Readers, I finished my shorts! It took most of the day, but I finished them.
I know it's not quite the 70's teen idol look we were hoping for, but I love them anyway.
All the pockets and fly facings are lined with that flowered cotton shirting from yesterday's boxers. I simply stitched lining and corduroy right sides together, and turned them right side out. The pockets were then edgestitched (and topstitched) on. The tightly woven shirting also helps to stabilize the pockets, as the corduroy has a bit of stretch width-wise.
The zipper went on without problems. Here I am stitching it to the facing.
A very clean result.
Most of my seams were flat-felled. Corduroy sometimes makes ugly flat-felled seams but the nap of this corduroy is so thin it's not a problem. The outside seams were stitched and then serged. BTW, I never baste flat-felled seams. If I can't iron them (corduroy doesn't iron well), I use pins and finger press.
To make the waistband, I turned the top under two inches (first hemming the top 1/4" first, of course)
The back waistband has elastic in it.
Pulling the elastic taut, I added three parallel lines of stitching along the back waistband.
I decided on the longer leg length, so I hemmed less than one inch.
I added a buttonhole at the top and sewed on a brass shank button. I also added a back pocket that's also lined with shirting.
I am very happy with the result, folks -- very comfy and super soft. It wasn't hard, but it was a fair amount of exacting work. As you can see, they're very close to the original.
Thank you for all your feedback regarding shorts length the other day. These are the length I find most comfortable -- in fact, I already wore them outside and nobody gawked -- at least not to my face.
Now what goes with lavender...?
Have a great day, everybody!
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They look fantastic! Well done, and so speedy, too. I'm finally finishing a tunic that's been in the works since March....
ReplyDeleteThey look amazing. Love the color, the fit and the length. Perfect!
ReplyDelete"Now what goes with lavender...?"
ReplyDeleteJudy Garland albums and cutting remarks - oh, wait, you're serious.
Actually, you've already found it - navy. Navy is a great compliment to what I call the "kiss my ass" colors - the ones that can get a guy snickered at, like pink. You wear pink or lavender or lilac or orchid, you're saying you don't give a damn what anyone else thinks. As it should be.
Lookin' good, Peter. You can buy a velvet pressing board which works well for corduroy and other napped fabrics as well. Just don't mail it to your nieces to press their prom dresses, or you'll never get it back. I think orange goes with purple, but maybe that's just me . . .
ReplyDeleteawesome, am super J.
ReplyDeleteAunt Marti is right, a velvet needle board is a great tool. Only problem is, they are very pricey these days. A Velvaboard is an alternative that doesn't require foregoing a mortgage or rent payment to acquire.
ReplyDeleteIt's also possible that you could find a used velvet needle board, seeing's how you're in a great area for flea and thrift market finds. There's always a sewer hanging it up....
Now, if I could only find a June Tailor board and a tailor's clapper where I am! A ham and a point presser surfaced only the other day, priced at about 5 percent of what they fetch new.
Those shorts look amazing! I sort of wish they belonged to me!
ReplyDeleteGreat job, Peter! I love the hidden flowery pocket lining.
ReplyDeleteLove the length, lining, great comfortable pockets, and the contrasting zipper!
ReplyDeleteI like lime green, turquoise, oranges/coral with lavender. Go ahead and be even a little more crazy and daring with these delicious color combos!
I may consider a pair like this for me!!
Thanks for the great review!
Black goes with lavender, anything else, or by itself, of course! You live in NY. I believe the June Tailor board is no longer being made. Why not make your own pressing tools? You already have lots of sewing machines and lots of imagination, so all you need is wood, maybe a saw, and some sandpaper. I sew lots of corduroy and I have never needed a velvet pressing device. Always press from the wrong side without too much pressure, use lots of steam and hold the seam in place till it cools. You don't want sharp creases in something like corduroy anyhow.
ReplyDeleteAnnushka: I'm the one looking for a June Tailor board, and I am devastated to find out from the June Tailor site that you are correct. That is INSANE. Their primary focus now seems to be quilting stuff, which interests me about as much as NASCAR racing does - meaning not at all.
DeleteI will find one, I'm sure, but it's crazy how much useful stuff gets discontinued nowadays. Thanks for the heads-up.
Absolutely fabulous. Those shorts look great. Black or charcoal goes nicely with lavender as does white...But I have to say I prefer more lively colour combinations - orange, sky blue, that kind of thing.
ReplyDeleteLove 'em! My father sewed the OP pattern for himself in the late 80's (albeit waaaay to short for a man of his years and pot belly) and he had store-bought and homemade ones in pretty much every color of the rainbow. He would wear them with a matching color Izod Lacoste (alligator) polo shirt. AND Reebok princess sneakers in a matching color (even bright hot pink). He got a lot of weird looks.
ReplyDeleteYour shorts are a flattering length and fit and I love the color (I had real OP shorts in that color!). Thank you for helping blot out a lot of ugly mental imagery!
I LOVE your shorts Peter! they look fantastic. I think white or navy go well with purple, and if you like bright, why not pink and yellow?!
ReplyDeleteI like turquoise with lavender--that's what I'm wearing right now.
ReplyDeleteI would have gawked, but that has more to do with how you look in them-- really, really good.
ReplyDeleteI like black or dark charcoal with lavender.
OUTSTANDING effort!
ReplyDeleteHow about a light grey tank top? Of course, an untucked white linen shirt could make a beachcomber out of you.
Vety nice, peter; thank you for stepping up to the plate and bringing back GOOD-LOOKING shorts for men , rather than the ugh-ly , baggy "board shorts" of the present day. I always gotta laff when I hear young women rave about how they think boxer shorts are 'sexy"; in my day they were associated with "grandpa", and all the hip guys wore Y-front "briefs"! I can even remember it being a BIG FASHION DEAL when they came out in >gasp!< COLOURS! Funny how we think that the Seventies were so "tasteless' yet what will we be thinking in years to come when we all look back on: absurd "gangsta" falling-down, I-got-a-load-in-my- pants, HUGE T-shirts and hoodies, hats worn backwards, bum cracks showing, super-slutty looks that used to be strictly relegated to 'cocktail parties'but now gone "everyday wear", bra tops as corporate wear, sheepskin boots and toques for summer and shorts and flipflops for winter!(Yes, even here in Canada!)
ReplyDeleteYour shirts are absolutely beautiful! They are the perfect length for you, too! Great job! Corduroy makes such a mess with its constant shedding while you cut and sew it, at least the wider wales. You were brave to use it, and your results were terrific!
ReplyDeleteI love the length, just right. They are tailored even though casual. You need to make more. I am sure you can add things to them.
ReplyDeleteGreat job.
Josette
Love them. The pockets are fab.
ReplyDeleteThey turned out perfectly and you look great in them.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully done Peter! And looks gorgeous on you! ;) Lavander is a fresh color that goes good to all kinds of pastels and for more sport looks, with bright colors.
ReplyDeletewow! they're fantastic!
ReplyDeleteThey look totally fab! If a J. Crew rep sees you out and about in those, you will definitely see them in their next spring catalog.
ReplyDeleteThey are so cool.
Great work on the shorts, Peter. As far as ironing, while a velvet board would be optimal, I got a tip on Stitcher's Guild to use a corduroy scrap to iron corduroy. It worked much better than the old "use a fluffy towel" advice.
ReplyDeleteWhat *doesn't* go with lavender? I'd go with either a dark color like navy, black, dark brown or brights. I'd stay away from adding any more pastels, if wearing these myself.
Great idea on using leftover scrap corduroy for pressing!
DeleteOr you could use a piece of upholstery weight mohair velvet. The pile stands up really well.
Deletelove them!! love the color.
ReplyDeleteis that a chihuahua hiding in the background? i have his twin brother here in georgia..... best dog ever.
Hey Peter!
ReplyDeleteGreat job on the shorts! The length is perfect and one that I would wear. You are quite the clever and resourceful one in using that cotton fabric to line the pockets. That's such a time saver and a great way to finish the edges. Whenever i make a shirt or jacket pocket I make a one piece pattern that mirrors the original and just fold it over and stitch, it works great in most cases. I like to analyze what I'm working on and look for ways to streamline things but maintain the quality.
Those are awesome! Way to find a use for that floral
ReplyDeleteLOVE the shorts. I think this is one of the best items you have made so far. I don't comment much, but I read your blog every day. These turned out great, and I love the lining too. I think they fit you well. Thanks for sharing this project with us.
ReplyDeleteThey definitely bring me back to a 70's frame of mind, but yet they look modern too! Great work!
ReplyDeleteI think you chose the perfect flattering length--shows off your legs without being jarring. How about some mint green to go with that lavendar?
ReplyDeleteHow did I miss this post yesterday? The shorts look great and they look great on you! Very clever use of the floral fabric. Very nice work.
ReplyDeleteAwesome shorts, Peter! In my crazy little world, pink, green, yellow and blue will work with lavender. You'll have to experiment to find the right shades, though.
ReplyDeleteThey are gorgeous shorts! And frankly, that gorgeous colour of lavender... EVERYTHING GOES!
ReplyDeleteGreat job, they look *very* authentic...you just need to find some Rainbow Sandals and you are authentically "SURF" with the Op shorts...(Rainbow Sandals is a company, not a color...) http://www.rainbowsandals.com/
ReplyDeleteGail
These shorts are so fantastic! I love the color and the length you chose and think they would pair well with almost anything dark or bright. Great work!
ReplyDeleteI love your shorts! I wonder if I could find a pattern for women... Probably can. I just found your blog and have to say, it's refreshing. Not that I don't love many others as well, but as you might have noticed, there are not that many men who sew... Good luck with finding patterns!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Anna. And welcome!
DeleteThe shorts came out great. I have a favor to ask could you possibility tell me where I can obtain this pattern. My husband like to wear this style of short and I can no longer find them anywhere in his size.
ReplyDeleteI used a vintage men's shorts pattern, Simplicity 5044, and added a self-drafted pocket. Any shorts pattern could work it you're willing to do a bit of tweaking. I don't know if there's any actual Op shorts pattern for men out there.
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