Tasku Shorts

Perhaps you remember the Veckade shorts I made for my little miss. Well I thought I would continue to pull from my Scandinavian roots and find some inspiration for shorts for my son. I made some basic long shorts.

I added a little cargo pocket on the side, since boys love to find and store treasures. 

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This time I went with Finland as my inspiration. I am drawn to the blue against the crisp white in the flag. Finland has some really beautiful sculptural details. LIke this look out in Helsinki.

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Or this beautiful building also in Helsinki. I love the white building with the large pillars against the cloudy sky. Just beautiful. It was then that I realized I had the perfect shirt in my stash just waiting for a makeover.  

I got this shirt out of my stash. It was a Kenneth Cole Men's dress shirt that had some lovely pintuck detail and textured stripes down the fabric that made me fall in love with the fabric. I have been holding on to it for awhile waiting for the perfect project to call out for it and after seeing the sculptural lines of the Finnish inspiration, I knew that the lines in the fabric and the crisp white color were perfect for these shorts.

To make the pattern I started with a pair of shorts from last summer. They are a bit to short but the fit was overall pretty good. I am leaving out the fly of the pants and just making them flat front, I figure it is easier for a young boy, and me since I always have to button his pants for him. Trace the front and back of the pants.

Then as I understand this is really hard to see since it is white on white and I apologize for that... but you will sew a front leg to a back leg along the straight side. Then press it flat.

I added a cargo pocket on the side by cutting out a square and turning under all the edges. Then top stitch the top edge of the square. Then you will pin the other three sides down to the pant leg centering it on the seam you just created. Sew around the three edges.

Next cut out your top flat I cut out 2 of them and sewed them together and then turned it right side out so three of the sides were finished. Then sew it facing upward along the pocket opening. That way when you flip it down you can top stitch it in place and you have a pocket flap. 

Next fold the pant leg so the right sides are together and sew along the other side up to the curve.

Next take your two pant legs and with one inside out and one right side out put one inside the other so the right sides are together. Then sew along the "U" shape.

You should have something that looks like a short now. 

Trace the top of your pant to make a waistband and cut it out twice as tall as you want it. Then sew it together at the side seams. Then fold the waistband so the seams are in the inside.

Then you will sew the waistband to the pants. Sew the back first and put the elastic in then secure the elastic at both side seams and then sew the front. Hem the bottom and you are done. Flat in front

Elastic in the back, you have a simple yet stylish pair of "pocket" shorts or Tasku shorts. 

Perfect for casual easter wear if your weather permits.

Yet they are still comfortable enough for a boy to be a boy in and jump all around.