmischo
Treat Bag fun!
Monday, August 16, 2021

I made the Halloween treat bag for my new granddaughter and I’m sure it will last for years. No embroidery machine so I appliquéd the lettering. Need a little more skirt fabric for a better gathered look, and I used thin double-bias tape for the skirt hem, over edge stitch on skirt sides. I’m pleased with my results!
elenaz
Very helpful tutorial
Wednesday, October 25, 2023

I want to say thank you for teaching me this method of applique. I was able to do it with a small letters. This method is the best so far from all of those I've seen and tried.
plonkar
So useful
Thursday, November 30, 2023

I'd like to express my gratitude for teaching me this appliqué method. I successfully applied it with small letters, and, so far, it's the most effective among all the methods I've seen and tried.

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