Frida Shorts

7/21/2016

A tester call for a beautiful tailored style shorts pattern for stretch wovens from one of my favourite designers? count me in! I love the style of these and because they were from Wardrobe by Me, I knew the pattern was going to be perfectly finished too, and I wasn't wrong, the inside is super pretty! Here's my first pair, there were a few adjustments to the final pattern after these were made which I'll mention a little later.

Pattern Details

The Frida Shorts are a 33 page fully illustrated PDF pattern by Wardrobe by Me. They are for sizes US 0-16 (23-35" waist / 33-45" hips) and include slanted pockets with facings and pocket stays to keep them in place, a real zipper fly, beltloops and a choice of 3 lengths, short, mid thigh and bermuda. You need between 85cm and 110cm (1 yard and 1 yard 7") of 60" wide woven fabric with a little stretch, depending on size and length chosen as well as some lining fabric, a zipper and hook, some interfacing and some bias binding. It is rated intermediate due to bindings and zipper fly. You need to print upto 18 no-trim pages and it includes layers so you can choose to print only the size(s) you need.

My Version

I made the size 4 in the mid thigh length. I used a 97/3% stretch denim with variegated coloured pinstripes every inch or so which I happened to find in the clearance at my local fabric shop! I made it exactly as per the pattern but the final pattern had a slightly deeper crotch curve and a slightly shallower curved waistband. I used less than 1 metre of denim fabric, 1 metre of bias binding, a 6" metal tooth jeans zipper, a skirt hook, some woven fusible interfacing and a few offcuts of cotton lawn for the pocket bags. They took around 5 hours to make but I did make a couple of {silly} mistakes and ended with my waistband back to front so had to rip apart and redo that.

How do they fit?

As with most trouser/shorts patterns an amount of adjusting for fit should be expected. They are one of the hardest garments to fit perfectly in my opinion. Here I have a very good base fit for a straight from the pattern make - I have a little pooling of fabric at the back and some 'whiskers' at the front. The adjustments to the final pattern would alleviate the pulling I have at the front and the waistband will sit slightly slightly lower too but I need to do a couple more tweaks to get the back to fit perfect for me. All round a very good starter pattern to work from. The zipper has also been moved a little further under the fly in the final pattern.

Project Cost

Full price pattern - (£8.39) $11 - I received the pattern for free in return for testing
Fabric Cost - £3.50 ($4.59)
Notions (Thread, Zipper, bias binding, hook) - £4.80 ($6.29)

Total Cost - £16.69 ($21.89)

Cost to make each additional with similar style and priced fabric - £8.50 ($11.15)

The Frida shorts pattern is on release sale for $8 only until 26th July! Whilst you are there, the Daisy dropped shoulder top (I am wearing a raw finished version in my photos) and Carma cami vest tops which go great with the Fridas are also on sale!

The Verdict!

I love the style of these and with a little tweaking I will have a great fit and make these over and over! I will also use the waistband technique from this pattern for as many future trouser/shorts patterns as I can because I am so happy with the neatness and professional look it gives the finished shorts. I can't wait for the trouser version {currently in testing} to release soon too, these will make great work trousers!