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Kim's Soline Shorts

Kim wears her Soline Shorts made from a bright pink floral barkcloth fabric. She is wearing a white graphic t-shirt and stands in front of a brick wall.
Instagram Handle: @diddlysquash_
Pattern Name and Designer: Soline Shorts (PDF only) by Staystitch Pattern Co.
Materials used: Blooms Barkcloth, Cording 
Fabric Recommendations: Hemptex Chambray, Kobe Twill 6oz, Nomad Linen Twill, or a printed canvas

Modifications: Lengthened inseam 2.5” 

I’ve never really been much of a “shorts” person, but sometimes it’s a lot of fun to break out of your comfort zone and go for something a little different. When this blooms barkcloth from Cloud 9 made its way into the shop, I immediately knew what I wanted to do with it. And that was the Soline Shorts from Staystitch Pattern Co. I’d seen this pattern made up many times on Instagram and always loved how they looked- that unique gusset pocket is just so clever! I figured the bold floral and thicker weight of the barkcloth would be a great choice for shorts that stood out from the crowd and were super comfy in this hot spring we’ve been having in Denver. 

Kim wears her Soline Shorts made from a bright pink floral barkcloth fabric. She is wearing a white graphic t-shirt and stands in front of a brick wall.

This was the first pattern from Staystitch Pattern Co that I’ve tried, and I was very impressed with both the ease of the instructions and the fit of the finished garment. I made a lot of pants last year in an effort to find my perfect fit, but these might just be my new favorite. I did minimal alterations to the pattern, just adding 2.5” to the inseam because I’m rather tall and prefer a longer short. The hip and the rise were already exactly as I like! In fact, I loved the fit of these so much I’ve already made the culottes version in our Hemptex Chambray and am eager to make more! Personally, I also think our new Kobe Twill 6oz would be a great choice, as would Nomad Linen Twill, or a printed canvas for some more fun prints. Just make sure to interface the paperbag waist if you use a lightweight fabric.  

Kim wearing her pair of Soline Culottes in Nomad Linen Twill in the color Juniper . She wears a white stripe tank top and is standing in front of a brick wallPictured: Kim wearing her culotte verison of the Soline Shorts in our Nomad Linen Twill in the color Juniper.  

One of my absolute favorite things about this pattern is the pockets. They’re *almost* too big, something I never thought I would say. There are three pocket options included in the pattern, the gusset pocket that I did, a patch pocket, and an inseam pocket. The patch pockets can also be added to the back, which I did. I love a good set of pockets. I was a little intimidated by the gusset pockets at first, but they were surprisingly easy and intuitive once I got them going, and again, the pattern’s instructions were quite clear and well illustrated. 

Image to the right is a close up shot of Kim placing a hand in one of the front pockets of her Soline shorts. The image to the right is a back profile shot of Kim showing off the back pockets of her Soline Shorts.

Of course, the real star of this show is the fabric. I’ve really been into bold florals lately, and these fit right into my regular wardrobe. These shorts are a fun way to brighten up a simple tee shirt. The barkcloth is surprisingly soft, but structured. I love how comfy it is on a hot day. I wore these shorts walking around downtown on an 80° day and they were perfect! The barkcloth is just a bit on the heavier side of what I’d recommend for this pattern, so instead of making the drawstring with the fabric as the pattern calls for, I used some of our by-the-yard cording. I think it’s actually a very cute detail, the knots on the ends just feel more summery to me. Definitely a substitution I’d make again.

Kim wears her Soline Shorts made from a bright pink floral barkcloth fabric. She is wearing a white graphic t-shirt and stands in front of a brick wall.

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