Knit Shorts, Take 2

Here's another pair of Gymboree shorts that I thought were cute...

They are nothing fancy, just knit shorts with a shirred waistband.  I took the same Ottobre pattern that I used for my tutorial (taping the pattern back together) and cut out 2 waistbands and stitched them together into a big circle.  I folded the waistband in half and stitched it to the shorts.  Then, using elastic thread in the bobbin I stitched several rows on the waistband and ended up with this...

Snow Day=Sew Day?

It's snowing outside today, something that does not happen very often where we live.  I thinking this afternoon I might get into the sewing room and start working a little more on the kids' SWAPs.  I have an idea for duplicating another pair of gymboree shorts in the works. 

But for now...

Gymboree Shorts Tutorial

This is my first tutorial so please be kind!  I made my version using 2 Ottobre Design patterns...#10 Knit Shorts in the Summer 2007 issue and #12 Tulip Pants in the Autumn 2009 issue. 


Gymboree Shorts Tutorial

I've always been fond of Gymboree's little knit shorts ever since my oldest daughter was a baby.  However, with 4 kids and a tight clothing budget I'm not able to pay $12.75 for one simple pair of shorts.  I think I've come pretty close in duplicating the look with this tutorial using patterns that I already owned.  For this pair, I used a cotton interlock from Chez Ami. 

I used the Ottobre Design Summer 2007 #10 Knit Shorts pattern as the foundation of my tutorial.  I'm sure any basic shorts pattern could be tweaked to produce the same (if not better) result. 

This is how the pattern looked originally. 

I cut the pattern along the grain line mark and laid the 2 pieces out with enough space in between to use as seam allowances.  You should have 2 front pieces and 2 back pieces after cutting them out.

I used the pockets pattern from Ottobre Design winter 2009 #12 Tulip pants.  I seem to have lost the front pocket binding pattern piece so I used the back pocket one instead and ended up cutting it to about 4 inches in length.

For the waistband, I originally cut it out using the exact pattern piece.  It turned out that the knit I used for this pair isn't very stretchy and once I sewed the waistband in a circle there was no way it would go over either of my little girls' hips.  I eyeballed it and added 5 inches to the length.  That worked perfectly for my needs.  I also trimmed the width to fit my inch wide elastic with a 1 cm seam allowance.  For the pair of shorts I made last week, I folded the waistband pattern piece in half lengthwise to use as my new waistband pattern piece.  That worked perfectly using 3/4 inch wide elastic.  I also didn't need to add any length since I used a purple rib knit with plenty of stretch.

Start off by stitching the leg inseams together.  I'm using a walking foot which I find works well with knits.

Pin and stitch crotch seam.

Using presser foot as a guide, topstitch the crotch seam.

Measure 1 1/4 inch from the front crotch seam and make a mark on both sides.  This is where the top edge of your pocket will be.

The instrusctions for the pockets are pretty self explanatory if you're using the Tulip pants pocket pattern. In a nutshell, you stitch and gather along the opening between the pattern marks, put the binding on, stitch easing stitches along the outside curve of the pocket, turn under seam allowance and press. I used a pocket template cut from card stock from another pattern to help with pressing the curve.

I then took my pockets and lined them up with the marks I made earlier and basted them on along the top.

I fiddled with the pockets until they were laying somewhat flat and measured both sides to make sure they were placed evenly and then pinned them at the side seams.

Next up is sewing the pockets on.  I used the presser foot for a guide again and stitched close to the edge of the pocket.

After sewing the pockets to the shorts front panel, stitch the leg outseams together.

The next picture is a little blurry but I had sewn the center-back seam of the waistband and then folded it in half lengthwise.  After pressing it, I then pinned the waistband to the shorts. 

I left a small opening while stitching the waistband on so that I could thread elastic through the waistband.

After checking that I'd used the right elastic length for my middle daughter I stitched the elastic together and sewed my hole closed that I'd left for the elastic.  Then I topstitched the waistband seam.

Last but not least, I hemmed the shorts using a double needle.

Ta-Da!

I think she likes the shorts!

The shorts from last week...

Boring Sewing

I spent a good part of the weekend sewing.  Nothing exciting or worth showing pictures of.  We had signed up Jan. 1 to participate in Disney's Give A Day, Get A Day and found a volunteer oppurtunity that involved sewing theraputic rice pillow covers.  We need to sew 48 and that should give us vouchers for 4 tickets.  I've been doing the sewing and the big kids and husband have been trimming threads and pressing the covers. 

It's nothing complicated but it's probably the most boring sewing I've ever done. Seriously.  I've gotten to the point that I don't even want to look at my sewing machine.  We have about 10 more to do though.  I've promised myself that I won't start any other sewing until the pillow covers are completed.  That said, I'm hoping to finish the project up this afternoon during the little girls' nap time so that I can photograph the Gymboree short tutorial tomorrow and hopefully get it posted sometime on Wednesday.

The beginnings of SWAP10...

SWAP=Sewing With A Plan

K-light blue linen

M-yellow linen

B-pink linen

P-shorts, natural linen

B-sleeveless

M

M and/or B-capris

I didn't have the best lighting but this green coordinates perfectly with the 2 above prints.

B and/or M

Once again my lighting doesn't do the colors justice.  These are coordinates from Chez Ami.  I also have the blue in a ribknit that I would use for the armhole and neckline bindings. 

K-top

Possibly for M and/or B??  I haven't decided yet.

M and/or B-CA interlock

M and/or B-Basic T-shirt

This is what I'm thinking but I'm not committed 100% yet.  I'll probably make swimsuits for all 3 girls and a basic T-shirt for P too.  I'm trying really hard to use only fabrics that are in my stash.