I’ve got thick thighs. They’re muscular from carrying around lazy pugs, hauling babies up stairs, and… a they’re little chubby due to my love of ice cream and chocolate and poutine. When I was younger, I used to be very thin, but age has but a few extra pounds on me. I don’t really mind, but one thing that is a little annoying is when you’re wearing a skirt or dress on a hot summer day and your sweaty thighs rub against one another as you’re walking… The dreaded thigh chafe.
I tried making lace bands, but they just rolled up or fell down. I tried powders and creams, but those didn’t last. So, I made some 1990’s style bike shorts… and finally found something that works!
These are your basic fitted bike short. They have no side seam, and the pattern consists of only two pieces: The Shorts Piece and a Gusset. I added a gusset so you can wear these a la carte if you wish.
It hasn’t been terribly hot here this summer (not complaining), but I’ve still been getting a lot of wear out of these. They’re great for under too-short skirts and dresses, or for wearing to bed with a tank top! I’ll be honest… I sometimes just wear them all day because, let’s face it, they’re kind of cute.
I’ve added a size to this pattern: XXL. I personally find the sizing to be generous, especially if you sew these out of a good, 4-way stretch fabric.
These shorts don’t require much… just some stretchy knit fabric (cotton/lycra is ideal), some wide stretch lace, a little fold over elastic for the waist (though I’m sure you could also make a casing and use regular elastic), and some thread. I’ve already made myself 3 pairs of these!
This pattern will be available for FREE for the month of July on Craftsy. After July it will no longer be free, so download it while you can!
PS. Today is my birthday!
PPS. I named these after Hilda the curvy pin-up.
27 Comments
Emma
July 1, 2015 at 11:49 amHappy Birthday!
Thanks for the wonderful pattern, these are much nicer than any bike pants I've ever seen!
Friederike
July 1, 2015 at 1:05 pmHappy Birthday and thank you very much for this pattern!
I was wondering about that "thigh problem" just the other day and thought of making some kind of shorts. I really love the lace detail so will probably get a lot of use out of this pattern. 🙂
Jessica
July 1, 2015 at 1:14 pmHappy Birthday and Happy Canada Day!
I have heard about bike shorts as a remedy for thigh chafe. Definitely downloading this one, thank you!
Evie
July 1, 2015 at 2:05 pmHappy birthday! Cute pattern.
Susan
July 1, 2015 at 3:38 pmHappy Birthday and that you for the pattern!!
Meg
July 1, 2015 at 5:18 pmToday is my birthday, too! Happy birthday, and what a fun pattern 🙂
Elfi
July 1, 2015 at 8:20 pmHappy birthday and thank you for the pattern
tinyjunco
July 2, 2015 at 1:33 amHappy Birthday – and i love the way you celebrate it:) Free bike shorts! You are an angel from above! i love wearing voluminous skirts, however sometimes teh wind has a way of doing the seven year itch thing. How nice to have a bit more coverage. I've been shopping seriously for a year, nothing is quite right.
This should fix that. Thank you!!!
prudence yeo
July 2, 2015 at 9:30 amVery lovely floral bike shorts, the lace hem is so pretty and also have practical usage! Awesome piece!
Prudence
http://www.prudencepetitestyle.com
Janey
July 2, 2015 at 12:59 pmThese are very cute and happy birthday!
Donna St
July 2, 2015 at 1:43 pmThanks for your generosity! And have a wonderful birthday. I hope this coming year is the best year ever for you!
Craft Sanctuary
July 3, 2015 at 1:52 pmHappy Birthday! And, thank you! These are so cute!
Craft Sanctuary
July 3, 2015 at 1:56 pmHappy Birthday! And, thank you! These are so cute!
SewTypical
July 4, 2015 at 1:59 pmHappy Birthday and thank you!
very cute bike shorts!
Kerrie Erb
July 4, 2015 at 4:28 pmHappy Birthday!! Thanks for the gift for us 🙂
Louisa
July 5, 2015 at 3:08 pmHope you had a very Happy Birthday – and you gave us a present! Thanks for a pattern that not only can I totally use but that includes a size that fits my lumpy elderly body. Yay! Now to get some wide stretch lace…
mema
July 7, 2015 at 7:02 pmThank you for the gift. And a very Happy Birthday. Two years ago I found a creme for "sweaty thighs rub against one another". But the pattern ist nice for some other opportunity.
Birgit
July 16, 2015 at 2:59 pmI'm only reading this now while catching up after my vacation, so I hope you had a wonderful day on your birthday and celebrated it well! Thank you for the pattern, no more thigh chafe from now on!
Shaneka Giscombe
July 20, 2015 at 9:48 pmIf sewn in the correct fabric, could these be made into swim shorts, especially if I add a swim lining into them? I need a pair of swim shorts with more coverage.
sarah.e.norwood@gmail.com
July 21, 2015 at 2:05 pmI don't see why not! I'd definitely line them. Share your results if you decide to give it a try!
TracyKM
July 28, 2015 at 8:17 pmBelated Happy Birthday! I was just wondering if the sizes given in the chart are the body measurements, or the finished measurements. I'm making a pair for my daughter, and she's got a Large waist and Small hips (if those are body measurements). She likes to wear her shorts lower than her waist, like shown in your picture–but do I still measure her waist? Thanks!
sarah.e.norwood@gmail.com
July 29, 2015 at 3:24 pmThe measurements are body measurements. These sit about mid-way between the hips and natural waist on me. I'd recommend cutting the small.
TracyKM
August 27, 2015 at 2:32 pmI finally got these posted on my blog! http://tracykm.blogspot.ca/2015/08/pink-shorts.html I realized as I was writing the post, I could use the pattern to make her some boyshort underwear, which is all she wears. And maybe even some for myself…
TracyKM
July 31, 2015 at 10:50 pmThanks! I cut the small, but did ease out to a large above the notches. I used a Tommy Hilfiger jersey sheet that I picked up at Value Village a few years ago; I've previously made her a dress with it. So comfy. For the elastic, I used some sparkly wide elastic off underwear she outgrew! LOL. They're very cute and I'll be posting them to my blog soon and will link back here! 🙂
sarah.e.norwood@gmail.com
July 31, 2015 at 11:46 pmThey sound great! I love repurposing old things too 🙂
Gabrielle
August 11, 2015 at 9:04 pmDarn, I just found your blog today! Missed out on what I didn't know was out there. I'm enjoying the visit, none the less.
Annette
November 8, 2021 at 3:56 pmUnfortunately, this one is gone. And I could not find it anywhere on that page 😔…