Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Sewing a (Practice) Pair of Shorts

I mentioned before my need for a new pair of shorts.  This past weekend I scoured Goodwills all over the area to find a pair that fit nicely--with no strange bulges, gaps, creases, or pulling.  I also did not want short shorts.  Apparently, I am a strange size because I tried on at least a dozen pairs and none met my criteria.

New Look 6354
I've been perusing so many crafty blogs lately that I was inspired to use my incredibly rusty sewing skills.  After looking for patterns online for awhile I decided that I liked this one.  It is an easy pattern and supposedly only takes two hours!

This past weekend we went thrift store and fabric shopping.  It had been ages since I was able to peruse the aisles of a fabric store.  I had so much fun.  I eventually settled on on fabrics for two pairs of shorts (and maybe more!).  Somehow I did manage to misread signs, because on one of the pieces of fabric I ended up paying more than double what I thought I would.  Oh well, our normally frugal lifestyle allows for small hiccups and mistakes.  (The shorts will still be cheaper than the pair that fit me best at Target.)

Even though once upon a time I had some sewing skills and this pattern didn't look difficult I was a little hesitant to make that first cut (especially since I felt like I overpaid for my fabric!).  I decided to make a practice pair.  So I brought out some fabric from my stash.  The fabric pattern is one that I like--but is maybe a little odd for shorts; however, it had been in my stash since before I got married and I picked it up super cheap from a Wal-Mart clearance bin.


I am glad that I started with a practice pair.  They turned out pretty well--but there certainly are some flaws/things I need to work out.  I think that there is a little too much fabric in the front and that causes it to droop a little strangely.  I don't think that I am going to add elastic (at least to both pairs).  The drawstring with bow adds a nice touch.  I also think that I will make one pair of shorts a little longer and another pair a little shorter.  It was obvious that it had been awhile since my last big sewing project--I wasn't as steady and confident as I had been, my seams weren't perfectly straight, I had to rip out an entire seam, etc.

(By the way, it is absolutely impossible to get a decent picture of yourself in your new shorts with your toddler running around and no sunshine.  Just sayin'.)

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5 comments:

  1. I don't know how people take pics of themselves in general.

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    1. I agree! Although some people manage to take very nice ones... I just don't get it.

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  2. Great idea and good luck with your next pair! I can never find a good fitting pair of pants either!
    Kim @ tip toe thru tuesday!

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  3. Visiting from BFOL. I'm an advanced seamstress (working on making my wedding dress right now). Just wanted to say keep at it, even if your first pair didn't fit quite right.

    Sewing pants and shorts is actually one of the more challenging things you can do. As women, our hips/belly/rump area can be one of the most challenging to fit. With potbellies, wide hips, and all of that - it's hard to nail your perfect fit on the first try.

    Keep up your practice. Nothing aggravates me more than paying $30 for a pair of shorts that I could make for a quarter of that price!!

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  4. Well done for giving those shorts a go! Sounds like you learnt lots from making them - good luck with the next pair!


    Thanks for linking to a Round Tuit!
    Hope you have a fabulous week!
    Jill @ Creating my way to Success
    http://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/

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