{Operation Handmade Wardrobe} 2x Maritime Shorts (in Liberty and Linen)
Yesterday I enjoyed sharing the Pixie Shorts that I’d made for my girls so much that I couldn’t wait to show you a couple of pairs of shorts that I made for meeee! (You might remember these being included in my list of sewing plans.)
The pattern is Maritime Shorts from Grainline Studio which I’d won as a spot prize during last years Selfish Sewing Week. (Also, SSW Fall 2014 begins soon – 22 September…. Are you going to join in? I might … oh that’s next week! Eeek!)
I really enjoyed sewing this pattern. I used to shy away from zips and buttons, but now I’m embracing the whole learning/ improving new skills thing. I’d sewn an invisable zip twice before, and one zip on a top for Noah but this was my first go at front fly.
I sewed the tan pair a few weeks ago (the fabric is a tan and cream linen cotton from Miss Matatabi – and it’s REVERSIBLE!!! More on that later!) For this pair the sew went really well and I found it really useful to follow along with this tutorial (I think I just prefer photos than illustrations?) The sizing is in US sizes and based on the measurements I made a size 4. As I was finishing them I was a little worried about the fit, how they might fit around the hips/ butt or whether they might be too short. But they are just perfect on me! I’m so happy with them.
For the second pair I used this gorgeous Liberty of London Twill. You might recognise this print from Isabelle's peasant top – except of course the fabric from her top is a much more lightweight cotton lawn. I was having difficulty finding ‘bottom weight’ (heavier fabric) that this pattern called for and then I discovered that I could get Liberty in a twill. Knowing that I already loved that print I bought it and decided we could be twins!
You’d think having already sewn one pair the next pair would be easy peasy – well they would have been if I hadn’t got over confident and sewed in the zip UPSIDE DOWN! Fortunately I realised in time before it was two late, and after spending some quality time with my quick unpick/ seam ripper, crisis was narrowly averted!
It seems to be all the rage these days to show the insides of your handmade garments. I guess this has something to do with the idea that as your sewing skills improve so does the neatness of your finishing and the insides? At any event here mine are in all their glory – I’m pretty happy with how they look inside and out. The reversible tan and cream linen is fun with the checks on the inside. You might have noticed that I also used that as a feature on the back pockets.
So yeah, I made some shorts, they fit and I like ‘em … and I’ll leave you with this pic of my gorgeous baby and a cute story:
Pipi has recently started saying ‘hhhhot! hot!” while pointing to the oven and fire. Last week when I was pinning the pattern pieces to the fabric, she went straight to grab the colourful pins (could they make these things look any more fun looking for kids?!?) Anyway, I said “No Pipi – sssharp! Sharp! Owwee!” So now Pipi points at pins and says “hhhhot! hot!” too! Such a cutie!
What are sewing at the moment? What’s in your sewing to do list?
x
