Ahoy Sailor Shorts

Shorts!! After attempting to wear my last me-made pair, I decided that it was time I made these beauties. I love them! But then again...what's not to love about sailor shorts! I'm also pretty sure that Zoe would like these too! 

Kwik Sew 3854 

I used Kwik Sew 3854. I knew that I wanted this pattern the moment I laid eyes on it! With no fly zip to contend with and those cute pockets I was quite excited to make these.  While I do love them... I have to say that I made them too big. Just a little. They are pretty good right out of the dryer but stretch a bit after wear and I feel as though I am pushing my tummy out to keep them up to my waist. Relaxed, they sit down on my hips more and look very saggy in the butt. Completely losing the high waist look I was going for. Yup, gonna need to make some alterations to these.

My review:

Pattern: Kwik Sew 3854

Fabric Used: A poly twill that I had left over from my Charlie Jumpsuit. I used buttons that I salvaged from and old skirt. Mine were larger so I only used two.

Instructions: I first have to say that I like Kwik Sew patterns...especially the nice white thick paper they use. The shorts went together quickly and easily without any difficulty.

Changes I made: The only change I made to these was taking a bit of the volume out of the thigh area. I found that they "belled" out too much for me. They weren't as straight a cut as they look in the pattern picture.

*Just a note about the pockets in these shorts... they are kinda small. If I'm not careful when putting my phone in my pocket, it will slip right out and fall to the floor.  I love a good, deep, secure pocket and these just don't quite cut it for me.

Summer (?) Shorts

I make a pair of shorts and what happens?... The fog rolls in that's what happens. But I know that the summer weather will reappear soon. I am an optimist. Handsome suggested I wait for a sunny day to take these pics but I'm also impatient....so you get foggy pictures.

Shorts:self-made Shirt:J Crew(thrifted) Cardi:J Crew(thrifted) Shoes:a mystery Belt:(thrifted)

I made these shorts from Newlook 6100, from the Project Runway workroom series. I am thinking that maybe this pattern should have had a bit more tweeking in the workroom before production. I would like to know if anyone else had trouble with the waistband on these... 

My Review: 

Pattern: Newlook 6100

Fabric used: A cotton bottom weight twill. 

Instructions: I followed the direction exactly and they were good. I was pleased with how well the cuff went on. Easy.

If I could change anything:The waistband gave me some trouble... It didn't fit at all when I pinned it to the shorts! I hadn't taken the shorts in and checked my pattern pieces to be sure that I hadn't mistakenly cut the wrong size in either the front/back pieces or the waistband. No..all the same size. But still, I had to take the waistband seam in by 5/8 inch exactly. Weird. So given that I had to make this alteration to the waistband, I assumed that the same would have to be done to the waistband facing...amirite... NO! It was too small by exactly...you guessed it...5/8 of an inch! Aaaghhhh! They were the same pattern pieces so this does not make any sense. If anyone knows what on earth I did wrong...LET ME KNOW! I also find that these shorts ride up my bum just a smidge...something I did not notice till I wore them out. (*update* after wearing them, they were fine..the cotton likely stretched a bit) So if I were to make these again, that issue would be addressed. In any case, I was not letting these things stop production, I wanted these shorts dang it! and I was getting them!

Repeat worthy?  Not likely. I won't promise that I will never tackle these again, I do like how they look and I love the pockets! They just need a little more tweeking.

This pattern did include a good workroom tip that I liked. *When stitching in the ditch, use your zipper foot to stitch in the groove while using your hand to spread the seam.

Overall, I really like these shorts, the pockets are great, the front lays flat, the high waist is a nice change, the cuffs add nice detail, they have carriers for belting and would be great in a softer fabric as well.