I was at the fabric store with the kids this weekend, and to reward them for being good I let them each pick out fabric for an item of clothing of their choice. Audrey picked fabric for a Minnie Mouse dress. Elliot picked up some knit fabric for construction shorts.
I used the Sunny Day Shorts pattern by Oliver & S. It is a free pattern and is very basic. That was just perfect for the level of effort I was interested in.
I have a few projects ahead of Audrey’s dress, so I was feeling bad about that. Then I remembered the shirt I made in the spring that fits me funny and I was never going to wear. Sometimes it pays to be a large woman with small children.
I did change the pattern a little bit. The waistband seemed fiddly, so I just folded the band in half, sewed it mostly on to the pants, put elastic in it, and then sewed it up the rest of the way. That change allowed me to use 1 inch elastic instead of the 3/4 inch elastic called for in the pattern (yet sadly missing from my stash). Once the waistband was sewn up I pulled the elastic taught and did a zig zag stitch through the middle of the elastic around the shorts to keep the elastic from rolling. I think this will work fine, but if there is some reason I shouldn’t do this in the future please let me know.
I really liked how fast this project was. I can see letting the kids pick out fabric as a reward for good behavior again. I might try making shorts with pockets next time.
Do you have any pattern recommendations for kids?
mildlygranola 
Cute shorts!! I love that you reused fabric. I don’t sew so I can’t help but really love watching what others make.
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I have gone from hating sewing to really being into it in a few months. I think the heat of this summer keeps me from wanting to knit.
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I think your daughters t-shirt is fab too!
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Thank you! I bought it for her in the hopes that she would think it is true.
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That’s great you were able to reuse fabric!
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Thank you! I felt very thrifty and slightly Maria Von Trapp-ish.
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Their shorts are SO CUTE!!! That is great fabric for both of them, and also yay for being able to reuse fabric for your daughter’s shorts. And your daughter’s t-shirt is adorable and correct 🙂
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It makes me wonder what else I can use for fabric. I am regretting not buying her shirt in every size.
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Yes, that one is a keeper! Still available?
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I just took apart a dress and put pockets in it. I doubt I’ll sew anything without pockets ever again.
Also super impressed by the resourcefulness of using the shirt to make shorts. Very Sound of Music of you.
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Do you have tips for adding pockets? I’m not sure my brain can handle sewing without a pattern. I totally sang the Lonely Goatherd while sewing the shorts.
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ehh unfortunately my sewing is 3% skill and 97% trial and error. But I did put on the dress to envision where i wanted the pockets. I traced around the pockets of a dress I like to get the shape. And I realized the dress needs to be flowy enough to not have weird side bulges. All things skill would have given me insight into I suppose, hahaha
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