City Gym Shorts x 3

A couple of weeks ago I made a few pairs of the Purl Bee’s City Gym Shorts.  I know, I’m a little late to the game (a lot late, this free pattern came out in 2014) but that’s how I roll.  I had some of this lovely double gauze left but not a lot and in oddly cut pieces from when I made my Esme dress (see here).  Just the right amount to make three pairs of shorts; one for me, my girl and her girl.

The fabric is a dreamy double gauze called Monochrome by Ellen Baker for Kokka. The waist bands are made with a tan linen and the gold and cream bias tape I bought on Etsy.

Let me start off by saying, I never intended to wear “matchy” clothes with my daughter.  In fact, I remember being in my late 20’s, early 30’s, and a dear friend with four children busted out her scrap-book to show me her matchy Laura Ashley dresses that she and her eldest wore when her daughter was young. I might have teased her and I know I laughed.  (Sorry BZP!!!!)  I get it now.  The thing is, now that I have a daughter, I will wear ANYTHING that matches with her.  Anything, folks.  This girl is one of the rulers of my heart and the fact that she thinks I am cool enough to match with her?  Well, that’s pretty special in my book.  When I mentioned I was making these shorts and she said she wanted a pair but that her doll Kit Kittredge needed a pair too?  I was on it.

Us three.

Kit is also wearing a homemade shirt.

The only down side for me is that I cut and sewed a large when I should have made a medium.  Also, the fabric has a loose weave and adds to the bigger end of things.  In the above pictures I have a lot of excess room and have gathered it all in the back.  My shorts are going back in the pile to seam rip (arrrggghhh!!!) and recut and sew.  I do love the shorts pattern and it was a very well written and it’s free!  It’s also a great scrap buster.  For Kit Kittredge, I just traced a pair of 18″ doll pants and cut them short length, with rounded corners.  I didn’t sew a linen waist band, instead I just folded over the top and sewed elastic (pulled tight) to the inside of the shorts.  I think Kit likes hers too.  I will be making more of these for sure!

Mine.

Hers & Hers.