How many blog posts can I write with my butt or boobs as the headline image? That may be my new personal challenge! Thank you again to Marj Dee, https://www.instagram.com/fotog.gal/ , for her photography time and talents!

I was true to my word on my last post and I actually took a small break from testing. Not to say I haven’t been busy- I have been sewing up a storm with my 15 yards of strike-offs from Piccadilly’s  Disco Girls and Diagonal Stripes round.Seriously, I’ve been a sewing maniac with these gorgeous knits and I’m down to scraps on most of them. I can’t wait for my big order to come in so I can get going again.

Christina from Wardrobe By Me gave me a heads-up that she had some shorts in the pipeline, and I knew I needed in on that. I live just outside Los Angeles and summer has hit us hard here. I only have 2 pairs of shorts. One pair I bought in desperation at the end of last summer, and one pair of ratty jeans that I cut off in desperation during a heatwave in May. And, to be honest, it has been years since I was comfortable wearing shorts above my knees, mostly for religious reasons. This summer I’m reclaiming my thighs along with the rest of my body (see also- bikini, tattoos, etc).

So, here’s the nitty gritty on the Frida Flat Front Shorts pattern:

Release sale info: Use code “summer shorts” for 30% off your purchase- this applies for the Frida Shorts (including additional markdown!) and summer tops- Daisy, Carma, Wardrobe Builder Tee, Savannah, and Piper BoHo. You can view the full summer collection HERE.

These pictures are NOT from the final version of the pattern- there were some minor adjustments to the rise, seat seam curve, hem, and pockets/ facings. This pair is a size 8, and since I lowered the front rise by 1 1/2″, the waistband is a size 12 (back rise lowered by 1/2″). However, with the final version of the pattern I should be good with just a straight size 8 to get a similar fit. I’m hoping to get another pair or 2 made up soon.

My favorite things about this pattern are:

• Zip Fly- my first ever! The instructions were easy to follow for a beautiful, functional zip fly
• Pocket facings – these are such a clean, professional detail. Both pocket bag pieces are faced, but the bags themselves can be in a lighter non-stretch fabric for less bulk. The bags are shaped to give extra room across the thigh to account for non-stretch.
• Curved front hem and beautifully shaped waistband (by the way, you need to subscribe to the blog linked below. I have learned so much from her)

There’s a saying in pattern-drafting that “A straight line on the body is a curved line on the pattern, and a curved line on the body is a straight line on the pattern” – Janet, from 7pinedesign.com 

The creases across the hip and the whiskering in the front here were resolved in the final pattern update.

I am also wearing the Daisy Drop Shoulder Tee, which is one of many summer-appropriate top patterns in Christina’s summer collection. The pattern works well with knits and wovens as long as they drape well.