It’s that weird, false Fall season here in the South. Last week, the highs were in the low 80s, but we’re expected to reach triple digits again this week. I saw these cute linen short sets on Pinterest and was instantly inspired! I’ve been wanting to make another Heather Blazer for a while, but couldn’t stand the thought of wearing a heavy, lined jacket. Thankfully, Friday Pattern Company released a pattern hack for an unlined Heather. Originally, I was going to make the Seamwork Effie shorts or the Closet Core Poppy camp shorts, but I just didn’t feel like fiddling with a zipper fly. I ultimately decided to make the Seamwork Miller shorts, which I love, and the set turned out just the way I wanted! Using a gorgeous stretch linen provided by Minerva, I now have a stylish and cool-looking set to keep me stylish throughout the summer, spring, and fall!
I followed the instructions on Friday Pattern Company’s blog, only I didn’t crop my blazer. I wanted the full blazer experience, pockets and all, but just without a lining. For the seams, I made sure to stabilize them as much as possible, while still looking aesthetically pleasing. I finished the seams by threading my serger with rainbow thread, so if for some reason my seams would show, the viewer would get hit with a delightful rainbow! The Heather Blazer is slightly oversized and without the lining to take up some real estate, I was a little concerned that the blazer would look cartoonishly large on me. In the end, those concerned were unwarranted. The blazer length hits at my mid-thigh, which I thought would be the perfect length for the matching Miller shorts.
I’ve made several Miller shorts because they fit great, are easy to make, and just look so good! This time, I decided to make a couple of adjustments. To cut down bulk under the blazer, I sewed a size smaller than my usual size in the shorts. I also shortened the shorts by two inches, so they’d be about the same length as the blazer. An accidental adjustment I made was to shorten the height of the waistband casing by about ¼ inch. My elastic was wider than the pattern called for, so I made this quick adjustment while working on the waistband. This quick adjustment also helped to reduce bulk, but without sacrificing the paperbag waistband design detail.
Finally, no part of this set would be possible without the luxurious stretch linen from Minerva.com. The fabric is the Minerva Core Range Stretch Woven Linen Blend fabric in the color Jewel Green. It’s the same fabric I recently used for my Barbie-inspired Closet Core Jo. It comes in nearly 40 colors, so I’m sure you can find a color that speaks to you. Although it’s a stretch fabric, this medium/heavy fabric was sturdy enough to give the Heather blazer structure, without the need for any interfacings. It launders wonderfully, is easy to sew with, and keeps it color beautifully. So, what do you think about this blazer and shorts combination?
