I Conquered The Shorts. Part 1
May 12, 2010 7:16 amIt’s been hanging over my head for months. Like a nagging annoyance. The pant.
I’ve never made a pair of pants. I knew I had to do it. But I was scared. Veeeery scared of failing miserably. I mean, there’s the fit, the waistband, the zipper, the hem….all components that have to be perfect or else it would be a terrible disaster!
So here’s what I did. I bought a pant pattern. It was Burda 7738. I didn’t like the actual pant style, but I just wanted a basic fit for the top.
I know. Shocked? I HATE pattens. But I didn’t want to just experiment on this one. I cut out the pattern pieces then just put them together my own way and made my own style of pants. I just needed the fit for the top, pretty much. Lord knows I can’t read or interpret pattern instructions! Then I scoured You Tube for instructional videos on how to do the fly and insert a pant zipper. I did lots of trial and errors on that one! And somehow, I came up with my very first pair of shorts.
I wanted to make a bubble short with a thick band at the bottom out of something cozy. So I used a sweatshirt material.
Now these are FAR from perfect. (like, if you enlarge this picture on your computer screen I’m gonna come after you.) The sweatshirt material and the zipper weren’t a good mesh. It was sort of bulky. That’s why I’ll be wearing them with a covered t-shirt.
But I did it! And that felt good to get over that hurdle. I have made two others since them and I’ll post them soon. Things have been getting progressively better, I might add. 
Tags: shorts
Posted in Original Designs, women's clothing | 18 Comments »
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- May 21, 2010: Made By Lex » Blog Archive » I Conquered The Shorts. Part 2
By Glenda on May 12, 2010 | Reply
Love these shorts. Those would be cute with just a ribknit waist as well. Then you wouldn’t have to worry about the zipper and the hassle of that. Awesome job love love love them…..
By jen on May 12, 2010 | Reply
I have been wanting to make a pair like these. They are cute!
By Phill on May 12, 2010 | Reply
Tell me about it; my first pair of trousers were soo low waisted it was criminal, and the bum just didn’t look right (too much material). I feel your pain but well done with conquering it.
By Erika on May 12, 2010 | Reply
Oh that is so pretty Alexis! Such a funny story about the misery of pant-making! I absolutely know what you are talking about, I also suck at interpreting patterns…I’d rather not have the same thing twice then just go with it. That is what I like to say. But in reality I just can’t seem to make sense of the pattern-thing. Ok, so the truth lies somewhere in the middle, but…you know what I am talking about anyway
By britt on May 13, 2010 | Reply
i think that look great on you! cozy and all. you are sooooo brave. i have had a certain pattern for thai fisherman pants and the material sitting in my stash since last summer. i am scared to give them a shot. afraid that after all that work they will look like crap on me. so way to go. i think your shorts rock!
By dana on May 13, 2010 | Reply
so funny, I’ve had a similar thing on my mind! And was thinking of doing a post about “can I make shorts? with a zipper fly?” haha. we’ll see if i can
Great job Lex!
By Maren on May 13, 2010 | Reply
Hello, I have been following your blog for awhile and I’m so envious of your ability! I was wondering how you made the shirt you posted here with the shorts? I would like to try a shirt like this (with the fitted waist), but have no idea how to start. Do you have a tutorial on this?
By Sandy on May 13, 2010 | Reply
they look really cute! love the bubble look. I think you can definitely do an elastic waist if you’re going with sweatshirt material. i’m sure that’s a rule.
ulp, i think i need to put shorts like these on my already over-long to-make list. thanks a lot! jj
By Mel on May 13, 2010 | Reply
Wow cool shorts! I recently attempted to make a pair of shorts but miscalculated the measurements and couldn’t get it past my thighs! At least yours fits nicely and looks super comfortable!
By Marie on May 14, 2010 | Reply
Even if they’re not perfect, they look super cute & comfy and they look great on you. Love the bubble look you gave them too. The zipper is really cute too, an unexpected look for sweatshirt material shorts, since most would use an elastic. Too bad it was such a hassle. Perhaps you could do a mock fly for the look but put wide elastic through the waist? The look without the hassle.
By naomi on May 15, 2010 | Reply
oh my goodness i just adore these! i love the idea of cute shorts out of sweater materiel! it sounds comfortable without looking like you didn’t bother to get ready that day! much better than ACTUAL sweat pants or sweat shorts! these are so cute!
By Katherine on May 16, 2010 | Reply
Those are great!!! I hope you do more!
By Ashley on May 16, 2010 | Reply
Good for you. Those can get hard.
By cathiehong on May 17, 2010 | Reply
they are super duper cute — i would totally wear those!
By katie kortman on May 18, 2010 | Reply
awesome!!! I have never made pants/shorts either… I really want to but that fly/zipper part looks so scary! I suck at zippers! they look great.
By Heather on May 20, 2010 | Reply
These are so cute, I love the bubble shorts… after reading your post. I got brave enough to try at shot at my first pair of pants! Thanks for the inspiration… Check them out, http://sew-over-it.blogspot.com/2010/05/first-pair-of-pants.html what do you think?
By Kelsey on Jun 11, 2010 | Reply
You’ve got me totally inspired! I’ve just started sewing and I really want to make some comfy lounge pants but have been scared about the challenge…I think I will try soon! I love your blog. Seriously…inspired!