Navy Blue Shorts

I really like this shirt, and it made me want some navy blue shorts. I already had a shorts pattern that I have made.

 Time: Less than 2 hours

Fabric: Navy polyester "bottom weight" from JoAnn

Notions: 7" zipper, slide fasteners for waist

Cost: $8

Pattern: McCalls 5657

 The Molly's Ew for this came right after I had cut out all of the pieces and was cutting the notches in, like I always do. I remembered making these shorts, because I still have them.

 But suddenly I remember that wasn't my first attempt. These were- and they were horribly tight, really they were in EPIC FAIL land. Why did I not make a note on the pattern? So I wrote a note: "Dear future Molly, stop being a moron. Add at least 1/2" to each piece before cutting so you don't look like a whore!" If you think that is harsh, go click the link and look at the first failure.

I had already cut them out, so I went down to a 1/4" seam allowance and hoped for the best. It turned out to be fine. The only thing I would adjust a little bit for the future is that the seam along the butt is wayyy to grippy. What would be the best way to fix that on a new version?

These picture have flash to show off the detail. Pockets, cuffs, no back pockets.

 On another happy yet sad note: I sold the Oldsmobile! Yay! I will miss the car because I loved it and it served me well for six years. I sold it to a nice young guy named Charles, by far the least creepy person from Craigslist I met in relation to the car selling adventure!

PS-
T-Rex was sleeping on my green chair, which is not allowed, so I pushed him down. Then he was being suspiciously quiet so I turn around and see this!

DECAPITATION! (Say that in a Mortal Combat voice) WTF, T-Rex! Now I have to sew the cat's head back on!

White shorts re-do

Today is about 100 degrees out. We had plans to walk the dog at the park, but he only wanted to sit in the shade. This picture is post-rolling-in-mystery-stink.

Look at that precious baby face!

I remade my white shorts, and they are much more appropriate now. I made them about one inch wider on every piece. That made them comfortably loose. I also drafted a curved waistband to solve the gaping back problem from the last pair. I also did the fly better this time. All in all, much nicer.
I used an awesome vintage button. I think it is slightly off, it's making that fold on the fly... Oh well. Vintage zipper too, once again about 5 dollar shorts.
The back is soo much looser. Yay!
So now I have a wearable pair of white shorts! My summer is over in about 2 weeks, but it will be warm here through October, so they'll get some use!

Coat update:

We're going to NY the last weekend in July, so I need to finish this! Then, off to buy beautiful fabric for a coat. I'm thinking chocolate brown and tan, but we'll see....

Summer Outfit with pictures

Here's the whole outfit. Nice and summery. Read on for why this outfit is an epic fail...

The halter top was made using Butterick 6956, a 1950s pattern. I made it with the leftover fabric from my blue dress I made a few weeks ago. I made it when Andrew was out of town.

Here is a close-up; the neckline is crooked because my shoulder are on an angle.

Both pieces are failures, but I though I would share them anyways. The top is definitely meant for a 50s style figure, possibly with a girdle or something. I feel like a sausage in it, with the exception of the bust, which is super loose. It's not a great summer top if you have to wear a strapless bra with it. Ugh. Oh well, I only wasted money on the zipper for it.

Here's the whole outfit. It looks cute from a distance, but the comfort level is a negative 10. It is all waaaayyyy too tight, and none of the fabric has any stretch. Painful.

This is my pattern for the shorts. I hadn't made a modern McCalls yet, so I cut an 8, but the shorts are tragically tight.

But they look so cute! you say.

I had the old gaping waistband problem, so I added a dart. It is obviously off center, but by that point I knew these were a lost cause.

Ewww. Now do you see? Waaayyy too tight. Andrew was like "You can see your underwear." Ugh, obviously. Because the shorts want to burst open like a water balloon.

Here's the inside. I used a metal zip from a bag I picked up last summer at an estate sale. I cut out all my pieces with pinking shears, so that is how I finish seams. I am always amazed a people who actually finish their seams. Bleh. I'm not that patient. I'm the only one who'll see it, and I definitely would rather spend that time making a new project.

Anyways, the shorts cost about 3 bucks, so it's not the end of the world. I made them yesterday in about 2 hours, too, so I think I will just go back to Hancock, buy the same fabric and make them ever so slightly bigger. I really like the style, and it was my VERY FIRST SHORTS EVER! So be kind.

I do want to share my failures with you guys too. Not everything turns out nicely, but live and learn! Now I know how to make shorts, and my next version will be great!