Sew-Along #15 - Sketchbook Shirt + Shorts - Lesson #5

The Sketchbook Shirt + Shorts

If you have any questions, suggestions, or tips to share; please make sure to post them on our Facebook group.

Note: If you would like to see any of the images larger just click on them.  

Please read the directions in your Sketchbook pattern all the way through before you begin.  It's also a good idea to read through this sew-along lesson before starting.

We have a shirt, now we need some shorts!  Compared to the shirt, these are quite easy, I promise you.  And if you have sewed along with me on the Field Trip Cargo Pants, many techniques will be the same.

Lay out all your shorts pieces, turn on that iron, and let's get going...

Front Pockets

• Line up the curve of your front Pocket with the curve of your front pants piece - make sure Your fabric is RIGHT sides together.
  
  
  
• Pin in place.
• Sew along the curve from edge to edge with a 1/2" SA (seam allowance), back stitching at each end.
  
  
  
• Cut your SA to 1/4".
  
  
  
• Press your seam allowance towards the pocket.
• Flip the fabric so that your pieces are now WRONG sides together and press the curve of the pocket.
  
  
  
• Top stitch along the pocket edge.
  
  
  
• You can add a 2nd line of top stitching 1/4" from the edge if you would like.
• Take your pocket and lay it out so that the curved edges of the pocket and pocket lining match. 
  
  
  
• Pin in place.
  
   
• Stitch along the curved edge of your pocket.
  
  
  
• Finish the seam.

  

  Do not baste in place yet!

Front Pleats

• Make sure your markings are transferred form your pattern piece to your shorts front.
  
  
  
• Fold the shorts right sides together so that the marking match.
  
  
  
• Pin in place.
• Sew your pleat.  Make sure to back tack at the end.
  
  
  
• Press the pleat toward the pocket.
• Using a basting stitch, secure your pocket to the front piece along the top edge and side below the curve. (Make sure that the pocket overlaps the pleat if there is any overlap in your size.)
  

Leg Assembly

• Pin the out seam of your shorts together (one front, one back), right sides together.
  
  
  
• Sew.
• Finish your seam with a serger or zig zag stitch.
  
  
  
• Press the seam.
  
  
  
• Repeat on the other leg.
• Finish the raw edges of each inseam with a serger or zig zag.
  
  
  
• Sew the inseam together, right sides together.
  
  
  
• Repeat on the other leg.
• Press the seam open.

That's it for today - come back tomorrow to complete your shorts!!!

* If you would like to enter the prize drawing, please make sure you submit a picture of your completed Lesson 5 to the Facebook Album by 12:00 noon CT, Thursday, July 17th.

Suzanne