Moku Shorts

You guys have heard me rave about One Thimble before, it is a really great e-zine packed with tons of patterns and awesome sewing advice. I have gotten the chance to sew up some of the patterns from previous issues (like the Ranger shorts, Steam train applique, Bow Trim Dress, and Honey Gum dress) and even released my Sunny Daytripper pattern in the last issue.  Well, One Thimble is celebrating its one year birthday and released its 5th issue today!  And I got the chance to sew another pattern from this issue...The adorable Moku Shorts!

This little skort has the shape of a circle skirt, but is really shorts, which makes it great for play.  The shorts have a flat front and an elastic back, and it has the option of a high or low waist.  

I made Em the size 2 and the fit is great!  I sewed them up with some super soft Art Gallery cotton with a fun floral print, perfect for the beach.

One Thimble is an Australian based magazine, so most of the patterns in this issue are summery like these shorts.  But they also have a few Christmas patterns (including one of mine!) and a jacket.  Living in Florida, we can use summery patterns year round.  But if you happen to be covered in snow from that polar front covering most of the US, you can still get some use out of these shorts, check out this adorable layered look from my friend Jess!

You can find the newest edition of One Thimble here, or you can purchase just the Moku Shorts pattern in the One Thimble Shop.  

Field Research Shorts

Today is the start of the Boys Bundle UP sale over at Pattern Revolution.  If you are wondering what I am talking about...where the heck have you been?!  Just kidding...It is a really awesome bundle of patterns that you can get for a huge discount for one week only.  This time it is 12 patterns for boys!

I shared two of the patterns I made last week (these PJs and this pullover) and I have another to share with you today, the Field Research Pants by Scientific Seamstress.

This pattern is for pants with a really cool zip off pant leg.  I skipped the zip off and just made shorts because a) it is really really hot here and b) this kid has started screaming everytime I put pants on him, he is going to be really cold this winter!

These pants (or shorts) have lots of pocket options, hip pockets, side cargo pockets and back pockets.  And I love the details with pleated pockets and pocket flaps.  You can add optional buttons to the flaps too.

If you have never sewn a Scientific Seamstress pattern, you should really give them a try, they are great!  I have sewn a few for Em and even some for me.  The patterns are professional, easy to follow and the fit is always great.

I made these shorts out of a flannel shirting.  I wasn't sure how they would turn out because it is a bit thin and the pattern calls for medium to heavy weight fabrics.  But it worked great and the are super soft and comfy for my recently picky kid!  I did add some interfacing the waist band and the pocket flaps.

Make sure you swing by Pattern Revolution today and check out all the great patterns in the boys Bundle UP!

Clover Shorts

Have you guys heard about Willow & Co?  They are a new pattern collective, a group of 10 pattern designers, and they are releasing their first collection next week, on the 22nd.  I had the opportunity to test four of the new patterns and will be sharing what I made with you this week.  Today I am sharing these adorable shorts….

 

These are the Clover Shorts designed by Hayley over at Welcome to the Mouse House.  She is great, I have tested patterns for her in the past (like the Caroline and the Norah and some of her women's patterns I haven't gotten around to blogging yet) and always love them, this one is no different! 

 

You guys know how much I like to sew with seersucker….and how much I love to sew kid’s shorts…so I think these seersucker kid’s shorts are pretty much amazing!  And Em likes them too, mostly because they have pockets.  Once she found those pockets she did not take her hands out of them!

 

I sewed these up in the size 18 months for Em.  I love that they have a flat front, makes them look more grown up.  They also have an optional sash which I skipped, it is hard enough to get this girl to stand still to get clothes on her you can forget about trying to tie anything!

 

I really love the length of these shorts, the bottom cuffs get folded up, but if you like a longer short on your girl you can leave them unfolded, they would be about an inch longer. 

 

Thanks Hayley for such a great pattern! I know there are lots more Clover shorts in Em’s future wardrobe!

My Little Plumcake Shorts

Is there anything cuter than toddler legs in shorts?.......I don't think so!

These shorts are made from a pattern by My Little Plumcake.  I had the pleasure of testing them for Michelle (along with this skirt) and oh man are they cute!  The pattern should be releasing next month with the rest of her spring line

I was excited to use that pink Nicey Jane fabric on them; I bought it in a pack of random cuts online.  The cuts were all so small I had no idea what I was going to use them for, but they are the perfect size for these little shorts.  Now I just need to sew 5 or 6 more pairs to use the rest of the cuts!

I have mentioned before that we pretty much live in shorts for most of the year so I know these will get tons of use (along with the 5 or 6 more I said I was making :) ). 

I love the paper bag waist band and the little leg bands that have a button detail on the side.

I adore those little pink shorts, but these blue ones are definitely my favs.  I used some Riley Blake Indie Chic fabric I have been hoarding on these.  

I think I want a pair of these in my size...

Ranger Shorts

Have you heard of One Thimble?  It is a fun e-zine filled with patterns, tutorials and sewing tips that you can download as a PDF file right to your computer.

I was given a copy of the latest edition and asked to sew up some of the patterns inside.  The magazine is 229 pages long and includes 9 printable patterns; these Ranger shorts are one of them.

We pretty much live in shorts for most of the year so I usually sew my kids at least one pair for summer (like these, or these, or my favorite...these).  Kids shorts are so quick to sew and take just a little bit of fabric.  

A was so excited that I was sewing for him.  I don’t do enough sewing for him; it is so hard to find good boys patterns out there.  But these shorts are adorable!

The pattern comes in sizes 2-8, they have a flat front and elastic back, and pockets…lots of pockets, probably his favorite part, he loves having somewhere to stash his rocks. 

They have these cute welt pockets on the back, but these are just for looks.  There are instructions for real welt pockets in the magazine but I opted for the fake ones.  What does a three year old need back pockets for anyway?

I picked up this cool houndstooth fabric at JoAnns.  It is a twill that was in with the suitings and bottomwieghts.  I didn’t even realize until after I had it cut that it stretches!  These shorts turned out so comfy for him , he can really move and play in them and still look like a rock star :)

This kid is growing like crazy, his feet have grown 2 sizes in 2 months and he has completely skipped over size 3 clothing and went straight to size 4.  I made him these shorts in size 4 and the fit is great with some room to grow.  These shorts have a cool half belt on the front sides so I can snug them up when he is wearing them.  I *hope* he will be able to wear these for a while, but who knows, at this rate he may be in size 5 next month!

Eyelet Shorts for Baby

I had some fabric leftover from the Miss Matilda dress I made.  I had been thinking I would use it to make a cute shirt for my daughter but then when I saw all the cute shorts in Imagine Gnats Shorts on the line flickr group, I decided  this fabric needed to be shorts.

Didn't they turn out cute?!

I used my own shorts tutorial and made a pattern by tracing a pair of shorts she already had.  Then I stuck the two pattern pieces together along the side seam and made one pattern piece.  So these shorts don't have side seams and only 2 seams to sew.  

I love the eyelet with the turquoise peeking out, perfect color for summer.

The fit ended up being perfect!  She even has a bit of room to grow so they should fit her all summer.

I have some more shorts planned, some for my boy too.

Are you making shorts for the summer?  Make sure you check out shorts on the line!  There is lots of good inspiration in the flickr group and you can even win some awesome prizes!