Friday 27 July 2012

DIY Knicker Shorts

I thought I'd only have one DIY to show you this week, but I actually have two! Last night I discovered this amazing blog (link now dead) and on it, a tutorial of how to make shorts.
wearing
blouse - c/o OASAP
blouse #2 - Paper Scissors
shorts - DIY
bag - c/o Wholesale
bag #2 - DIY
tights - Wholesale
hat - c/o Wholesale
shoes - Rubi Shoes

I don't want to take the credit for the shorts tutorial so please visit Maycie After Five (link is now dead, use this instead) as her explanation of making shorts is really, really clear and easy to follow. But here is just a little summary of what I did:
1. Get a pair of shorts that fit you really well. 2. Fold them in half and trace around them onto pattern paper (I am cheap and used baking paper, haha). 3. Add about 1cm all around the pattern, then cut it out. 4. Trace the pattern onto your fabric, with the straight edge on the fold. Do this twice. Cut out both. 5. Place pieces front-sides together. Sew all the way up the curved end. 6. Fold up bottom edge on both pieces and hem using an edge stitch. 7. Sew the crotch together by sewing where the dotted line is in the picture. 8. Make your waistband by folding the waist down (just a bit longer than your elastic is wide). Sew all around, leaving a 2cm gap where you will be putting your elastic in. 9. Wrap the elastic around your waist, and take off about 5cm. Attach a safety pin to the end of your elastic. Pull it through the waistband, sew the ends of the elastic together, then sew up the hole.

EDIT: When making the pattern, make the waist a little larger than it is on your shorts that you are tracing (so that you can actually get them on). The elastic will stop them from being too big.
Also learning how to do darts can help give the shorts a better shape... and avoid bunching! I added darts in these DIY shorts here and they fit a lot better. Sorry I don't have any DIY for that yet, try and find something on google if you're curious!

So that's what  I did for my first pair of shorts, which were not knicker shorts (and have now become pyjama pants). For the second pair (the pair I am wearing in the photos) I altered the DIY slightly. You have to be careful here because knicker shorts should not be underwear. I even have a scale.
I don't think mine have crossed that line though, and are still shorts. All I did differently to make the shorts into knicker shorts was to alter the pattern so that it had a shorter leg and a higher waist (see below).
This is such a quick and easy DIY, I think I'm going to make about a bazillion more pairs! I need to get myself some shiny, stretchy fabric...

xxx Annika

33 comments:

  1. *___* GODDESS
    love love love this!

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  2. Oh, they look adorable! Good job!

    Becky
    xx

    http://www.beckybedbug.com

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  3. These are amazing, they look shop bought! I will definitely take a look at her blog!
    www.styleisalwaysfashionable.blogspot.com

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  4. A really good DIY, I'll be bookmarking this for future reference for sure! Also I love your pastel and bow bag, where is it from? I'd love it if you could take a peek at my blog, just starting out but you might like what you see! I hope so. Thank you! : ) www.dearestdeer.net x

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    Replies
    1. the link is in the post! http://www.wholesale-dress.net/lovely-double-buckle-belt-bowknot-messenger-bag-blue-g1648728.html?union=2365 i'm just heading over to your blog right now!

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  5. Pooey, I've got no sewing machine

    http://allyisacat.blogspot.com

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  6. What a great idea! I have a buttload of royal blue stretch velvet I've been wanting to make some high- waisted shorts out of, and this has inspired me to finally do it! Keep up the good work Annika. x

    www.kookyquirkycute.blogspot.com

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    Replies
    1. Oh sweeeeet! That'll look so awesome!
      You just reminded me of some stretchy velvet fabric I have myself! I know what that's going to become now ;)
      xxx

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  7. wow *_* you surprise me with every post you make! it seems to be so easy *_*
    http://coeursdefoxes.blogspot.com/

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  8. the little montage of the three length examples made me laugh. I love love love that fabric. It's perfect with the mint and mustard blouses.

    http://meggymoo0.blogspot.com

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  9. Those are adorable on you! I too love the 'three lengths' picture. So funny.

    Loulou

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  10. You make me want a sewing machine SO BADLY!

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  12. I´m so going to copycat you. I basically live in shorts ;).

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  13. super cute DIY! gonna try it! by the way your hair rocks! <3

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  14. OMG I love this! I've been looking for a good tutorial on how to make my own shorts.

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  15. All I need now is a sewing Machine :) xx


    http://maiclovitz.blogspot.co.uk/

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  16. Oh my gosh! Your shorts look so adorable. I love how you made it your own. Glad you found my tutorial useful. Great blog by the way.

    Thanks for stopping by Maycie After Five.

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  17. Niiiice. I sew a lot of my own dresses and skirts, but I'm still a little scared to go into the shorts/pants realm!

    Rachel
    floralprintsandcommonsense.blogspot.com

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    Replies
    1. i was, too, but it's actually way easier than dresses & skirts!

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  18. perfect, perfect, perfect. i am going to try this.

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  19. It looks really easy! I am going to do this.

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  21. Hello Annika ! i have discovered your blog a few days ago and your DIY are very nice ! I'm trying to translate your axplanation to do this knicker short because i'm french, so i'm incessantly on the dictionary haha !
    Thank you and keep it up !

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  22. Ahaha, love the short length comparison. I actually come across this while Googling. At this rate, some girls will be out with nothing on....oh wait!

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  23. maycie after five is a private blog :(

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    Replies
    1. Ah, I'm sorry, it didn't used to be :( I will try and upload new shorts instructions, in that case :)

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  24. I made these all day, but I failed. I didn't know where to put the darts and there were a few other dilemmas. Next time will and must manage as these are so cute. Your whole blog is so inspirational! Such a shame that Maycie after five isn't available anymore.

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    1. Hey! Aww, I'm sorry to hear that (my photos weren't particularly instructional).
      But me and my friend actually decided to make some shorts yesterday and I managed to find another good tutorial for them which is actually live!
      http://apairandasparediy.com/2012/04/diy-scarf-print-shorts.html

      So i hope you see this comment and can have a look at that DIY!
      As for the darts, about 6 inches from the crotch on each side at the front (I think..) seemed to work well for us yesterday! (Though this will differ depending on your size, these were for size 10-12 shorts). And each dart was ~6 inches long.

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  25. I'm still a bit confusted how you went from step 6 to 7. I have no idea how to sew the crotch

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  26. Hi Miss Annika, I'm your fan and I just wanna know what type of fabric did you use on this DIY? I'm actually making one right now with a fabric I found at home and fell in love with how easy this one is. Hope you can read this. :]

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    Replies
    1. I used standard cotton. But I've also done it before with thicker fabrics too :)

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