Feb 19, 2026

Sewalong to the Evie Ruffle Shorties

Designer: Catherine Holbrook

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Size or Dimensions: Less than 1 yard, depending on size.

Skill Level: Beginner Friendly

DESCRIPTION: As we enter into the warmer months of the year, I am always on the hunt for a good pair of biker shorts for my daughter to wear under her summer dresses. Enter in the Violette Field Threads Evie Shorties pattern!

This free pattern consists of sizes 2T-10 years, making it a great option for all the stages of childhood. With minimal fabric required, this pattern is ideal for scrap busting! Have a half yard of knit fabric leftover from a project? You can whip up a pair of coordinating shorties! Not to mention it takes hardly any time to sew up. Grab your Olfa tools, and let’s batch make some shorties!

TOOL & SUPPLIES NEEDED:

OLFA Products:

RM-CLIPS/3-01 35” x 70” Continuous Grid, Double-Sided, Self-Healing Rotary Mat Set

RTY-2DX/MAG 45mm Ergonomic Rotary Cutter

5-Inch SCS-4 Precision Appliqué Scissors

QR-6x24 6" x 24" Frosted Acrylic Ruler

ESK-1 Beginner Craft Knife with Stand

Notions:

1 yard of 1” Elastic

Hem Tape (optional)

Fabric:

The Evie Knit Shorties are designed for knit fabrics with medium stretch such as Double Brushed Poly or Jersey. You will need around one yard of fabric, less depending on size. You can choose your size from the chart below.

Pattern:

You can find the Free Girl’s Evie Shorties here at no cost to you!

SEWING TUTORIAL:

We will begin by printing out the pattern and piecing it together. Cut the size needed using the beginner craft knife, which is a great rotary cutter alternative when cutting paper pattern pieces!

The other pattern pieces will be cut from the cut chart below.

Cut the Following Pieces of Fabric:

Shorties - Cut 2 as a mirror image set

Leg Ruffles - Cut 4

Waistband Elastic - Cut 1

*Leg ruffles can be left off if making a simple pair of shorties.

We will begin by hemming the bottom of each shortie leg. To do this, lay the shortie wrong sides up. Fold the raw bottom edge up 1/4” and press flat.

Turn up another 1/4” and press flat. If desired, hem tape can be used in place of pins or clips.

Using a stretch stitch, coverstitch, or stretchy thread, sew across the hemline catching the folded fabric underneath. For this tutorial, a stretch thread is being used with a straight stitch. You can purchase the stretchy thread here.

Locate the four ruffle pieces. Fold one ruffle strip in half, right sides together.

Sew across the long raw edge of the ruffle piece with a 1/4” seam allowance. Using your Precision Applique Scissors, clip the thread tails.

With your turning tool, turn the ruffle piece right sides out. Press so that the seam line is centered on the backside of the ruffle piece.

Sew a gathering stitch down the middle of the ruffle piece, gathering it to be the same size opening as the shorties hemline.

Repeat the previous steps for the 3 remaining ruffle pieces.

Place one gathered ruffle piece on top of one shortie piece, aligning the bottom edge of the ruffle with the bottom hem of the shortie.

Using a stretch stitch or stretchy thread, sew the ruffle to the shortie along the original gathering stitch in the center of the ruffle.

Repeat the same process with one more ruffle piece, placed directly above the first ruffle piece.

Repeat with the remaining two ruffle pieces and the other shortie piece.

Place the shortie pieces right sides together, and pin along the front and back seams at the sides, leaving the inseams open.

Using a 1/2” seam allowance, sew along the front and back seams using a stretchy stitch or a serger.

Unfold the shortie so that the legs are separated and the newly sewn seams are lined up in the center. Pin along the inseam at the bottom.

Sew across the inseam using a 1/2” seam allowance and a stretchy stitch or serger.

Lay the shorties flat so that the front and back seams align in the center.

Quarter off the shorties and mark with clips.

Locate the elastic piece. Overlap the elastic ends by 1” and sew a rectangle the secure the ends together.

Quarter off the elastic as we did with the shorties.

Place the elastic inside of the shorties, matching up the quartered points. The elastic will be slightly smaller than the shorties waist opening.

Using a serger or stretchy stitch, sew the elastic to the waist opening, slightly stretching the elastic as you go.

Once attached, turn the elastic down one time into the waistband so that the sewn edge is now facing down, and the elastic is enclosed within the waistband.

Using a stretchy stitch or a coverstitch, sew across the top of the waistband.

You now have an adorable set of shorties that you can pair under any handmade dress! I made the Sutton Dress from Little Lizard King to coordinate with them for my daughter. She LOVED them and twirled around all afternoon.