Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Sewing: Faux Drawsting Shorts


These popsicle-printed shorts are one of the things I've been wanting to squeeze in this summer. Audrey actually picked the fabric herself ("HS Popsy" by Home Seasons--it's a home decor fabric) when we were at Joann and I love sewing something she is excited about and will hopefully wear a lot. Fingers crossed. She wore them to the pool the morning after they were finished, so we're off to a good start. (She is holding her Oilcloth School Bag from preschool. Makes a great swim bag.)


I used the Flat Front Kid Pants pattern from MADE, which I like a lot, and has been a great fit for Audrey, cut them shorter, and added some patch pockets from my Convertible Cargo pants of last year (I skipped the pocket flaps on the back though).


But I wanted a little something... So I created a faux drawstring front.



It is as easy as making two vertical button holes, about two inches apart and centered, through the front waistband. (Mind you these are the flat-front version of the pants, so there is no elastic in the front to make this more complicated.) I did this after the waistband was completely finished, but you could also do it before turning down the waistband, as I did with this Kangaroo Pocket Skirt. Then I opened the buttonholes and just threaded through some cotton twill tape, which I had finished by turning under the ends twice and zig-zagging.



Love it! It gives these shorts a little pop. (Pun intended.)

10 comments:

  1. What a pretty model you have! Cute shorts and adorable cherry bag.

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  2. As always SEW CUTE !!!! I am interested that you are using some home dec fabric for the girls clothing. Does it wash ok???? Keep the inspiration coming. Treated myself to an early Bday present...an eclipse serger. No more threading...am in heaven!!! XXX

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  3. @Annelies: I just washed Tess’s Capris (from the previous post) and they look great! Sometimes I don't prewash the upholstery fabric (such as the IKEA stripes I used for Audrey's party bloomers). The floral Capri fabric and the Popsicle fabric both say “Dry Clean” even though they are 100% cotton. So Maybe I’ll have some fading, we’ll see--but not perceptible fading on the floral. With these casual clothes I figure we may tire of wearing them before the fade, but I've used upholstery fabric for dresses for my girls and myself and then I figure they won't get worn very frequently so the laundering requirement is less too!

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  4. I love all your work simply adorable. I messaged you on Etsy about the dog skirt, really wanting to purchase the pattern today if at all possible. Thanks

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  5. Wonderful shorts. Saw that fabric this weekend and so wanted to buy it -- but there are other projects to be finished first! :)

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  6. What a fun print and perfect shorts. :)

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  7. cute! And I bought that same fabric for Lucy. :) So summery fun.

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  8. Looking through all your sewing projects has made me so nostalgic. My 3 daughters are all teenagers now... I take one to college on Wednesday. I loved sewing for them when they were little... even cut up my old dresses for fabric! I can tell you are enjoying every minute... good for you!

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  9. These are seriously adorable and the fabric is fantastic!
    -gillian www.seasonsgredings.com

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  10. Nice and easy pants! And the cuttest model, of course.

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