Sinclair Patterns Motion Shorts

The mileage I put my workout clothes through is unreal. Sweat, dirt, more sweat, lots of movement, frequent washings—and yet they still hold up. But it’s time to add to my closet. I wanted to branch out with new styles that weren’t just plain leggings hacked into biker shorts.

Back in July, I started exploring patterns and was drawn to the Greenstyle Moxi Shorts and Sinclair Patterns Motion Shorts. I ran a comparison in VStitcher and found the Motion Shorts had a better overall fit—cleaner drapelines and balanced horizontal lines. I also liked that the Motion Shorts come in three different base sizes based on height (more on that later), plus two different outer short lengths. That kind of flexibility makes it easy to adjust the fit and length to your body.

Analyzing Style and Fit

Both the Moxi and Motion Shorts are inspired by ready-to-wear athletic styles. They feature a curved back yoke for extra mobility. Specifically, the Motion Shorts have a relaxed fit through the hips and a contoured yoga waistband that comes in both mid and high rise. The sport short outer shell comes in two lengths. You can also add built-in shorties (aka biker shorts) in three different lengths. There’s even an option for a zippered side pocket.

The pattern instructions are detailed and well-written. Give yourself time to read through and take notes before you start. There’s a video tutorial included too, which is helpful. Piecing the pattern together is a bit of a puzzle and definitely calls for a lot of 3D spatial thinking.

You can make these shorts using stable knits, woven, or stretch woven fabrics. I used a stretch woven for the outer shorts, and classic knit spandex (i.e., leggings fabric) for the waistband and shorties.

Sizing

The Motion Shorts start with a base size. Don’t be too discouraged if you’re significantly taller than the base heights listed. I’m 5’11”, so… yeah. I get it. I did use the TALL base size.

My current body measurements are 39-inch bust, 33-inch waist, and 43-inch lower torso. As always, I used my measuring band method for the lower torso measurement. My hips are technically 42 inches, but the measuring band gives a more consistent fit reference when picking pattern sizes. I measure 43 inches with the measuring band. In the end, I made size 14 shorts.

The pattern includes a good amount of info on intended ease and fit, and where the garment should sit on the body. All of that is super helpful.

What’s missing, though, is any final garment measurement for the waistband or hips—either for the outer shorts or the shorties. And honestly, with how many pattern pieces there are (and how weirdly shaped some of them are), I wasn’t about to calculate that myself.

That said, based on the fit in VStitcher and how they turned out on my body, I’d say the sizing seems accurate for my range. I can’t speak to sizes smaller than 14 or larger than 24.

Materials

Eventually, I will make it through all the types of spandex at Blue Moon Fabrics. This time, I went with Allure polyester spandex with wicking—because, have I mentioned how much I sweat during workouts?

According to Blue Moon Fabrics:

“Allure is a 4-way stretch polyester spandex double knit with wicking properties, ideal for high-performance activewear. Its lightweight composition and temperature-regulating capabilities make it ideal for compression and base-layer apparel, ensuring you stay comfortable and dry no matter the activity. Allure is designed to give you the most comfortable experience possible, with fabric that moves with you and maintains breathability and moisture management. Its quick-drying capabilities make it easy and convenient to wash and wear.”

It comes in 42 colors. And trust me, I’ll be putting this stuff through its paces.

For the outer fabric, I splurged and went with Spoonflower Sports Woven. I used it to make Ryan some shorts over the summer, and he’s just as tough on his gear as I am. His shorts have become his absolute favorite and not just because of the bright colors and fun prints.

According to Spoonflower:

“Sport Stretch Woven, made from 90% REPREVE® recycled polyester microfiber and 10% spandex, is a fitting fabric for the outdoor enthusiast. This fast-drying, slight-stretch fabric is ready to take on waves or rays with a 50+ UPF rating and water-repellent coated finish. From boardshorts and athletic wear to outdoor apparel, Sport Stretch Woven has a soft, lightweight feel that won’t slow you down when you’re on your latest adventure.”

It has 25% 4-way stretch and excellent colorfastness—even with sweat. We’ll see how it holds up after a few weeks of workouts.

Ryan sweats a lot too, so it’s not just me! We just love working hard I guess.

Spoonflower Prints

Adjustments

To recap: I made the TALL version of the shorts, size 14, in the longer inseam length for the outer and the medium inseam length for the inner shorties. That’s a lot of descriptors, I know.

The pattern offers PETITE, REGULAR, and TALL blocks based on your height. I made the TALL. Sizes range from 0 to 30, based on waist and hip measurements. I made size 14. The outer shorts come with two inseam options, and I went with the longer one. The inner shorties come with three inseam options, and I went with the medium length.

Outer Shorts

I tested the outer shorts in plain cotton muslin, which technically works since the pattern can be made from non-stretch wovens. The fit was almost identical when I switched to my expensive Spoonflower fabric. The stretch woven just adds a bit more comfort at full range of motion.

Only one change was needed—I raised the center back seam by 1/2 inch. That small tweak gave me a better fit through the crotch curve. I was getting pulling from the front to the back, because I didn’t have enough ease in the back.

Inner Shorties

I used 4-way stretch spandex from CV Linens to test the waistband and inner shorties on this pattern. I can get a reasonable price for a 10 yard bolt and it’s great for testing patterns that have negative ease.

Well, well, well! This is familar territory. I made a few key changes to the shorties. First and most important: a straight hem that’s parallel to the floor is NEVER going to work. Back in March 2024, I worked on the Simpatico leggings, which also lacks a side seam, and learned that you need a curved hem for it to look straight on the body. When the pattern doesn’t have a side seam, a straight hem will always dip lower at the outer thigh and ride up higher at the inner thigh—giving you the illusion that your inner thighs are eating your shorts. But your thighs aren’t hungry goblins. The hemline just needs to be curved.

In addition to curving the hem, I widened the leg opening by 3/8 inch on both sides and raised the center back by 1/2 inch (same as the outer shorts).

Waistband

The pattern includes two waistband options: regular rise and high rise, giving you even more ways to dial in the fit. I tested both and found that the regular rise worked best for me. The high rise sat a bit too high on my frame and didn’t feel quite right. I didn’t need to make any changes to the waistband pattern—it fit well as-is.

Final Fit

Personal Aside

It’s about time I start designing my 2026 fabric labels and I’ve been compiling some phrases that I might use. I’d love your input about which labels you like best: