Winter SoHo Shorts - Or the blog post where I pretend it's still the 1990's

So, winter shorts. Not sure if they're a thing or not, but I'm sure they once were, and I say they're back,... or maybe coming back,.... or were they back last season..... Heck I haven't a clue but I'm comfy and that's all that matters.

Every now and then my secret alias' pager bleeps and a little message comes through from Liesl of Oliver +S. This time, my mission, should I choose to accept it, was to demonstrate two techniques using the new SoHo Shorts & Skirt pattern. Firstly, to add belt loops, secondly, to add a lining.

I did the belt loops on some summer weight chambray shorts, froze my arse off modelling them and then instantly decided I wanted lined, wool, winter shorts. These, I would wear with tights - like I was some middle-aged, home sewist crafting version of Shannon Doherty from 90210.

Apologies for the crumpled waistband. I didn't iron in the nineties and it seems I still don't.

The wool blend fabric, and the lining, both came from the remnants bins at Rathdowne Fabrics during their recent half price remnants sale. It's a lovely soft wool with nice, drapey quality which suited this shorts pattern perfectly.

Knowing that I would be wearing them with tights, or stockings at the least, I left the leg length his time and didn't add any extra length. So, apologies for the eyeful of quad :) - although I have to point out that they are less glaringly and frighteningly pale due to these magic stockings that have BUILT IN SOCKS. Seriously, built in socks. I knew I was right with my boots and shorts in winter idea when there are already stockings in shops that have built in socks. It's a thing for sure.

I got all nice and fancy with the finish, hemming the shorts with bias and then an invisible hand stitched hem. Then I added thread chains at the inner and outer leg seams to keep everything where it should be as I'm swishing around on my Luke Perry fantasy coffee date.
(Edit: I couldn't go back to the nineties. I'm not sure there was good coffee)

For all the details (and some neat little graphics, if I may say so myself) on how to line a pair of pants, head over to the Oliver + S blog where the post is now live. Click the image below for a re-direct:

I've sold A on the idea of shorts with tights, and while I'm still not 100% certain that it is appropriate for this century, on this lady, it will be insanely cute on a seven year old. There should be enough wool left over for a pair of Finch Shorts for her....

After all I think I'd rather my coffee date was with my kid, in our matching, dorky handmade outfits.

Details:

Pattern: Liesl & Co SoHo Shorts

Size: 10 (no alterations)

Mods: Added lining as per tutorial on Oliver + S blog

Fabric: Wool blend fabric and rayon lining both from Rathdowne Fabrics.

Notions: Invisible zip, thread, interfacing

SoHo shorts - Oh So good

As we plunge into winter I've sewn some seasonally inappropriate shorts, but let me explain...

When Liesl + Co released the SoHo Shorts and Skirt pattern, Liesl asked me if I would write a tutorial or two for some minor modifications to the pattern. First up was adding belt loops. The blog post is live now on the Oliver + S website - click on the image below if you want a belt loop tutorial. Stick around here if you want a pattern review and to see me freezing in some windy, unseasonal shorts modelling shots :)
 

I'm not much of a shorts wearer, so I was a little on the fence about this idea at first. I wear lycra bibknicks when I cycle but apart from one pair of knee length casual-wear shorts (that I'll confess are technically maternity pants) I don't have any other shorts. My legs above the knee are not usually on show!

I made a muslin of the shorts and found the fit to be absolutely perfect - except for the length. Here I've added 4cm to the hem length - there is a lengthen/shorten line midway between the crotch and the hem for adjusting leg length. You can probably appreciate from the little glimpse of my quads that you get at this hem length that any shorter would have been alarming.

OK, so it was really windy trying to get photos of these shorts and until it's 30 degrees or more I'm not putting them back on just for the sake of better pictures. You'll just have to take my word for it that the fit is really good.

The shaped waistband was just right and the back sits nice and close and smooth then falls straight down (unless antartic gusts dictate otherwise) from the peak butt point.

There's pockets (for keeping your fingers warm - eye roll).

And the insides can look pretty lovely too with the waistband facing - in this case finished with some narrow liberty bias binding.

The fabric is some lightweight chambray that my parents were given by an aunt of mine when they visited. It seems word has got around that I sew, so thanks Chris!

As I was sewing and writing a belt loop tutorial it occurred to me that I don't own any belts. My husband and I tend to share this one which he inherited from his dad (we're not yachties!). Since I was going with the nautical themed belt I decided to whip up a Maritime Knit Top to go with my shorts.

I dropped one size from my previous Maritime knit top, but in this softer knit (the other one is a ponte) I think I could have got away with a size smaller again. But as it is, it's super comfy and easy to wear. The fabric is almost as thick as a ponte, but much softer and with nicer drape. I can't remember much about it other than it came from Stylish Fabrics as the same time as the lighter, very fluid, drapey rayon knit that I used for this other red and white striped top.

So there I stand, already dreaming about making the skirt version of the SoHo pattern, or maybe a winter pair of shorts in wool or tweed.  Or maybe I'm thinking about how exceedingly cold it is and whether all the bird shit on the boat ramp somewhat detracts from my attempt at a glamorous photo shoot....

Details:
Liesl + Co. SoHo Shorts and Skirt
Size:10 (size range is 0-20)
Alterations: Added 4cm length. Please note: there is an errata for the front pleat markings on the Oliver + S website. Of course I didn't look for any errata prior to sewing and you know what, it seemed to make no difference for my size. I only noticed the error listing when I was browsing the pattern page for another reason. Checking first is always recommended. ;)
Fabric: gifted chambray
Notions: invisible zip, thread, bias binding

Liesl + Co. Maritime knit top
Size: 12 - alarm bells should have gone off as my top half has never been a size bigger than my bottom half. usually the other way around.
No alterations
Fabric: knit from Stylish Fabrics (18 months or so cellaring in my stash)