It’s always a treat to see what Erica creates with our patterns, and today she’s back with another fantastic idea—how to transform the Montauk Trousers into shorts! If you’ve followed her work before, you’ll know she’s no stranger to creating something beautiful from Liesl + Co.’s designs. She previously shared her Camp Shirts and Rush Hour Blouses with us, and now she’s showing us how to turn those stylish trousers into shorts.
The Montauk Trousers are quickly becoming one of my go-to patterns. They're incredibly comfortable, with just the right amount of hip ease to make them perfect for lounging around or running errands. The elastic waistband makes them easy to put on and take off, while still looking polished.
I first tried the Montauk pattern with View B, adding back welt pockets to a mid-weight stretch denim. It was such a satisfying project, and I’m sure I’ll keep referring to those instructions whenever I want to add welt pockets to another pattern. These pants, along with leggings, have been my mainstay during lockdown. I call them my “lounge jeans,†and they’re the perfect blend of comfort and style.
After wearing my initial pair of trousers, I knew I had to try the shorts version. Shorts are a great way to use up fabric scraps when stores are closed, and I had just enough of a leftover corduroy remnant to make a pair in my size. I decided to use the View A back pockets and went with a slightly smaller size than my trousers since shorts tend to fit better in warmer weather.
Here’s a quick step-by-step guide to converting your Montauk Trousers into shorts:
First, I taped together my PDF printout and cut along the "lengthen/shorten" lines on both the front and back pieces. I aimed for a 7-inch inseam, but you can choose whatever length works best for you. Remember to add ½ inch to account for the crotch seam allowance. Use a tape measure to mark the desired hemline on the pattern pieces. This became my pink line, indicating the final hemline.
Next, decide how deep you want your hem to be and mark that point further down the leg. I chose a 1½ inch hem allowance. Using my quilting ruler, I drew two parallel lines 1½ inches apart at these marks. I double-checked that they were parallel to the existing lengthen/shorten lines. The pink line represents the finished hemline, while the yellow line is the new cutting line.
Fold the pattern along the pink line and cut along the size markings for your chosen size. This creates unique notches along the side seams. When unfolded, the front and back pieces should look like the ones shown below.
Feel free to cut off the excess leg length below the yellow line, though I kept mine folded up for potential future use. With the pattern ready, it's time to cut out your fabric!
I didn’t modify any other pieces, like the pockets or waistband. For the hem, I folded and pressed the bottom edge up by ½ inch, then again by 1 inch. Topstitching at 7/8 inch from the edge finished the hem beautifully, but a hand-stitched hem would also work well.
One of the best things about Liesl + Co.'s PDF patterns is that they’re layered, meaning you only print the sizes you need. It saves so much time when cutting out your fabric without all the extra size lines getting in the way.
These shorts remind me of the Sunny Day Shorts for kids—they offer endless possibilities for customization. Next time, I might add a small side slit to each side seam. A solid-colored pair with a scalloped hem sounds lovely too. Or perhaps some mini pom-pom trim on short shorts. Thin insertion lace at the hemstitching line could also be fun. And let’s not forget piping along the pocket lines and side seams—definitely on my list! This pattern is perfect for showing off special trims, like the cotton twill tape I used here.
Whether paired with a Chai Tee for a day at the beach or styled with a flowy blouse and heels for a summer cocktail in Montauk, these shorts will become a summer essential.
Have you picked up your Montauk Trousers pattern yet? Available digitally on our website, it’s a must-have for your sewing collection. Don’t miss out on entering our spring pattern challenge if you’re working on the trousers—or either of our other two new patterns, the Belgravia Knit Dress or the Kensington Knit Skirt!
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