How to Make Boardshorts Out of an Old Suit

"Boardshorts" is a style of men's swimwear associated with wakeboarding and surfing. They are generally longer, extending to just below the knee, and are usually made of or trimmed in Hawaiian print fabric. The popularity of boardshorts has extended beyond aquatic sports and is a trend among the urban skater punk set.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Trousers from an old suit
• Hawaiian print shirt
• Necktie
• Scissors
• Thread
• Straight pins
• Straight edge
• Tailor's chalk or a white seamstress pencil
• Sewing machine

The Shorts

1. Choose a pair of trousers that fit well through the hips and waist with room for ease of movement. Put on the trousers. Have a friend mark one leg 2 inches below the bottom of the knee with the tailor's chalk.

2. Take off the trousers and lay them on a flat work surface. Use the straight edge and the tailors chalk to mark a cutting line across both legs. Cut off the lower portion of the pant legs.

3. Turn the trousers inside out. Fold up 1 inch of the bottom of one leg and pin it in place. Do the same with the other leg so both legs are the same length. Sew around both legs.

Add the Design

4. Make a diamond-shaped paper pattern for the design on the shorts. Fold the shorts with the inseams touching. Lay the folded shorts on the work surface with the outer side seam up.

5. Position the paper pattern towards the bottom of the leg, centered over the seam. Draw around it with the tailor's chalk or white pencil. Flip the shorts over and repeat on the other side seam.

6. Cut the traced shape from each side of the shorts. Start by snipping into the middle of the design and then cutting out to the edges.

7. Prepare two squares of fabric from the Hawaiian shirt that are larger than the paper pattern. Pin the fabric square to the inside of the shorts so that the right side of the fabric shows through the opening. Position the fabric so it completely covers the cut-out.

8. Pin the fabric in place at either side. Stitch around the diamond-shaped cut-out to secure the fabric. Trim the excess fabric from inside the shorts.

The Waist

9. Pin the tie around the waistband of the shorts. Pin the narrow end of the tie near the buttonhole so that the excess length is on the side where the button is.

10. Cut a hole in the tie where it passes over the button. Pull the button through the hole

11. Fold the tie over the button so that the tail hangs down the front of the shorts. Make another hole and pull the button through it, too.

12. Stitch around the top of the shorts to attach the tie. Remove all the pins and clip any stray threads.

Tips & Warnings

• Set straight pins perpendicular to the edge of the hem.
• If possible, use a sewing machine with a free arm that can be removed to make sewing around the pant leg easier.