Finished making my first pair of shorts

[mary9761]

http://photobucket.com/albums/a361/mary9761/making%20my%20own%20bike%20shorts/ I just finished making my first pair of bike shorts. :D I had tried to find the pattern that Penny recommends on her site, http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/tips/sources.asp but, it's discontinued from the manufacturer. I found a pattern by Jalie http://sewing.patternreview.com/cgi-bin/patterns/sewingpatterns.pl?patternid=2375 and I have just finished my first pair of shorts. These are simple 4 panel shorts without padding or chamois. I had to double the fabric (basically lining the shorts) as the original lycra I purchased (have since found heavier weight) was too sheer for my liking. The front and back are self lined with the black lycra and the side panels have been lined with a wedgewood blue cotton jersey. The way that I've lined the crotch area there are NO seams to rub so I'm really liking them. :D
I haven't had a chance to REALLY ride in them yet, but OMG, just the short ride up and down the street in them yesterday, they were SOOOOOOO comfortable compared to wearing the blue jean shorts that I've been wearing. I even wore them commando :p What a difference they are going to make on my longer trips I'm sure already. No pulling elastic or shifting seams. I'm going to make myself some more soon.
Right now I'm in the process of transferring the jersey pattern to freezer paper so I can iron it to the test fabric. I have a feeling I'm going to need to make some adjustments to this men's/unisex pattern for my larger chest. Wish me luck. :D I'll post photos when I get a jersey finished as well.

[Pedal Wench]

Beautiful!!! I was gonna say that now you need a proper jersey, but I see that you're already working on that! They look awesome, and I LOVE the fabric choice! Very chic!

[Irulan]

way to go, let me know if you want a copy of what I use for a chamois.

irulan

[mary9761]

way to go, let me know if you want a copy of what I use for a chamois.

irulan

I would appreciate that. Thanks

[HipGnosis6]

Chamois pads can be purchased and added to stuff. I buy mine at Seattle Fabrics (http://www.seattlefabrics.com) and have put them into storebought lycra tights and shorts, and have contemplated making my own bike shorts and jerseys. I'm very tall and not exactly svelte so I'm having the devil of a time finding stuff to fit me, so why not make it?

I'm very pleased to find other folks making their own cycling clothes!

How IS that Jalie pattern? The Green Pepper bike patterns kind of suck.

[Irulan]

I hate that Seattle Fabrics chamois, feels like a mattress, no thanks for me.

If you want a copy of that chamois pattern I have, you'll need to PM me your address.

Other jersey notes. I'm very careful about how much lycra I use; I use it only for small panels and not for large areas. It doens't wick, and I find it holds moisture in the most unpleaseant ways. I use a wicking supplex for my main body panels, and swim lycra for the trim.

here's one of my pages on making your own cycle stuff. I guess I need to update it with the two new jerseys.

http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/tips/shorts.asp

here are my two lastest creations. My buddy CDB LOVES his Liberace jersey...

[Pedal Wench]

Irulan - is that YOUR webpage? If so, THANKS! I was in touch with you about two years ago regarding a tent fly I was trying to design. Wow - when worlds collide!

We were trying to cut as much weight as possible before a long hike through and across the Grand Canyon, and wanted to design our own lightweight fly. That webpage really helped give us ideas on what would be possible.

[Irulan]

yes that's me. the internet shrinks the world.

;-)

[emily_in_nc]

here's one of my pages on making your own cycle stuff. I guess I need to update it with the two new jerseys.

http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/tips/shorts.asp

here are my two lastest creations. My buddy CDB LOVES his Liberace jersey...

Oh my - I loooove the pink jersey! Would be so purty with my raspberry Aegis! Do you do custom orders, by any chance? If so, I might ask my husband to buy me one for Christmas!

Emily

[HipGnosis6]

I hate that Seattle Fabrics chamois, feels like a mattress, no thanks for me.

If you want a copy of that chamois pattern I have, you'll need to PM me your address.

Other jersey notes. I'm very careful about how much lycra I use; I use it only for small panels and not for large areas. It doens't wick, and I find it holds moisture in the most unpleaseant ways. I use a wicking supplex for my main body panels, and swim lycra for the trim.

here's one of my pages on making your own cycle stuff. I guess I need to update it with the two new jerseys.

http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/tips/shorts.asp

here are my two lastest creations. My buddy CDB LOVES his Liberace jersey...

I really like the jerseys you made - and I'd like your chamois pattern. I'll send my address to you for sure. I'm personally OK with the two pairs of shorts I've added the Seattle Fabrics bike pads to, but I only use them on the daily commutes and not on longer rides. I have one pair of nicer store-bought bike shorts (Pearl Izumi Microsensors) but I find them to be too short - instead of stopping above the knee, they bind around the middle of my thighs. I'm 6" tall!

Jerseys off the rack at my height and size are even more hopeless, and I feel very inspired by seeing that there are other folks out there building their own!

[Irulan]

don't get me going on binding shorts elastic... the numbers they give to cut the elastic for are for toothpick people!!!

oh, yeah, the Jalie pattern is nice, that is the one I've used for the two pictured jerseys. I'm not a fan of GP patterns either.

Irulan

[natheless]

Awesome thread!

I think I am too much of a beginner at sewing to dive right into working with Lycra (just purchased my first machine - my winter plan is to learn how to use it), but I am so glad I saw this - it will definitely give me something to work towards.

Thanks!.../julia