Clover is in serious need of some summer shorts. Earlier this week I hit the clearance rack at Old Navy to see if there were any XXL tops I could snag for cheap to scrap for fabric. Friday morning I was digging around in Clover's clothes and suddenly decided I had to make her some shorts right then. Not only that, but I needed to make my own pattern because they must be bloomers. There was a lot of chaos going down that morning. It wasn't an easy process. Mishaps left and right. Screaming kids. Seam ripper moments. But I did it! I really love how they turned out too. Especially now that the legs are both the same length.......
How about that big bandage on Clover's knee? She had a big wipeout on concrete the other day and she is allergic to band aids. Gauze and paper tape is how we roll.
These shorts are VERY loosely based on the Oliver and S sailboat pants pattern. When I say loosely, I mean that I referenced my 12-18 month size pattern for rise and width for the legs, but then didn't even adhere to those. The width is much more generous since I wanted them bubbly and gathered, and the rise is considerably higher. I brought the center back up to a point to mimic the shape of yoked pants. The shape turned out really well and looks better on her than the flatter waistline. They have a flat front and elastic back.
The outer cuff is pleated, as well as the hip area on the waistline in the front and back. For the cuffs I measured her thighs and cut strips based on that.
"Okay Clover, smile for mommy!" ....... "What is THAT?"
She definitely prefers knits right now, and won't even consider wearing a top that is made of a woven fabric (I can't express how thrilled I am that she has rejected most of her wardrobe lately). I was hopeful that she would like these little shorts, and the really loves them. There has been a lot of dancing and leaping in them.
So now my goal is to try making another pair, making a few less mistakes, and even attempting to nail down a paper template for them. There are several tweaks I would make the second time around. I also envision them with an asymmetrical button placket, which I'm not sure how to execute yet. They could use some pockets too. There is also a vision in my head for a couple other versions. so maybe if I can get the basic pattern figured out I can start adding other details.
love them! Raina rejects everything that isn't knit or fleece these days... even when I try to sway her on really cut prints :( At least the younger ones still (mostly) wear what we want them too!
ReplyDeleteViolet is a lot more willing to wear whatever I put on her from day to day. But it's only a matter of time before she develops her own thing or adopts Clover's. They are only 18 months apart so Violet picks up on Clover's behavior really quickly. Guess I should just focus on stockpiling knits and find something else to do with wovens. Lol.
DeleteOh my goodness! I love the bloomers and my Silvie has refused to wear anything but knits for a couple of months now. So much for all the cute cotton prints I collected for her! It's good to know I'm not alone. I borrowed a friends serger and I hope to crank out some capris and shorts and tunics in the next couple of days. Wish me luck!
ReplyDeleteThank you! Not that I want to rejoice in anyone else's plight, but it is nice to know that I'm not the only one with the picky kid. Have fun with the serger! I had a hell of a time getting started on mine, but I had no manual. Not cool. Lol. Once I managed to get my hands on some bits of instruction from the internet it all came together a lot easier. Now I love looking at those nice finished seams in my work. Just remember not to clip your threads close to the fabric at the end of a seam like you would with a regular sewing machine. Since you don't backstitch they just end up unraveling really quickly. You have to leave tails and use one of various methods of dealing with them.
Deletehttp://createanddelegate.blogspot.com/2010/08/free-pattern-tutorial-anyday-banded.html
ReplyDeletehey! I just came across this tutorial and pattern on pinterest! maybe helpful?
These are so cute!!! And they look soooooo comfy!!!! I want a pair! ;) I hadnt really considered knit for the bloomers not sure why though... Love it maybe I'll try knit next time.
ReplyDeleteSeriously. I'm a little jealous of how comfy these look. She asks to wear them too. Gasp!
DeleteUnrelated to the shorts at all... it's wipeout-on-the-concrete season, all right. Mine's got a massive scab on her elbow right now from that very activity. So I hear you.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like she just got better from her last driveway wipeout. The first happened when she was spinning in our neighbors driveway and got hit by a gust of wind. So sad and yet so funny. And this time it was our other neighbors driveway. Good grief!
DeleteHi Tara, are you able to give a really quick rundown of how you made these? Are they, in essence, a pair of shorts with a band around each knee piece? Thanks!!
ReplyDeleteI will do my best! It was kind of an on the fly process, to be honest. I wasn't totally sure where I was going with it when I started. boiled down though they are extra widened shorts that are pleated at the cuff and waist to fit and make them puffy.
DeleteWhat I did was take a pattern I already owned (Oliver and S sailboat pants) for reference on the rise, but I lengthened it for a more baggy look. Then I referenced the width of the leg pattern pieces and extended them out a couple of inches each so that I could have extra width to pleat and make the shorts look bloomerish. (I didn't decide on the length of the shorts until I tried them on her when they were nearly done.
I cut a waistband that was smaller than the width of the big old baggy shorts, but a bit bigger than my daughter's waist. Then I pleated the shorts waist until it fit into the waistband. I pleated both the front and the back on the front and back of her hips. So 8 pleats in all.
I SHOULD have done elastic all around the waist but I did a flat front instead. Next time I won't do that because she is so skinny and the knit fabric doesn't necessarily have great stretch recovery.
I measured her thighs to decide on a cuff size, then cut bands to fit slightly loosely. After I decided on the length I pleated the outside of the leg to fit the cuff and then sewed them on. Oh, but I only cut ONE leg down to a shorter length and forgot to do the other, so I ended up with one really long leg and had to pick out the cuff to cut it down. LOL. oops.