Hi Everyone! I am thrilled to introduce Sophie of Cirque Du Bebe fame. She will be guest posting as part of the shorts on the line sewalong. Her work is always perfectly styled and beutifully sewn. As if that isn't enough, she is the queen of upcycling. I am so totally obsessed with her mad skills, just look at this wiggle dress and this bloomer outfit. Oh, and be sure to check out her baby sarouel tutorial. Today she is going to review the Bermuda Shorts pattern by Danslalune for us.
Pattern: Bermuda Shorts by Danslalune on Etsy.
Fabric: Heather Ross for Kokka, Far Far Away III, green and yellow guitars in a cotton linen blend + knit ribbing for the waist band.
Level: Confident beginner
Sizing: 1-7Y and on the generous side. I made a 4 and both length and width wise, we'll get another 6+ months for sure.
Mods: None
Make again: I'm cutting the next pair as we speak.
I'm sorry to say these shorts have been on my pattern 'to buy' list for two years. Sorry, because I wish I'd got onto them sooner. It's not like I've been waiting for an excuse ( I don't need any help in that department) but the 'Shorts on the Line' series seems a pretty fine occassion to break them in. I think it was the name, Bermuda shorts, that totally sold me and I had a vision of a swanky, beach-going, easy wearing short. Boy did it deliver! It's a slim fit, below knee cut with a host of other adorable features like a soft ribbing waistband, back yoke, pockets and top stitched details galore.
I've had great success with one of Danslalune patterns before, her Monkey Spats pattern have become a particular favorite of mine. And just like the monkey pants, the Bermudas are a speedy sew even with yoke and pockets and top-stitching oh my! Actually it's the top-stitching details that make them look a lot more involved than they are. Love it. With the fabric pre-cut the day before, I sewed them up one evening between the kids bedtime and mine, which admittedly isn't a huge gap. There's only four pattern pieces for the main section but what I really like is there is a fifth pattern piece included for the ribbing waist band which takes care of one of my pet sewing peaves: measuring out dimensions for ribbing pieces. Does this bug anyone else?
(Fun top-stitching details on back pockets)
These easy-sewing, easy-wearing shorts certainly make for a winning combination. I even picked up a useful trick along the way. Usually when making pants, hemming the legs is the last and my least favourite step. It's becomes some sort of ugly dance between myself and the iron while I try to manouver it around a small leg opening. But here, the instructions call for you to press the hem before you sew the legs into legs, so to speak. When you go to hem, the pressing is already done and you don't even have to pin, just stitch.
Thanks for having me. Back over to you Carla...
Thanks again Sophie, I those shorts are adorable and I love the fabric you chose!
