New Frontiers

While I like to sew a lot... a LOT... I don't really know how to sew clothes.  Grown up stuff.  From scratch.  Or from patterns.  Or any of that.  So here I am trying something new!  I am in bad need of shorts right now.  I have an existing pair with this really wonderful/comfy ribbed knit waistband, so I got it in my head to copy those.  I do not have any of the "process" pictures, but let's just say it wasn't pretty.  I basically made these shorts about 8 times.  Unpicking and re-doing and re-doing again and again and again.  I'm happy to say that the final result just might be tolerable, but boy it wasn't easy for me!!!

Here is my pair made out of linen.  (Weird flash reflections and all.)  They are the better of the 2, 

and mannnnnn do I love wearing them.  Soft and breathable and so comfy.

I tucked in my shirt so you could see the waitstband, but normally I wouldn't wear them that way.

It is made out of ribbed knit, and folded over a 2" wide piece of elastic that goes all the way around.

So it fits nice and secure, but doesn't look as gathered as a typical casing.

Here is my pair in a black denim with a little bit of stretch to it.  It has the same waistband, but in black.

This time I added some inset pockets on the side seams (SO proud of myself for that nifty trick!!!)

I don't think these ones lay quite as nice around the "middle" area.... a little poofy.

That could just be because denim is so much more different from linen.

Maybe they will soften up after several washings?

Either way, I finally have an ok fit and pattern established, 

so maybe I'll make more in the future!?