Time to clear something off the UFO pile. I started these shorts on my trip home to Hawaii in August.  They were the product of desperation and necessity — I’d forgotten to pack enough shorts, it was really hot, and I was running out of clothes.  The fabric is something I bought for $1 a metre almost 20 years ago and left in Hawaii because I really don’t love the colour, and Simplicity 1230 was the only shorts pattern still in my stash under my parent’s house. Before I got any further than cutting the shorts out, I stopped by the only op-shop on the island and picked up a couple of pairs of shorts for $1 each, so I didn’t need to finish these, and didn’t want to, because I’d rather have been sewing for Mum.  So the cut-out shorts and pattern came home with me and languished in my UFO pile.  This was partly because I’ve been super busy, but also because mint green and shorts (especially pleated shorts) are something I wore …

Remember  Butterick 7988?    I’ve been  desperate  for an excuse to make this pattern every since I bought it. This week’s challenge on Sew Weekly was ‘Winter’, which kinda sucks ’cause it finally isn’t winter in New Zealand.  But hey, at least it was an excuse to make this pattern, because as much as I love skirts, but I  loathe  tights, so for all that I am super-vintage girl, I wear pants/trousers/slacks (whichever you prefer to call them) almost exclusively all winter long. So not winter, but hey, an excuse to make my pattern, and at least I can wear them  during every  summertime southerly. I’m making my slacks up in a lovely wool with a subtle tartan pattern in blue, grey and beige. Of course, from any distance more than 6 inches, it just look pale grey.  Also, it doesn’t lend itself to the fabulous safari styling on the pattern.  But I’m still super excited about this particular slack pattern.  Why?  This: See it?  No? Want another look?  See it?!?   See it?!? Or …