Feel Pretty Skort Hack – Tutorial using the Ellie & Mac Feel Pretty Shorts Pattern By Candi Johnson | Sew In Love Couture
If you’re a fan of the Ellie & Mac Feel Pretty Shorts, you're going to love this little twist I put on them—literally! I recently hacked the original pattern to turn the shorts into a wrap-style skort, and it’s officially one of my favorite makes this season.
This tutorial will walk you through exactly how I made this hack, including how I modified the pattern and added that cute wrap panel in front. It's stylish, comfy, and totally practical for everyday wear!
Pattern Modifications
Before diving into the steps, here are the tweaks I made to the original shorts pattern:
Lengthened the inseam by 2” for extra coverage and to allow for a wider hem.
Straightened the legs for a more relaxed, easy-to-wear fit.
Chose the high-rise option for comfort and style.
Created a custom front skort panel and two waist ties.
My personal skort piece measured 17.75" wide x 18.25" tall, with a ½” hem on the top and sides and a ¾” hem on the bottom. My ties were each cut at 2" x 20".
Tip: Your measurements may vary! To get yours, measure the finished shorts from top of waistband to hem, and your preferred width across the front. Don’t forget to add seam and hem allowances!
Skort Construction Steps
Here’s how I put it all together:
- Sew crotch curves for both the front and back shorts pieces.
- Prepare your waistband by sewing one short end only. Press that seam open, then fold the waistband in half wrong sides together and press.
- Sew the elastic casings across the waistband, from one end to the other.
- Attach the waistband to the top raw edge of the shorts.
- Make the ties: Fold each tie right sides together and sew along one short end and the long edge, leaving the other end open. Turn right side out, press, and topstitch.
- Prep the skort panel: Hem the top, bottom, and one outer side. Before finishing the top hem, insert one of your ties at the top corner of the outer side (this will be the visible tie on the overlay).
- Memory press your shorts hem allowance. I used a ¾” double-fold hem.
- Insert elastic into the casings, sewing down both ends to secure.
- Attach the second tie to the left side of the shorts waistband at the top edge (outer side), folding in the raw edge of the tie twice and stitching it down securely.
- Add the skort panel: Place it on the front of the shorts—wrong side of the panel against right side of shorts—and sandwich it between the front and back pieces.
- Sew the front and back together at the crotch (bottom) seam.
- Hem both legs.
- Finish all your seams using a serger or your preferred method.
- Turn everything right side out—you’re done!
Notes and Tips
I based my wrap panel width on my hip measurements and compared it to a store-bought skort to get the coverage I wanted.
If you're adding a custom shape to the skort overlay (curved hem, angled edge, etc.), don’t forget to adjust your measurements accordingly.
Play with different hem widths or fabrics to give your skort a totally different vibe.
Final Thoughts
This skort hack was a total win for me—easy to wear, fun to sew, and a great way to change up a favorite pattern. If you’re comfortable sewing basic shorts and want to add a little flair, I highly recommend giving this a try!
Happy sewing, Candi
