Even though hot sunny days are over, we thought we would share with you this great shorts pattern called the Orion Shorts by the French designer French Poetry. What makes this pattern so special you might ask? Well, the answer is simple: the perfect blend of comfort and elegance. The Orion shorts are a great wardrobe staple that will never go out of style. With its vintage cut and polished look, the Orion shorts remind us of weekends at the sea, old movies, and relaxed summer days. Blandine, the designer behind the pattern, added a certain French “je ne sais quoi” to this cute little pair of shorts making it a perfect piece for all your summer adventures.
Orion Shorts are designed to sit on the natural waist, with pleated front and darts at the back for shaping. They come with two fastening options – side buttons or a side invisible zipper, and an optional inseam pocket on the right side only. The side button version has a total vintage sailor vibe to it whereas the invisible zipper option ensures a streamlined and flattering fit with no extra bulk added to the side seam.
Fitted only at the waist, the Orion Shorts are a great introductory pattern to a beginner sewist. Experience in inserting an invisible zip and sewing buttonholes is recommended but not mandatory. There are many tutorials available online to guide you through the process like the ones we posted here and here.
The pattern is accompanied by 4 pages of sewing instructions that are relatively easy to follow but require some basic understanding of sewing techniques and concentration.
The Orion shorts make a lovely quick afternoon project with no advanced fitting modifications needed. The length recommended is flattering and well as proportioned, and sits a few inches above the knee, which is just where I like it! But the pattern can be easily lengthened into bermudas, culottes or even palazzo pants.
The Orion Shorts sewing pattern is available in sizes 2 to 16 and sold as a PDF file that can be downloaded right after purchase in US Letter, A4 (print at home), or A0 (copy shop) formats. As a PDF, it’s worth noting that the file is relatively small and consists of only 20 pages (US Letter) which means that it is really easy to put together. The pattern and its sewing instructions are available in both French and English (go to the English store for the English version).
The shorts you see in this post is a straight size 8 with no modifications whatsoever. Choose the size that is closest to your waist and hip measurements. If you are in between sizes, you can trace a line between the two sizes to achieve a better fit. The front pleats provide ample room around the crotch area but consider extending the back crotch curve a tad if you have a long crotch or fuller curves.
Another great thing about shorts patterns, in general, is that they don’t often require a large amount of fabric and you can likely sew a pair from just one yard of fabric. Suggested fabrics include linen, cotton, denim, poplin, and seersucker. And since linen is our favorite pick, we made our version in our beautiful IL019 PRESTIGE Softened Medium Weight Linen. It really is the most perfect shade of midnight deep blue. With its smooth look and tighter weave, this linen is neither sheer or heavy, but just the right in-between weight you will need for this particular project that requires fabric that can hold shape.
So, if you’ve been hunting for perfect summer shorts, the Orion pattern checks all the boxes! Easy and quick to sew and fits lovely on the body. With their figure-flattering fit and classic styling, the Orion shorts can be easily dressed up or down making it a perfect versatile piece that looks just a little fancier than your standard shorts.
Go to French Poetry’s website and grab a copy of the Orion Shorts pattern. And if you are looking for more maker inspiration, check out some cute makes on Instagram with the #fporion hashtag.
