Is it obvious I am a little bit excited about the possibility of a warm weather trip in my future?
These are the Lisette Souvenir shorts made out of some Denyse Schmidt Home Dec fabric that I picked up on Etsy. I did a tissue fitting, so I didn’t make a muslin. My only thinking is that if I made them again I would narrow the waistband slightly at the back, as I seem to have that issue with some of the Simplicity patterns. I swear I will make a muslin next time! I promise! (I hear the ghost of Liesl Gibson in my head with that, because that was one thing she really emphasised at the sewing workshop… I’m finally sold and have some super-cheap $1/yard muslin on order…)
It was also my first ever invisible zipper, and I won’t lie – it’s not that invisible. But now (after much seam-ripping) I know how to do it, so I’m sure it will be better next time. I should add that the pattern doesn’t call for one, so if you use one, make sure to install it before you add the waistband facing, as the instructions are for a regular zipper. I used the explanation in the Vogue sewing book, which I was inspired to buy after reading Gertie‘s sewing blog obsessively recently. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to find the vintage Vogue book her blog centres around, so I made do with the revised one. I really can’t say enough about useful it is, as a novice, to have a reference book to refer to as you are making clothes. This book is going to be pretty indispensable I think.
They were super-duper easy and I plan to be wearing them all summer! I suspect there are more in my future. Also, I can’t believe I paid $40 for shorts at Banana Republic a few weeks ago… these ones are just as cute, and took only about an hour to sew up. Oh well, at least I didn’t pay $400, like this pair!
Oh, and the funniest thing was when I came out to “model” them to DH, P looks up and says, “Wow! Cute!”
