Hope y’all aren’t Thurlow’d out yet – because I need to unveil my new velvet shorts!
Ok, ok, so they’re actually more like a velour – the pile is very short. Regardless, aren’t they luscious? Just right for adding a little ~glam to my outfit, except in super comfy short-form.
For those of you who are staring at me right now and trying to figure out why anyone would wear shorts with tights in December, I just want to point out that today’s high in Nashville is 66*. That’s almost too warm for tights!
Not much to report on the construction of these – for construction deets, you can check out the whole tag for my Thurlow Sew-Along (albeit with pants instead of shorts – they go together the same way, though!). I did not make any changes to this pattern other than my initial fitting changes. As a result, they came together quite quickly!
I did have to futz around a LOT with the cutting layout, as this piece of velvet was super duper tiny – I think I might have had 3/4 yard, and it was irregularly shaped. I found it lurking in the bin at the Goodwill Outlet, so I have no idea where it originated from. I had to omit the cuff section on my original pattern pieces, as there simply wasn’t enough room for the whole thing. The front pocket facings are actually pieced together from several different scraps – luckily, you don’t see much pocket facing from the front, so you can’t really tell.
To compensate for my lack of main fabric, I used a very fine wale corduroy (I couldn’t find a proper black velour, for some reason??) to make the cuffs and the waistband. I think it helps break up that crazy velvet pattern a bit, which is a good thing! Oh, and I omitted the belt loops. I was planning on adding them – even cut the piece out – but they just looked too busy. This velvet is a little bulky, so I was trying to keep things sleek 🙂
I did make welt pockets in the back, using the floral velvet. You can’t see them to well, though.
But I promise they are there!
I hemmed these a little longer than my previous shorts – I tried with my normal inseam (which is, like, nonexistent. I’m short!), and they just looked like velvet hot pants. So these are a little long, for me, anyway!
Told ya there was a pocket there 😛
Oh my god this picture is so bad HAHA
I decided to hold back on the crazy lining and let the velvet be the ~star of these shorts. Also, I had black broadcloth in my stash and everything I looked at in the fabric store just looked awkward and sad. So.
I’m sorry these pictures are so bad. I guess I could have gotten up early to take them, but, eh, it’s winter and you get nighttime pictures.
Here are some weird outtakes to make up for that. I have no idea what I’m doing in either of these, btw. Dancing, I guess? I was listening to Ace of Base.
lol, the things I do for you guys.
Oh, and my whole outfit is handmade! The top is my Mustard Renfrew and the sweater is my Central Park Hoodie (and I guess you all realize now that I still haven’t added any closures, aha).
How do you feel about wearing shorts in the winter? What if they are velvet shorts?
LLADYBIRD 
Great job! That outfit is totally ‘you’ – looks great! Love the combination. Well done.
I think your look is great! Love the shorts and the cardi. Wish I had the legs to pull off a look like that. BTW, I think the shorts are the perfect length for wearing with tights.
And I SO enjoy your blog, you are my sewing-idol!
Lol you dancing to Ace of Base has made me laugh on a particularly rotten day.
Also, I love that you put so many pockets in things; I love pockets. Inspired by this I went ahead and made the pocket in my anniversary dress a welt pocket (eventually I’ll put a 2nd one in but ran out of time lol oh well…)
Yessss, welt pockets! Love it!
Those are some pretty snazzy shorts, lady! Love them mucho!
I’m loving your winter velour shorts. I just made some winter shorts. Love ’em. It’s not that cold here in Indiana so I hear ya. Here’s a link to see my gams: http://threedresses.wordpress.com/2012/11/10/boucle-shorts-aka-showing-my-gams/
Ooh, shorts made from suiting fabric! What a good idea!! I love them 🙂
Thanks. They’re super squishy soft. I think I’m ready to make shorts that sparkle next. Gimme shiny. Shiny shiny shiny.
Soooper cute! xx
Awesomeus Maximus! I absolutely love those velvet shorts. I could never pull them off with my figure, but I love them on you. Velvet shorts and thick tights – win, win.
Yeahhhh! I was just wearing some wool suiting Thurlows yesterday! I want these too! Mad pattern!
Fabulous!! Before you and Tasia and the Thurlow pattern, I never would’ve even thought about shorts with tights! Such a great idea =D
And our low is 66 haha. Our high today is 76, so still short sleeve weather =D I think I might be the only person in Texas that likes temperatures above 75 in December.
How fun! Sometimes I dislike the shorts+tights look and other times I love it; these velvet shorts need to be paired with tights so I love it! 🙂
I’m still wishing I could get my booty lookin’ good in the Thurlows because I need them dearly! So I’m living through yours which means keep ’em comin. heh
66 degrees? I thought that temperature was a myth…It’s snowing in Minnesota!
That is an awesome pattern on those shorts-how did you find velvet with that?
Also, loving the Thurlows!
super cute!
They look great. You are a sewing machine!
Shorts with tights and big boots are a glamour staple in my mind. I made amazing red and black vertical striped shorts in baby cord (practically velvet) that I loved for years, and one year my Christmas party outfit was brocade hot pants. This was in the nineties, but I still would wear them. I have chevron brocade I might make hot pants with for NYE..
PS- I live in MN, where girls have legs impervious to cold..
Ohhh, I love your description of your Christmas party outfit. Sounds totally chic!
It must be so satisfying to wear a completely you-made outfit. It looks great. The shorts are so cool 😀
great shorts! i think if you wear shorts in the winter they should be made of something fancy like velvet or brocade or sequins or something. i’m loving velvet lately. you’ve made me crave some me-made velvet shorts now!
Great shorts, totally love the fabric you chose. I can see those last three images made into a dancing Gif. That dance Elaine from Seinfeld does with the thumbs? 😛
lol if only I could dance as, uhm, well as Elaine! 🙂 hahahaa!!!
I don’t wear shorts anytime LOL, but I think shorts in the winter are cute, and they look good on you!
Those are great! Can you be any cuter?
fab shorts! you put things so well together, you’re just so fandabbydozy!!
The shorts are so cute!
The shorts are great! I’ve always liked the shorts with tights look. Like you said it’s been so unusually warm that you don’t even need tights. I’m from Indiana and it doesn’t even seem like Christmas! Every week you have another awesome outfit. i swear you are a machine! Are you the type to have two projects going at once or do you work one at a time?
Nope, I’m actually pretty monogamous with my sewing – one project at a time, and I don’t let myself start anything new until the last one is completely finished (and that includes hemming, sewing hooks & eyes, stuff like that). Sometimes I’ll let myself cut out fabric for a couple of projects at once, but everything is sewn one at a time. It’s the only way I can actually finish stuff & not leave it as an eternal UFO haha.
Gorgeous! How did you find working with the velour? Did you do anything special to it? I’m always itching to sew with velvet but I’m totally freaked out about working with anything with a “pile”.
You know, this stuff had a really low pile so it was easy to work with – I didn’t even have to mess with my cutting layout (and, thank God, because there was barely enough of it!) since there was no nap. It did shine like hell when I pressed it, so a pressing cloth was essential (although this was polyester, might be different with a velvet in a natural fiber). Oh, and it shed all over the place. There are little tufts of black fuzz all over my sewing room now haha.
Gah! I need these in my life right now. I so love the shorts and tights look in winter and these are sassy. Well played, lady 😀
Just wanna say your blog is awesome. I ran across it trying to solve a mystery involving an outrightly butchered 100 year old skirt I purchased and discovered that you also live in Nashville! Anyway, your work is beautiful, I’m envious of your sewing room, and thanks for a great read! 8D
These are cuuuute! The fabric is just killer….like a tapestry you can wear. Hurray for the Goodwill outlet! PS: So neat to meet you and everybody else on Saturday! 🙂
Love that fabric! It’s perfect here, and I love that you’ve used some corduroy to finish these off. FYI: Super jealous that its 66 there. Seriously – Chicago is killing me. Can I come visit? 🙂
Yes yes, you come visit – although the temperature dropped this week, it’s still a balmy mid-50s 🙂
First of all, you’re a fantastic hostess, and we had so much fun on Saturday. Hope you felt good on Sunday! Second, these shorts are adorable. I LOVE THAT FABRIC. Shorts + tights = a very good look for winter, especially in Nashville. What kind of shoes do you usually wear with shorts and tights, though? That always confuses me.
Yes! Saturday was awesome! And I was surprisingly not-hungover on Sunday (although I did want to sleep all day – I think that had more to do with the weather and my laziness, though :)).
Idk about shoes! I’m figuring that out myself right now haha. One can’t go wrong with boots, of course. I’m also wondering if black loafers would be cute? Hm I wish I had a pair haha!
These are great! I think shorts with tights and boots is a cute look. I love your whole outfit, especially since it is all made by you. I have a very similar velvety floral material that I set aside to make a pair of shorts to wear with tights, but I’m unsure how I’ll like the look, so I haven’t started them yet. Seeing yours makes me want to move it back up to the top of my sewing to-do list.
Velvet shorts! Ugh, they’re perfect. I’ve been musing on the idea of these for weeks now and you’ve got my brain whirring again!