It’s shorts on the line time! I’m so honored to be included in this amazing line-up of guest bloggers, and how perfect is this sew-along event? We all need summer shorts for our kiddos (and ourselves), and you have the chance to win superb prizes while sewing up a pair or two or three!
I made a couple of shorts/outfits and I’m excited to share them with you today. As always, I used Japanese patterns for most of these outfits. But I’m branching out a little, and I actually self-drafted that black-and-white stripey tee! I accidentally stained an Anthro dress , and I had just enough to eke out this slim tee for K. There’s a little bit of staining at the bottom of the tee, but we’ll ignore that. I had gotten the dress on sale and it didn’t fit me all that well anyway, and I really like how the shirt turned out.
But I’m supposed to be talking about shorts! First up is this little blue linen number that I wasn’t too keen about when I saw it in this book:
I’m not the only one who finds that shot on the right a little awkward, am I? But I made this chevron top (love this fabric), and wanted some shorts that flared out to go with it, and this had a nice silhouette. I am in love with my version – it’s amazing how fabric makes all the difference. I used this same linen for a spring coat for KCW and it’s the perfect summer linen. Such lusciousness.
What I love about the shorts is how easy they are. It seems like the gathered portion on the curves would be a little tricky, but really, it comes together super fast. And yet, so stylish, even when rumpled…the shirt, incidentally is from this book.
Très French, no?
This other outfit was something I waffled about quite a bit. I couldn’t decide on the right fabric, but in the spirit of the sew-along, I wanted to recycle/upcycle. As mentioned, the tee is upcycled, and I was especially proud of myself for using thrifted fabric for the suspender shorts or “Saropette” as it’s called in this book.
“Salopette” (updated! the Japanese book version is wrong) is French for dungarees or overalls. I thought this light teal fabric was linen at first, but even after three washes, there is a distinct odor of mothbolls, which leads me to believe there’s a high polyester content, perhaps even 100% (ugh). The facing fabric is the same as the one used for the top in the other outfit.
Is it me, or does it make you think of Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum? I like that the shoulder straps are tied into loops, so no hardware necessary. A rather clever design, and I’m digging the vintage vibe. Here’s what it looks like in the book (I omitted the frills on the hem – not my style):
I’ve been wanting to make these for awhile. Not quite as quick or easy as the flare shorts above, but once I figured out that I had sewn the back piece incorrectly and rectified the situation, it all went smoothly. I want to make another pair in wool for fall!
Thanks Carla and Rachael for letting me join in the fun! I’m a little intimidated to be included among such impressive sewing bloggers. I mean, Cirque du Bebe?? Speaking of which, Sophie of Project Sewn fame (and other fabulousness – I’m such a huge fan) is posting for Shorts on the Line today too, so check it out!
Don’t miss the other wonderful creations by these awesome folks and happy sewing!
This post is part of shorts on the line sewalong hosted by imagine gnats and small + friendly, sponsored by Jo-Ann, Pretty Prudent/Pellon®, and Hawthorne Threads.
oh, i love them so much! thanks for being part of the sewalong!! and yes, that photo of the first shorts is quite odd 🙂
Thanks for hosting such a great sewalong, Rachael!
Love it all! Funny… I was just yesterday eyeing the book with the “saropette” pattern yesterday! I only have one Japanese pattern book and can’t decide on which to buy next. The 90cm sizes are still a tiny bit too big for my daughter. Then again, the fit is probably intended to be much looser than American ready to wear… Any book suggestions??
Hi Tasha – tough question. All the books are so great and I like them all for different reasons. I think my current favorite is this Sunny Spot one. The chevron top is from this book, and I think it has a lot of versatile yet easy patterns. I like that knits are included too. Which one do you have?
I have this one. The one you linked to looks fabulous! I usually find a few patterns in each book that I’m really drawn to, but I don’t see anything that I wouldn’t make in that book. Thanks!
i know we’re talking about shorts here, but i had to comment on the chevron top–love it, and don’t think i didn’t notice how nicely you matched the print at the back closure!
Thanks Ashley! That was totally by accident! I still can’t manage to match up prints to save my life 🙂
What a fabulous combination: upcycling + Japanese pattern books! Love K’s new outfits, and especially those blue linen shorts. They look perfect with the slim lines of the (amazingly cute) top. And your other outfit is so fun:) I bet K loves how comfortable the overalls are. I remember being very sad when adult overalls went out of style . . . so super comfy!
You rocked the Shorts on the Line sewalong, Sanae!
Thanks Lucinda! That chevron fabric is fab, isn’t it? I forgot to mention that it actually runs vertically so I cut the pattern cross-grain to make them go across. Much nicer that way, I think!
I LOVE those blue linen shorts (because of course I do…). That photo in the book is kind of…er…strange, but they are awesome. I love your black/white stripe with the bright overalls…fantastic color combo. Although my daughter, sigh, would never let me put something so ‘different’ on her little body, I’m sure. That’s a good tip, the polyester smelling like mothballs….I had some mystery knit that I couldn’t get the ‘old lady smell’ out of (bought at a garage sale), and that’s why….they are heavy on the polyester. Sad.
Polyester can do amazing things for fabric in small doses, but why is it that you can never get bad odors out? M has this blue polyester shirt that has seen better days that he loves. It should be, quite frankly, buried. Far away. But hey, he loves it so I just plug my nose when he wears it.
*GASP* Are you serious?! This is crazy cute! I am in love with the dungarees and the other shorts reminds me of bloomers. “C’est très magnifique!”
Merci, Venus! You’re right, the shorts are bloomer-esque! K loves them, the dungarees, not so much (sad face), but it might be because the dungarees smell…
I love love love these outfits. The shorts with the ruffle are perfection, girly and fun without the playground worries of a skirt. And the overalls are so fun and look great with the black and white stripe. You rule! Thank you so much for joining the series!
Thanks for letting me participate, Carla! So fun!!
The suspender shorts are amazing! And I have bought lots of that linen-look fabric from thrift stores always thinking it may have some actual linen in it. Never does!
Isn’t that the worst? You think, “Score! I got linen for dirt cheap,” and then you quickly realize that no, it’s synthetic all the way…
Love your shorts ! Am about to cut some out and make them for my little girl – they are so much more practical than skirts, for active little ones! And this made me smile to, French for dungarees is salopettes …Love these quirks of translation !
I love that the shorts also look a little like a skirt so you get the best of both worlds 🙂 I mentioned the karaoke funniness in another comment, but I always found the Japanese translations and misunderstandings hilarious. When I lived in Japan, I constantly saw bizarre English everywhere – what might have taken the cake was when I saw a little boy (maybe 2 or 3), wearing a t-shirt that said “Slutty”.
Brilliant Sanae! I love how you picked the outfits, always stylish! The dungaree is cool! I’m tempted to make this!
I hope you do make it, Yeka! It’s actually quite easy, though I have to confess K didn’t really like wearing it because it was a little too loose…looks cute, though!
There’s no way to say it without sounding like a jerk, but it’s actually “salopette” (very shocking name, yes). It would make sense if the pattern comes from a Japanese book though, since they frequently mix r and l sounds.
Thanks for pointing that out, Kelli! I corrected it where appropriate. I’m curious as to why the word is shocking ;-), but you’re totally right about the Japanese having trouble with R and L sounds. I once went to a karaoke bar in Japan, and the first song that popped up was by “Eric Crapton” (sorry for the crassness – it makes for a hugely entertaining story though).
Well, you asked for it! In French, you can attach “-ette” to the end of almost any word to indicate that it’s little or cute. However, “salope” translates to whore. So, salopette = cute whore. I don’t know why this surprises me, though, considering there is still a city outside of Paris called Villejuif (Jew Town). Needless to say, learning French has been interesting…
That’s so interesting! Every language has those odd kinds of quirks, I find. Thanks for the info, Keli! Who knew that a pair of shorts would become a lively French lesson?
WOW styling does a lot of things! I would never have considered making the suspender shorts if I have just seen them in the book – but your aqua version is FABULOUS and with the stripy t-shirts….YES YES YES!!!
LOVE!!
Thanks Mie! I have a feeling I’m calling them suspender shorts incorrectly, but since the Japanese book actually printed the word salopette misspelled, I’m going to just go with it 🙂
Hello!
I love the saropette. I have no idea: where can you buy the Japanese book?
Ellie
Hi Ellie! I buy my Japanese sewing books from Kinokuniya here in Seattle, but you can also purchase from Amazon.co.jp here.
Wow, that are super cool outfits that you made! Love the salopette! I made the flaring shorts some years ago for one of my daughters. Now (almost 5 and 6,5 yo), they refuse to wear shorts, sigh. I would love to see them in such a salopette or shorts.
Just some questions: why is salopette a shocking name? And I also don’t understand why the picture of the girl showing her back side is shocking. Is it her position, with her bend over a bit? Sorry, I am just a curious Dutch woman trying to understand ;-).
Thank you! You know, I don’t know why salopette is a shocking name…I think it’s actually a lovely sounding word. As for the photo of the girl, not so much shocking but just kind of odd, I think. I guess the book is trying to showcase the flare/ruffle of the shorts, but I don’t think it’s a very flattering pose. The shorts are adorable though! 🙂
I love the “Saropette” outfit! it is brilliant!! plus I like lots turquoise, then double points! you are so talented, and produce so many beautiful/well made clothes. I’m trying to make some shorts to play along in this summer sewalong! but i don’t know where to start.
Thanks Maria! I struggled to describe the color – it’s kind of teal, kind of turquoise, kind of aqua but there’s a lot of green in it too. Whatever it is, it’s a happy color! I say start with something super easy – that’s what I usually do, then I get momentum to try something a little more involved 🙂
Love them! Beautiful color choices!
Thanks so much Delia! These colors make me think of you 🙂
Oh my! These are so so rad. I cannot get over those suspender shorts, that aqua color is divine. Love all of it.
Thanks Sophie! Loved your culottes too – so stylin’ as always!
I love the gray shorts. They look so much better than those awkward pictures from the book.
love your shorts (and shirts, of course you made shirts to go with them!!) – so unique and beautiful, as usual!
The grey shorts are darling! I love the turquoise color of the overalls. Very cute.
Both pairs are adorable but the first…I LOVE the ruffles and design! So cute!
These are amazing! So good. So good.