Hi this is my first pattern that I have written so if there are any errors or you have any questions please reach out. I saw a picture of shorts similar to these and had to try them for myself. They remind me of Soffe shorts that I used to wear when I was younger!
The pattern that I have written and the shorts that I have made are a small-medium in size so make adjustments as needed. This pattern can be adapted to fit anyone, at the very start of the project you can chain as many as you need to reach the width of the tops of your hips. Make sure you chain an even number, start in the second chain from the hook and crochet across. You should end up with an odd number of stitches (increases will happen in the middle stitch). I also find it helpful to keep trying it on or holding it against myself to see if/how it is fitting.
If you end up making these shorts I would love to see your creations! Tag me in your posts and I will do my best to share what you made in my story! You may also sell the products that you make using this pattern, however I ask that you give me credit in some way (linking back to this pattern or tagging me on social media). Please do not use my photos and/or claim them as your own.

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Front Panel
Ch 66 (or as many needed to reach the width of the tops of your hips)
Row 1 - In second ch from hook, hdc in each stitch across. (65 stitches) Turn your work.
Row 2 to 10 - Ch 1, hdc in each stitch. (65 stitches) Turn your work.
Row 11 - Hdc in first 32 stitches, all in 33rd stitch (1 hdc, ch 1, 1 hdc) hdc in the remaining 32 stitches (67 stitches) Turn your work.
Row 12 - Ch 1, hdc in 33 stitches, 1 hdc, ch 1, 1 hdc all in ch 1 space of previous round, hdc in 33 stitches (69 stitches) Turn your work.
Row 13 - Ch 1, hdc in 34 stitches, 1 hdc, ch 1, 1 hdc all in ch 1 space of previous round, hdc in 34 stitches (71 stitches) Turn your work.
Row 14 - Ch 1, hdc in 35 stitches, 1 hdc, ch 1, 1 hdc all in ch 1 space of previous round, hdc in 35 stitches (73 stitches) Turn your work.
Row 15 - Ch 1, hdc in 36 stitches, 1 hdc, ch 1, 1 hdc all in ch 1 space of previous round, hdc in 36 stitches (75 stitches) Turn your work.
Row 16 - Ch 1, hdc in 37 stitches, 1 hdc, ch 1, 1 hdc all in ch 1 space of previous round, hdc in 37 stitches (77 stitches) Turn your work.
Row 17 - Ch 1, hdc in 38 stitches, 1 hdc, ch 1, 1 hdc all in ch 1 space of previous round, hdc in 38 stitches (79 stitches) Turn your work.
Row 18 - Ch 1, hdc in 39 stitches, 1 hdc, ch 1, 1 hdc all in ch 1 space of previous round, hdc in 39 stitches (81 stitches) Turn your work.
Row 19 - Ch 1, hdc in 40 stitches, 1 hdc, ch 1, 1 hdc all in ch 1 space of previous round, hdc in 40 stitches (83 stitches) Turn your work.
Row 20 - Ch 1, hdc in 41 stitches, 1 hdc, ch 1, 1 hdc all in ch 1 space of previous round, hdc in 41 stitches (85 stitches) Turn your work.
Row 21 - Ch 1, hdc in 42 stitches, 1 hdc, ch 1, 1 hdc all in ch 1 space of previous round, hdc in 42 stitches (87 stitches) Turn your work.
Row 22 - Ch 1, hdc in 43 stitches, 1 hdc, ch 1, 1 hdc all in ch 1 space of previous round, hdc in 43 stitches (89 stitches) Turn your work.
Cut yarn and fasten off

Back Panel
Ch 66 (or as many as you made for the front panel)
Row 1 - In second ch from hook, hdc in each stitch across. (65 stitches) Turn your work.
Row 2 to 12 - Ch 1, hdc in each stitch. (65 stitches) Turn your work.
Row 13 - Ch 1, hdc in first 32 stitches, all in 33rd stitch (1 hdc, ch 1, 1 hdc) hdc in the remaining 32 stitches (67 stitches) Turn your work.
Row 14 - Ch 1, hdc in 33 stitches, 1 hdc, ch 1, 1 hdc all in ch 1 space of previous round, hdc in 33 stitches (69 stitches) Turn your work.
Row 15 - Ch 1, hdc in 34 stitches, 1 hdc, ch 1, 1 hdc all in ch 1 space of previous round, hdc in 34 stitches (71 stitches) Turn your work.
Row 16 - Ch 1, hdc in 35 stitches, 1 hdc, ch 1, 1 hdc all in ch 1 space of previous round, hdc in 35 stitches (73 stitches) Turn your work.
Row 17 - Ch 1, hdc in 36 stitches, 1 hdc, ch 1, 1 hdc all in ch 1 space of previous round, hdc in 36 stitches (75 stitches) Turn your work.
Row 18 - Ch 1, hdc in 37 stitches, 1 hdc, ch 1, 1 hdc all in ch 1 space of previous round, hdc in 37 stitches (77 stitches) Turn your work.
Row 19 - Ch 1, hdc in 38 stitches, 1 hdc, ch 1, 1 hdc all in ch 1 space of previous round, hdc in 38 stitches (79 stitches) Turn your work.
Row 20 - Ch 1, hdc in 39 stitches, 1 hdc, ch 1, 1 hdc all in ch 1 space of previous round, hdc in 39 stitches (81 stitches) Turn your work.
Row 21 - Ch 1, hdc in 40 stitches, 1 hdc, ch 1, 1 hdc all in ch 1 space of previous round, hdc in 40 stitches (83 stitches) Turn your work.
Row 22 - Ch 1, hdc in 41 stitches, 1 hdc, ch 1, 1 hdc all in ch 1 space of previous round, hdc in 41 stitches (85 stitches) Turn your work.
Row 23 - Ch 1, hdc in 42 stitches, 1 hdc, ch 1, 1 hdc all in ch 1 space of previous round, hdc in 42 stitches (87 stitches) Turn your work.
Row 24 - Ch 1, hdc in 43 stitches, 1 hdc, ch 1, 1 hdc all in ch 1 space of previous round, hdc in 43 stitches (89 stitches) Turn your work.
Cut yarn and fasten off

Attaching the Panels Together
Place both panels together, right sides facing out and attach contrasting colour yarn. You can use the same colour if you want. Evenly sc down the sides of the panels, cut yarn and fasten off. You should now have a cylinder.

Legs
Rotate the shorts upside down and attach the same colour yarn on the far right side.
Row 1 - Ch 1, hdc in each stitch, at the ch 1 space from the previous round hdc through both panels, turn your work and hdc across, do not attach. Turn your work.
Row 2 - Ch 1, hdc2tog, hdc until the last 2 stitches, hdc2tog. Turn your work.
Row 3 - Repeat Row 2.
Row 4 - Repeat Row 2.
Cut yarn and fasten off. Repeat for the other leg.
Row 5 - Attach the contrasting colour yarn the strip on the side of the short leg, evenly sc across the leg and attach to the strip on the opposite side.
Cut yarn, fasten off and weave in ends.

Waistband
The waistband is crocheted directly onto the garment. If you don’t want to do that then scroll to the next section.
Attach yarn to the shorts at the right side of the hip and ch 11.
Row 1 - In the second chain from hook sc in each ch (10 stitches) Sl St into next unworked stitch on the shorts, and then Sl St again into the next unworked stitch. The second Sl St acts as the ch 1 for the next row.
Row 2 - scBLO in each stitch (10 stitches) Turn your work.
Row 3 - Ch 1, scBLO in each stitch (10 stitches) Sl St into next unworked stitch on the shorts, and then Sl St again into the next unworked stitch.
Row 4 - Repeat Row 2.
Row 5 - Repeat Row 3.
Keep repeating rows 2 and 3 until you have crocheted around the garment (it took 130 rows for me).
To close the band Sl St into the back loops of the foundation chain and the front loops of the final row. Cut yarn, fasten off and weave in ends.

Alternate version of the waistband
Ch 11
Row 1 - In the second ch from hook sc in each chain (10 stitches) Turn your work.
Row 2 - Ch 1, scBLO in each stitch (10 stitches).
Repeat Row 2 until the desired size is reached. Sl St the band together to create a cylinder and sew it onto the garment.

Optional: Drawstring
Ch 160
At the middle of the waistband pull the drawstring the majority of the way through, leaving some exposed to tie a bow. Start weaving in the drawstring on the inside of the waistband until you reach the other side and pull through the same hole as the entrance of the drawstring. I found weaving the drawstring through the inside of the waistband helpful to conceal it a little more. You may also have to shift the drawstring to make the sides even.

And you’re all done!