Monday, June 23, 2014

Beach Bum


Schooooool's out for summer!  I got out a week ago and spent the first week of summer lounging at the beach.  THE beach.  That would be Myrtle Beach to all you non South Carolinians out there.  It is a crazy Atlantic coast tourist beach for those of you that aren't familiar with it.  It's like the Vegas of beaches, only replace casinos with miniature golf courses and club wear with air brushed tee shirts.  It's a lot of fun.  Great place to lounge on the beach, hang out with family and people watch.  J's mom was kind enough to treat us to an awesome vacation (thank you!).  Baby Jane thoroughly enjoyed her first time playing in the surf.


 Before we left, I bought some beach-y looking rayon at Joann's to make up the pants version of Simplicity 1887.  Only when I got home to cut the pattern out, I chickened out.  I was worried that all that print would make the pants too crazy to wear.  So I opted to make the shorts instead.  I am so glad I did because they are awesome.  I wore them nearly every day of our trip.



I read a few reviews of the pattern before I started and all of them noted the enormous amount of ease in the pattern.  I went a size down and the fit is great.  They are still loose but I tend to like a little more ease anyway.  I made them up just as the pattern directed.  No changes other than using a one inch elastic waistband instead of making the two channels and putting in two skinnier pieces of elastic.  Is there a reason two pieces of elastic are preferred over one thicker piece?  Just curious.  I also shortened the hem two inches.  The seat is just a tad bit snug but using a drape-y rayon makes it not very noticeable.  If I made these again in a more stable fabric I would do an aptly named full seat adjustment.


I cut the shorts with the stripe running vertical.  I tried not to over think pattern placement too much.  Just tried to make it symmetrical.  I don't think there is anything too unfortunate going on.  Maybe.


After I made the shorts and they were such a success, I decided to try the skirt since I had so much fabric left.  Again, I made the skirt up as directed except for shortening it a couple of inches (I made the longer version and probably hemmed it up to the mini version.  The skirt has a cute tulip shape.  Not really noticeable in my drape-y rayon.  I cut the skirt so the stripe ran horizontal.  The shorts are unlined but the skirt is lined in a navy rayon challis.  I treated the lining more like an underlining, basting it to the front and back pieces before sewing the side seams.  My hem is a little wonky because of that but not enough to bug me.  I'm wearing the skirt with my grey circle tee and I am really liking the laid back combination.  My circle tees are in heavy, heavy rotation by the way.  I think I'm going to have to make another in the same cotton jersey as the grey one.  It sees the most wear of the three.


Not really anything else to say except I really enjoyed making this pattern up.  It was straight forward to put together and the finished product is easy to wear.  


And one more gratuitous baby photo...


Baby Jane loved the beach.  She played in the surf for hours, picking up seashells and putting them in her bucket.  She had no fear of the ocean.  I'm not entirely sure that is a good thing since I couldn't take my eyes off of her for a second or she would have crawled in to the waves.  She is walking like a champ if you hold her hands but the moment you let go, she falters and sits.  I know she'll take off any day now so I'm trying to enjoy these last few moments of crawling baby.  She is such a joy!


20 comments:

  1. Beach baby!!!!! She is so cute! I love both of these! What a great print!

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  2. Both are super cute, great use of the fabric I think (print pants arent really my thing)!

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  3. Ummmm I've actually vacationed at Myrtle Beach probably cause I have family in South Carolina. I love the two new pieces and the fact that you're managing to squeeze some sewing time in. Baby Jane is gorgeous!!!

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  4. Aww happy holidays! Quite jealous - here in the UK we don't break for another month! Maybe you go back sooner? Anyway, love the laid back vacay gear. I look terrible in shorts so the skirt would always get more wear with me, but having said that shorts are much more practical for an active beach holiday. Looks as though you had some fun!

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    1. Thanks! I'm sure we go back earlier-- we go back mid august this year :( That's way too early!

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    2. We go back Sept 3rd. I think you get longer than us! Perhaps we have more holidays the rest of the year.

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  5. I love your shorts and skirt! I have to add this pattern to my stash. It is so nice to have a great shorts pattern and what a bonus for there to be a skirt that you like as well. I haven't been to a sandy beach in years. I hope when we get orders (to the states) that it will be very close to a beach. I am hoping for the East Coast. I was born in Florida, so that would be nice too.

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    1. I was really pleased with the pattern. It seems to be a winner!

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  6. These are both the perfect beach wear!!! I love both the fabric choice and the sweet patterns you're using. They look so casually chic! And I love the beach photos too.... I'm a sucker for anything with the sea in plus cute baby?! Winning shots!!

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  7. Oh, what a happy little baby! Your shorts just made me want to speed up my sewing so I can get to my planned viscose shorts asap! Yours look so comfy.

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  8. that's one really cool print! would look great as pants, but it's even better this way, cause now you have two really cool garments instead of one!

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  9. These are so lovely! Such perfect summer garments. I think my fav is the skirt (but I tend to love skirts over shorts anyway). Oh actually, my fav is the last photo :)

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  10. Look at that sweet beach baby! Your shorts and skirt are really cute--that looks like a great pattern with all those options.

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  11. Look at all that sweetness! Baby Jane is just too cute!

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  12. Ah, baby Jane is just gorgeous. The shorts and skirt are pretty good too! I love the way even though they're made from the same fabric they look quite different. Good thinking using the stripes in opposite directions on each piece.

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  13. Adorable baby pic! And you got me excited by saying you got that print fabric at Joanns, I'll have to look for it, another Grainline tee in that would be great. By the way, where did you get those fabulous sandals you're wearing with the shorts? I'm surprised I'm the first person to ask...

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    1. Thanks! I did find that print at Joann's! I was excited when I found it. I ordered the sandals from Amazon last summer. The brand is Lola Sabbia by Eric Michael and they are awesome. I wear them non-stop!

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  14. i love this fabric! i used it to make a drape-y top for my daughter last fall, and it was a big winner. love how you used it, looks perfect for the beach!

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  15. Very cool. I'm digging both of these with your circle tops.

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  16. What fabulous fabric! So summery and fluid looking.

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