Agua Fresca Shorts

food-trucks-austin

Sweet potato fries with chipotle aioli. Topo Chico, the Pellegrino of Texas. And then finish it all off with a watermelon agua fresca. Not a really balanced lunch, but there were cucumbers in there somewhere. Seriously, these are things I crave in mid-summer and they are so so Austin. As are food trucks, which I know are a foodie phenomenon all over the globe now, but we have them year round because we eat outdoors year round, and they are a staple in every neighborhood. It makes sense that low overhead dining would take off in a city with skyrocketing real estate.

me-and-food-truck

My friend Steph and I decided to brave the afternoon for some corn dogs and other good-bad food. I’m pretty sure I was blending, or maybe not, in my watermelony brights. I was thinking about watermelons all week long, a flavor–and color–I crave at the height of summer. Today went into the 100s again but I still thought it’d be fun to some kind of summery shoot of me in my Argentinian blanket shorts.

Woo, I made them again! These are Grainline’s Maritime shorts pattern. Actually, I made two pairs and took photos of the second, but the others are a totally different vibe and fabric so it might be a different post. For now I’ll revel in food truck land right in the middle of the hot hot afternoon.

sweet-potato-fries

watermelon-agua-fresca

As you might remember, I made these exact same shorts in too small of a size, but I didn’t let that deter me. I was testing my luck because I refused to make a muslin. Too little time. Having to print out and re-tape the pattern all over again was going to be my only penance on this one! But then of course I added time by making two. What’s the logic in that? When I want to prove to myself that a pattern can’t beat me, I make two. Take that, you pattern, you!

For my new pairs, I went up a size, then added just a bit of width to the thighs by re-drawing the inseams and outseams. These are somewhat slim-fitting shorts and I don’t have little thighs. I like the new shape a lot better, it’s more relaxed. However, after a wearing or two on both my pairs the fabric really relaxed and the shorts started to fall down! Oh the things you learn about fitting!

maritime-shorts-brights

maritime-shorts

I need a personal valet to periodically dry me off in this heat. I just live with the wrinkles.

I mentioned before that this fabric ravels like a monster, so it was necessary to serge every edge before starting. After that, I really loved working with it. It’s a very loose weave (which also contributed to the fabric relaxing with wear) and even though it’s acrylic, they’re super soft and feel quite cool. This is a very easy to make shorts pattern. (There are lots of good supplemental tutorials on Jen’s blog.) I’ve sewn lots of shorts so I went in my own direction with construction order and fly zip method. I like the simple shape and style, a short short, and I’m super happy to have added a few shorts to the wardrobe. I’m not a major shorts girl, but I just live in them in the house all summer. I’m also really craving a high-waisted pair, too, in a crazy printed denim. I just might hack this pattern into all sorts of things. It’s a really good base from which to work.

I don’t have a lot of details to show, but if you look at my previous attempt at these, they’re finished identically. I used Radiance silk cotton to line the waistband and pockets. (Do you know about the wonder that is Radiance fabric? I have probably made 5 yards of bias tape of this stuff, skirts, blouses, and linings.)

me-and-texas-girls

As you can see, Austin gets all beach loose and cash by high summer. Tight little shorts and flip flops are a college girl uniform around my hood.

Details:
Pattern: Maritime Shorts
Main fabric: Aguayo blanket fabric, Sweet Llama Supplies
Lining: Radiance silk cotton poplin, fabric.com (long ago stashed!)
Blouse: my favorite find last summer!
Photos of me: Stephanie Press

15 comments

    • Amy says:

      I know, could you tell food was on my brain? Those sweet potato fries were probably the most delicious thing I had all week!

  1. Sallie says:

    Just amazing!! I’m so happy you had enough fabric to make another pair – they’re really killer shorts!! Perfect for these hot, wilting days. I’ve been swilling the Topo Chico as well – and now you just made me crave watermelon agua fresca… AND Aguayo blanket fabric!! I might just copy your whole vibe here, is that okay?

  2. What an awesome post! Love the colours and the whole out and about in summer doing summer stuff. It’s been blowsy and rainy here the whole last week so these really make for a nice change. The shorts are cute too.

    • Amy says:

      thanks! this is pretty much high summer right now. Rain seems so far away, but I hope we have some soon!

  3. Gail says:

    I’m way past my shorts wearing days but I couldn’t go past these without a comment – fabulous colour, cut sexy without too much information and really interesting fabric.

    • Amy says:

      Thanks, Gail! I definitely would not go any shorter than this! Nor tighter, as I’m past the age for that, too.

  4. emily marie says:

    You had me at sweet potato fries with chipotle aioli, but the shorts. The shorts!! So glad you could churn out another pair after the ones that didn’t work out. That’s a fabric that deserves to be worn!
    Also, agreed on the radiance cotton/silk. It’s awesome. I would love to stockpile it like crazy for facings/bindings/linings etc., but only just added a yard to my fabric.com order. Thanks for the reminder!

  5. Heather says:

    These are the cutiest cute shorts ever. You’re such a mad fabric scientist to use a freaking blanket and I was nervous for you when you mentioned it before,but obviously, success. I made a pair or high waisted shorts this summer I haven’t blogged because they ride up and they’re pretty intense. I haven’t figured out how to wear them yet. It’s a lotta look.

    I want to eat ALL of the sweet potatoes.

    God I love food trucks.

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