5 Ways to DIY Summer Shorts

Side note: I used to HATE wearing shorts. Up until last year I think I had one pair of knee-length cut-off hipster-riding-a-bike shorts. I think moving back to the super humid Midwest two years ago was part of the transition. Also, I think just getting older and becoming more confident is part of it too (if I'm being honest here, and, I guess I am). Now I'm a shorts lover. I made a pair of southwestern style shorts early on this season and then I caught the shorts DIY bug. Here's five super simple ideas for making your own pair of summer shorts!Doily shorts. One part grandma and one part beach babe. Wait, does that even make sense? The idea behind these is simply to find a cute fabric or an applique to sew on to your shorts. All the shorts in this feature were thrifted and washed. Then I roughed up the bottom hem of these using scissors.1. Supplies: doilies, needle & thread. 2. Simply sew doilies all along the hem of the shorts. These southwestern shorts were created using the same technique. I got the southwestern fabric from a child's poncho I thrifted and cut to fit my shorts. I've washed my shorts a couple of times now and the southwestern ones do fray, which I think adds to the look. But keep in mind that un hemmed edges of any fabrics or appliques you use will fray as you wash them.These black and white shorts have a more mod feel, plus I love vertical lines. I like to pretend they make me look taller. :)1. Supplies: contact paper, scissors, paint, paintbrush. 2. Begin by cutting long, thin strips of contact paper and apply them vertically all across the shorts. 3. Then, paint between each piece of contact paper. Let them dry over night and remove the contact paper. This is a fun way to add some texture to your shorts. You could add fabric to look like flowers or polka dots; we added fringe. I wanted the delicate fringe to mimic feathers. I love how these turned out, but I will say that these are hand-wash only since they could easily be damaged in the washing machine.1. Supplies: Sheer fabric, scissors, sewing machine. 2. Begin by cutting out strips of fabric and sewing them in layers onto the shorts. 3. Then, take scissors and fringe each layer, creating a feather like look!I love the look of these ombre bleached shorts. These are inspired from I Spy DIY. 1. Supplies: shorts, bleach, bucket, white vinegar, shorts hanger, and water. 2. Begin by filling a bucket with two parts water one part bleach. Place shorts into the bucket as far down as you would like to begin the bleaching process. Depending on how dramatic you would like the bleaching effect to be, leave them in the bucket for 5-30 minutes. Five being the minimal bleaching and thirty being the longest. Depending in the material, you might have to re-dip them multiple times to get the right effect. 3. Next, to stop the bleaching process dip the shorts into a bucket of two parts water one part white vinegar. Be sure you use white vinegar and not regular vinegar, since regular can create a very harmful chemical when mixed with bleach. Let them dry, and then hand wash them or wash them alone in the washing machine and dry them in the dryer. 

Have fun making your own summer shorts this season! Emma

Comments

[Kate @ A Creative Cookie]

These are FANTASTIC ideas!! Can't wait to try them!

xoxo Kate
http://acreativecookie.blogspot.com/
http://acreativecookie.blogspot.com/

[Sarah @ All Things Blogs]

I have got to try these! You girls are geniuses!

xo Sarah
http://allthingsblogs.blogspot.com/
http://allthingsblogs.blogspot.com/

[LARY@ Inspiration Nook]

OMG! I might have to make me some black and white shorts! Love them! I actually started wearing shorts recently too. I totally get what you're saying :)

[amy]

Wow! These are such brilliant ideas for shorts! I must give them a go - I like the doily idea best!

Love
amy
xx

http://www.dottypinkdesigns.blogspot.com
http://www.dottypink.co.uk

[Jess]

This is so awesome! I am going to try making a couple of these with some old shorts. Thanks so much for the ideas. =)

-Jess
http://wearegypsies.blogspot.com

[Carlee]

Love this post! My favorites are the last shorts and the one with the fabric of the poncho! Lovely.
Carlee

http://almostendearing.blogspot.com/

[Andee]

Emma what shoes are you wearing in the stripe photo?

[Angela Fischer]

I love the delicate fringe shorts! I think I may need to spice up a dress of mine ;).

[Louisa]

I want the doily shorts! Can't wait to try it out :)

[Maria]

I love the shoes in the stripe photo very very much (: where are they from?

[Tabetha]

My daughter will love this-- too cute!

http://aclosetintellectual.blogspot.com/

[elsie]

Q: I love the shoes in the stripe photo very very much (: where are they from?
A: Jessica Simpson Collection :)

[LesliMarie]

The doily shorts are great! I pick up tons of those(just because there so cute)at local thrift stores but then I never know what to do with them.

[marisa]

WOW ! I really like the first and the fourth pair !

[Emily]

I don't think it matters if you mix white vinegar or regular vinegar with bleach, they both contain acetic acid which will produce poisonous chlorine gas when reacting with chlorine bleach. A better way to neutralize bleach is to mix with hydrogen peroxide, the reaction yields oxygen, water, and salt, all harmless. Hydrogen peroxide is super cheap too.

[Diana]

I love the second version!

[Sarah]

I love the dip dye ones! I feel like you could easily create ombre shorts this way!

xoxo Sarah
theantiquepearl.blogspot.com

[CHICKYTHING]

clever ideas! Baffles me how you are able to do all these diys and blog posts!

[Sabrina]

Love the last idea! I got myself two pairs of cheap H&M jeans shorts lately, so I'm gonna try this out soon! :)

x
Sabrina
http://apixiesviewonfashion.com

[Luu]

I like the striped one most ;)