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Cost: $ $ $ $ $

Difficulty: • • • • •

Time: 1h00

DIY Fashionista
Wear It: Let the floral print blossom by styling this pretty pair with a simple white T-shirt and blazer.

Every season, printed fabrics and patterns take centre stage in some shape or form. Whether delicate paisley prints or oversized checks, designers the world over inte- grate them into collection after collection. This project will show you how to create a pair of chic shorts that can easily be recreated in on-trend fabrics with every season change.

Making a pair of elasticated shorts is an entry-level sewing project that’s simple enough for even the most amateur sewing-machine user to try. Once made in a printed fabric and embellished with lace, pom-poms or anything else you choose, these shorts take on a life of their own and integrate easily into any fashionista’s summer wardrobe.

The concept of working with a pattern can be daunting, so in this project you make a simple pattern out of a pair of shorts you already own – no complicated in- structions or searching for your size on the pattern sheet. And because the pattern is made from something you already wear, you know it will fit you perfectly.

Tip: I recommend using a sewing machine for this project. Beg, borrow or steal – this project is worth it

Tip: If you have a selvedger, you should use that to finish the edges. If you don’t have one, use a zig-zag stitch on the raw edges of the seams to stop fraying and to reinforce them.

Posted by Carlton Books • Published 4th February 2013 • See Carlton Books's 5 projects »