Today, I’m stepping way outside of my comfort zone with a pair of shorts!

I’ve written before about how shorts aren’t really a garment I wear. But, here I am, trying to be brave.

The pattern is Mccall’s 7726, which I’ve sewn before.

For more general info about sewing up Mccall’s 7726, I’d suggest you check out that post. When I’ve made a pattern multiple times, the first post always tends to be the most comprehensive if you’re wanting to learn about the sewing experience!

The shorts are view A of the pattern. I sized up since my previous version a few years ago – these are a size 18.

The fabric I’ve used is truly wonderful. It’s soft stretch twill tencel from Meter Meter – this one is the “mustard” colour way, although I would call it more of a golden caramel kind of tone.

Word of warning – it’s a bit narrower than usual for their tencel fabrics, which (despite it being well marked warning on their website) I didn’t notice until after ordering. This meant that I didn’t have enough fabric to make the fabric belt to go with these shorts.

But, since I figured I wanted to mostly wear it with the belt featured in these photos in any event, no biggie!

Ahhh big 4 instructions

Despite this not being my first time sewing this pattern, I found the instructions pretty atrocious to follow.

Just as I found the first time around, the zipper fly instructions were pretty incomprehensible. Whereas the first time I sewed Mccall’s 7726, I took out my Ginger Jeans instructions and followed those to install the zipper, this time, I thought, I’ve done enought zipper fly fronts by now.

I’ve got this.

Well, ummm, actually, I don’t got this.

I managed to colossally mess up the installation and somehow end up with something that looked totally like a zipper fly and was fully installed, but still burst open and kind of “unfolded” on my body.

In other words, it was so badly messed up, I had no idea how to fix it.

Plus, in the process, I’d already actually accidentally sewed it closed twice and had had to completely unpick it.

So, umm, yeah. Lesson of the day is that I totally do not yet know how to install a fly without instructions.

But, after having all done all this, when I tried them on for the first time and thought “what the f@&k”, I also realised that I could get them on and off without the fly!!!!

YEAH!!!

On my body, the waist of the size 18, gave me about 5cm positive ease around the waist which, combined with the fact that this is stretch fabric, meant that these shorts can be easily slipped on and off.

So I sewed a channel into the waist, which is created by folding down a self-facing, whacked some elastic in there and, there we have it. Elastic waisted shorts.

Who needs a fly anyway?

So these shorts have now joined my ever growing elastic collection. Check out more recent elastic loving here.

Cuff you

The other thing I found frustrating about using McCall’s 7726 in the shorts form is that the visual appeal of the shorts depends a lot, in my view, on the cuff, which is simply created by making a short hem and folding upwards to the length desired.

This means that you have to think carefully about how you want to finish your seam allowances at the side seam and the inseam, because this will be visible on the outside once the cuff is folded over. I didn’t have enough fabric to make bias binding, which likely wouldn’t have worked especially well in view of the thickness of this fabric.

So I decided to fold the seam allowance on each side in on itself and stitch down (to itself) to give it a clean look. I’m sure there’s a name for this seam finish – I just don’t know it!

In terms of length, I simply overlocked the end of my pants leg and folded it over 1.5 inches twice. Rather than keeping it as a loose folded cuff, I actually just decided to hem it at this length.

And I think that’s about all I have to offer you on these McCall’s 7726.

In all honesty, I’m not totally sure how I feel about them – shorts are just not a natural state of being for me. But, I’m definitely feeling that they’re my favourite shorts I own (out of two!), so that’s a good start.

Could be worse, after all.

At least there’s elastic!

Oh and, finally, a little P.S! If you like to get your blog hits through Bloglovin’, feel free to follow me over there: you can find me here. And you can find me on Instagram here.