I’ve never really been a shorts wearer. This is due to a combination of things, but a difficulty finding shorts that fit me (and look good) and not wanting to show off my thighs are the main two reasons. When I was a teenager, the only pants that fit me were from the men’s store, Hallensteins, rather than their sister store where all my friends shopped, Glassons. So, any pants I did wear were “Planet 8” branded, navy-with-fluoro-orange-trim cargo pants. It’s no wonder that I started wearing skirts and dresses almost exclusively!
I’ve not really been much into pants, either (see: Planet 8 description above). I’ve had a few pairs over the years , with the most successful pairs being thrown out when I lost some weight a few years ago. And jeans? Well, I always got “jean envy” at the start of winter and bought a pair, only to discover at by the end of the season that they looked TERRIBLE on me. I made a pair of jeans last year but they were … not great. Construction was good, but fit was bad. So when I made the Ginger Jeans Pattern (not blogged) and they looked great, my thoughts were “YES! A well fitting pants pattern that I can alter to my heart’s content!”
Well, apparently not. Here’s a reminder of something I really should know by now: fabric choice makes all the difference in how things fit.
My pair of actual Ginger jeans were made from a cotton-lycra denim I bought from The Fabric Store. Straight after making them (and after a wash) they fit amazingly, but they become baggy within 2 hours of wear. So, when I decided to try making a pair of shorts from the same pattern, I wasn’t too worried about them being too tight.
My fabric choice for the shorts was also a cotton-lycra twill, but a lot thicker than the denim and with a stronger recovery. I didn’t properly take that into account and, as a result, these shorts are not the dream shorts I was expecting.
Here are my problems with the shorts
- They’re too tight! Even though I let out the side seams and inner leg seams (so they have a 5mm seam allowance rather than 15mm), they’re still a bit tight. You can see this particularly on the side seams and the crotch (and the bum! Eurghh) – those drag lines aren’t present on my jeans at all. Also, there is some serious camel toe! D:
- Waistband is too small. I used a contrast fabric (black cotton twill) because, err, I couldn’t find where the rest of my leopard print stuff went. Obviously, I went a bit overboard on trying to shape the waistband to my pear shape, because it’s really constricting, and consequently I get quite an obvious belly roll above the waistline
- Hem too constricting. I decided on the length after trying them on (I cut them at the “lengthen and shorten” line, knowing that would be too long), so I wasn’t able to angle the hem to accomodate the sloping sides. This just means that the hem is a touch tighter than I would like. Perhaps a cuff would have fixed this issue. I do like the length, though.
- The zip is TERRIBLE quality. It’s a real struggle to do the thing up – it’s bad enough when I’m not wearing the shorts but once I’ve got them on it takes about a minute to do that damned thing up
- I also messed up the pocket stay slightly – I trimmed back the stay on the wrong side of the fly. Not a huge issue but I ended up needing to stitch it down.
Things I do like? Well, the fabric is cool and I like the length. However, all in all, I won’t be wearing these out and about – they’re much too uncomfortable around the waist and too hard to get in and out of!
Pattern details:
- I made the size 18, tapering to a size 16 in the waist. These shorts were sewn with a 5mm (1/4″) seam allowance rather than the 15mm (5/8″) seam allowance the pattern calls for.
- Back center yoke seam was taken in a lot to account for my faux-swayback (the slope from my bum to my lower back is quite pronounced)
- Waistband was curved more than the pattern by cutting and overlapping the pattern piece at the top – I initially did this with my jeans, but found that a lot of the waistband ended up on the bias -> drag lines. So I changed it to have side seams to get a better fit. Which resulted in a worse fit (pooh).
- For reference my measurements are: 102-81-117cm (40-32-46″), and I’m 178cm tall (5’10”)
Honestly, after this (and my previous attempts at shorts), I’m just going to stick with baggy elastic waisted shorts! I’m fairly sure I have this one lying around, from when I made my brother a pair). As for the pattern, I still love the jeans, and I have a MORE stretchy fabric to make another pair from. Fingers crossed they look better than these!
What are your experiences with shorts? Any patterns you can recommend?? I’m desperate for some culottes/gaucho pants and have a muslin have done but I’m not sure it’s the best pattern…
I recommend this pattern: http://kwiksew.mccall.com/k3614-products-20156.php?page_id=5566 It is well drafted, meant for shorts, and non-stretch fabric. You will have to muslin and make your alteraitons but I find it is better to understand what alterations you need for pants (crotch curve etc.) with a woven before going to the stretch-wovens. You can always transfer your alterations to a stretch woven then and make it smaller as needed.
Katy and Laney’s tap shorts are wonderful. I made 3 pairs last summer, and have plans for several more, though you would likely need to do more shaping from waist to hip than I did. Still, the high waist was crazy comfortable, and I loved the angled seams on the front. I’m about to try my hand at grainline’s maritimes, for a pair of proper denim shorts.
Ahh yes I actually have that pattern printed out, but haven’t made it up – not sure why! Silly me
I think you should find your leopard stash and remake these a size up. The length is great and I love the fabric.
I wear shorts all the time at work and I made a pattern off a RTW pair that I like because of the wide knit waistband. No muffin top and the knit (ribbing) waistband allows me comfort when I am bending over, lifting, moving.
I was thinking of buying more (I only had about 30cm left) and making them into jeans rather than shorts again. And maybe trying an elastic waistband
ohh can you let me know if the Fabric Store has any more of this fabric please?
I never got around to it – I figured I actually have two lengths of fabric for pants already so I should go and buy more… but they may well do! I bought this from the Christchurch store, and I saw it in the Wellington store (it was hidden well in both shops)
That fabric is so cool! Too bad they didn’t work out. I’ve made a lot of capris, but not so many shorts – I hate when they ride up between my chubby thighs! No fun. I did make 3 pairs of Prefontaine shorts this summer though, and they are great on hot days. I should have made them tighter though. Opposite problem! Here’s my post: https://craftingarainbow.wordpress.com/2014/07/12/name-these-shorts/
Same here. I’ve pretty much given up on shorts.
Yeah I think I might look into making capris for Autumn, hopefully I’ll have better luck
The nice thing about capris is that they fit the same was pants (’cause they are pants!) whereas shorts need more ease at the hem…
You could do the trendy thing and insert a strip of the same black material you have in the waistband down each side. That should give you the space you need in all the right places and still look like a design choice.
the fit looks ok but if they are uncomfortable to wear you just won’t wear them – I’ve made shorts and capri’s for my daughter who is much your shape (pear and thighs) and height and used the style arc Linda pant pattern. I used stretch cotton denim and added faux fly front, back pockets and a yoke – wonderful fit
It’s mainly the waistband that’s SO TIGHT, so maybe I can get away with taking that off and replacing it with something more comfortable. Otherwise, I think I’m just going to dabble with stretch pants like you suggest – from yours (and Gillian’s) suggested I’ve now got my eye on both the Linda and Elle pants
Actually, I think these shorts fit nicely. I don’t think they appear to be tight at all. Too many times, those with a bit of weight (myself included) tend to wear clothing that tries to swallow us. However, these shorts look nice on you!
Thanks Mary! I will admit that I’m DEFINITELY not one to wear clothing that swallows me 😀 decided years ago that I was sick of wearing clothes that didn’t make me feel fantastic
I was going to say the same thing as Mary. They look like they fit you really well – and you did a nice job on them. I totally get the whole comfort thing. I love jeans, but don’t like wearing them around the house LOL.