Really Maritime-y shorts

I bought this lovely chambray fabric (Robert Kaufman, Nautique Chambray) because anchors! I had ideas for a skirt which never materialized, and then felt inextricably drawn to the idea of making Grainline's Maritime Shorts with it because, well, anchors.  It's kitschy, sure, but once my mind latched on to that idea, there was no going back.  I could hardly justify buying a shorts pattern (especially since I have one in hand that I like!), except that I felt like if I didn't make *these* shorts, I may never use the fabric for anything, ever.

I am so happy I did buy the pattern!  These are not the same shorts as the others, clearly, the style is significantly different and more versatile, but also, Jen's drafting is just awesome.  After reading some reviews of the shorts being a little on the small side, I cut a size 2, grading up to a 4 at the waist. I made no other adjustments, and I am really pleased with the fit.

I added 2 full inches to the length, but then hemmed them about 1.5", so I'm not sure how much longer they actually are than the original.

I'm not usually one for patch pockets, but I went with the flow, and I kind of love the change of pace! And check out my pattern matching!  Very pleased with myself on that one and I'll be showing everyone my matching bottom :)

In other areas (uh, waistband), I made no attempts to pattern match and it shows :)  I never wear shirts tucked in, so no biggie.

Here's the zip and a glimpse of the insides.  I didn't construct the waistband as instructed, opting for a quicker and less bulky version we learned in pattern-making class--simply serge the bottom edge and sew down from the outside (either in the ditch or as topstitching, as for this garment).  Sometimes if I'm fancy, I'll add bias tape along the edge.  

For someone who doesn't like shorts, I've made a lot of them this summer...this is the end of that trend for this year.   Having satisfied my crazy obsession for really Maritime-y shorts, I can move on!

Sewing PSA of the day: did you know that NPR's This American Life is available as a 24 hour stream? That's what I listen to as I sew.  Give it a try!

2015 Resewlution, July garment #2

Sick-day PJs

Between the end of the school year for me and the kids, vacation on the East coast, and a general lack of interest in spending time in the hottest room in our house (my sewing room), I haven't been very productive, sewing-wise.  So, for my first day without kids (camp/ daycare) in a while, I was bummed when I came down with my a cold.  No one likes to be sick, however if I had to pick a day to fall ill, it would have been this day! With no work or children to tend to, I stayed in bed and read an entire book (The Martian, though not a typical choice for me :).  But I finished it around 2 p.m., and had a few more hours before kid pick-up.  Clearly, I needed to make a new pair of pajamas, in which I could convalesce for the remainder of my day!

Let's start with the fabric, since it's Liberty.  The print is "Sabrina".  (Okay, I just had to scroll through 8 pages of Tana Lawn prints to find this particular style, and sheesh, Liberty prints are gorgeous.)  The only thing more decadent than laying in bed and reading all day is a pair of Liberty cotton pajama bottoms.  Too bad I didn't have them on WHILE reading in bed all day!    

The pattern is a revision of something I drafted up a while ago.  With pockets, of course.  The pattern could use some more tweaking, but these certainly turned out wearable!

To do justice to this lovely, fine fabric, I used French seams all around, using this tutorial from Deborah Moebes for creating French seams with on-seam pockets.

French seam, with bottom corner of the pocket (hard to see!)

That's about it.  Not a difficult or exciting project by any means, but a good reentry into my sewing room.

I felt well enough today to knock something else off my summer sewing list....the excitement builds!

2015 Resewlution, July garment #1

"Shorts on the Line" voting

Since I made them at the right time, I entered my Hawaiian print shorts into the "Shorts on the Line" sewing competition sponsored by Imagine Gnats.  I was so surprised to see that they made it to the top 21 for viewer's choice voting!  Woohoo!

Go check out all of the lovely shorts (men, women and kids!)  and vote for your 3 faves!