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Keystone Shorts
The Keystone Shorts
A modular workwear shorts system — choose your front, fly, pockets, yoke and details, then build your own version.
The System
What are the
Keystone Shorts?
Most sewing patterns give you one fixed shorts design. The Keystone Shorts are a modular construction system — you choose your front, your fly, your pocket system, and your yoke, and every route leads to a finished pair built on traditional workwear construction.
Designed for denim, selvedge denim, canvas, twill, hickory stripe, ripstop and other workwear fabrics.
How It Works
Choose your build,
step by step.
01
Choose your front
Classic or pleated — pick the front that suits how you'll wear them.
02
Choose your fly
Button fly or zipper fly — same pattern, two finishes.
03
Choose your pockets
Four back pocket styles, from a clean classic to the signature Keystone shape.
04
Choose your yoke
Standard or buckle-back — decide how the waist sits and adjusts.
05
Build your shorts
Every route leads to the same traditional workwear construction underneath.
Build Options
Every piece,
your call.
FRONT STYLE
Classic Front
The clean, traditional five-pocket front — simple lines, easy to fit, easy to sew.
FRONT STYLE
Pleated Front
A pleated front for extra room through the thigh and a slightly heavier workwear stance.
FLY STYLE
One-Piece Button Fly
A traditional button fly cut from a single fly piece — classic workwear detailing, straightforward to construct.
FLY STYLE
Two-Piece Zipper Fly
A two-piece zipper fly for a faster, more everyday finish — the modern alternative to the button fly.
BACK POCKET SYSTEM
Classic Pocket
The standard patch back pocket — simple, functional, and quick to attach.
BACK POCKET SYSTEM
Roughcut Pocket
Our own back pocket shape, styled to match the rest of the Roughcut pattern range.
BACK POCKET SYSTEM
Workwear Pocket
A reinforced, oversized back pocket built to actually hold tools, not just look like it could.
YOKE SYSTEM
Standard Yoke
A traditional angled back yoke for classic five-pocket shaping.
YOKE SYSTEM
Buckle Yoke
A back yoke with an integrated buckle strap — an adjustable waist and a workwear detail in one.
UTILITY DETAILS
Carpenter Pocket
A side leg tool pocket for the things you need within reach, not buried in your pockets.
UTILITY DETAILS
Hammer Loop
A loop at the side seam for hanging a hammer or tool — small detail, real function.
UTILITY DETAILS
Fireman Waistband Extension
An extendable waistband tab for a quick size adjustment without unbuttoning anything.
UTILITY DETAILS
Rivets
Reinforcement at every stress point, set the same way genuine workwear is finished.
UTILITY DETAILS
Fishtale Waistband
Fish tale waistband for suspender details in chosen
What You Get
Everything in the box,
nothing left out.
- A4 print-at-home pattern
- US Letter print-at-home pattern
- A0 copyshop pattern
- Layered sizing
- Full handbook PDF
- System breakdown pages
- Printing and tiling guide
- Fabric requirements
- Hardware and notions guide
- Pre-cut checklist
- Tutorial QR codes
- Video tutorial support
The Handbook
Instructions worth
following.
Fabric Guide
What to cut it from.
Always check the fabric requirements table in the handbook, and buy a little extra for testing, shrinkage and mistakes.
10–14oz Denim
Creates the classic, heavy denim workwear feel this system is built around.
Japanese Selvedge Denim
Creates a premium, characterful pair that fades and ages with every wear.
Cotton Canvas
Creates a more utilitarian result than denim, with a stiffer hand that softens over time.
Duck Canvas
Creates an even heavier, more rugged pair built for real wear and tear.
Cotton Twill
Creates a lighter, easier-to-sew pair — a good choice for summer builds.
Hickory Stripe
Creates real railroad-workwear energy — the classic striped engineer look.
Ripstop
Creates a lightweight, tear-resistant pair suited to a more technical, functional build.
Military Sateen
Creates a smooth-faced, hard-wearing pair with a subtle sheen and a military feel.
Hemp / Cotton Blends
Creates a more breathable, textured pair with a naturally durable fibre blend.
Linen / Cotton Workwear Fabrics
Creates a lighter warm-weather pair while keeping the workwear structure.
Hardware & Notions
What to source.
Fly Buttons
Recommended 17 mm Jeans Tack ButtonsBrass or Antique BrassHammer-in styleBest suited for heavyweight denim, canvas and twill.
Metal Zipper
Recommended YKK Metal ZipBrass / Antique Brass 5”–6” (depending on size) Closed-endA YKK zip is recommended for the smoothest installation and long-term durability.
Bur Rivets
Best suited for heavyweight denim projects.Recommended Copper Burr Rivets Antique Brass Burr Rivets
Hidden Rivets
The same reinforcement, set from the inside for a cleaner outer finish. Covered up with fabric.
Buckle Hardware
This allows small waist adjustments while creating a distinctive rear detail. Recommended 20–25 mm Roller BuckleMatching Metal KeeperMatching Rivets (optional)
Internal Hidden Button
A concealed waistband button for a clean finish underneath a belt.
Optional Clips / Utility Hardware
These details are entirely optional and allow you to personalise your build beyond the core construction.
Thread
A strong core-spun or polyester thread suited to heavy fabric.
OUT NOW
Two Ways To Learn
Watch it built,
your way.
Full Workshop Tutorial
A longer, in-depth studio tutorial showing the full construction process from start to finish, with more explanation at every step.
Watch
POV Construction Tutorial
A shorter, faster point-of-view tutorial showing the build from the maker's own perspective, with voiceover added afterwards.
Plus dedicated Help page videos covering printing, tiling, cutting, pattern preparation, and layered sizing — you're not left alone with a PDF.
Is This For You?
An honest fit check,
before you buy.
This pattern is for you if
- You want to learn proper garment construction
- You want to build a serious pair of shorts
- You like workwear details
- You want options instead of one fixed pattern
- You're ready to slow down and make something properly
- You want to understand how garments are engineered
This pattern may not be for you if
- You want an ultra-fast beginner project
- You don't want to follow a detailed process
- You want a basic elastic-waist shorts pattern
Skill Level
Confident hobbyist / intermediate. You don't need to be an expert, but you should be comfortable sewing accurately, following a tutorial, working with multiple pieces, and taking your time. The handbook and video tutorials are designed to guide you through the process.
Early Access
Keystone Denim Jorts
Early Access Live Now
Premium denim crafted for comfort and durability. Made with sustainable materials and designed to last.
Premium sustainable denim
Limited edition release
Free shipping on early access orders
Sizing
Take these measurements first.
FAQ
Before you buy.
It's built as a system, so it can flex to your experience — a confident beginner can follow it, but you should be comfortable sewing accurately and taking your time. See the skill level note above for the full picture.
Denim and canvas both work well — see the fabric guide above for what each weight and weave creates.
Yes — non-selvedge denim works fine for this pattern. Selvedge is a look and finish choice, not a requirement.
Yes — canvas gives a more utilitarian result than denim, and both are covered in the fabric guide.
No — a good domestic machine handles this pattern fine, as long as it can manage multiple layers of denim or canvas at the seams.
The pattern is layered across a full size range — see the handbook for the exact size breakdown.
The seam allowance is stated clearly in the handbook's panel organisation section, and it's consistent across every panel.
Layered sizing means you can toggle the print file to show only your size, instead of printing every size on top of each other.
No — thanks to layered sizing, you print only the size you need.
Yes — A4 and US Letter print-at-home files and an A0 copyshop file are all included in the download.
Yes — both a full workshop tutorial and a shorter POV tutorial are included, plus dedicated Help page videos on printing, tiling and cutting.
Four back pocket styles — Classic, Roughcut, Workwear and Keystone — see the build options above.
It depends on your build — see the hardware and notions guide above for exactly what each option needs.
This is a digital, instant-download pattern — print at home or send the A0 file to a copyshop.
[Insert Roughcut licensing answer here — needs confirmation before this page goes live.]
Support is available through WhatsApp (recommended) and our Discord ticket system, including WhatsApp community build help. We don't offer support by email.
Part Of The Keystone Series
Build the whole system.
Coming Soon
Keystone Jacket
Denim outerwear built to complete the system.
Build the shorts your way.
Learn the construction behind them. Make something worth wearing.