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Introducing Iris
Meet Iris, our final addition to the Colette Patterns lineup for today!
Clearly, you guys were the inspiration for this pattern. So many of you asked for an easy shorts pattern, something cute and a little bit retro for summer. Since, along with sundresses, I basically live in brightly colored or patterned shorts in the summers, it didn’t take much arm twisting.
The Iris shorts have a medium-high rise, very similar to the Clover pants. Also like the Clovers, they have a side zip rather than fly front, which make them much faster and easier to put together, and gives that nice simple and flat front. A front-side seam holds in-seam pockets.
You can add buttons to the pockets, giving them a little bit of a nautical look, or leave them without for a really clean style.
Iris features a 4.5 inch inseam length. These are definitely not booty shorts or hot pants, but they’re also nowhere near bermuda length. Of course, you can always lengthen or shorten them to your taste.
Both of the versions you see here were made with a medium weight cotton twill. We paired them here with the Violet blouse, of course.
Iris is a classic summer staple, the type of thing you can whip up in a range of colors. That’s my plan, anyway.
Comments
Krystal
April 10, 2012 #
The new patterns are so adorable – I very much love Hazel!
charlottepb
April 10, 2012 #
This is a lovely garment added to the collection, well done!
Hannah Jean
April 10, 2012 #
I was just looking for a shorts pattern the other day and noticed how few and far between they are! I wound up buying one and altering it significantly. These are super cute and filling a big gap in the market!
Jessica
April 10, 2012 #
Absolutely gorgeous! I can’t wait to make these for summer!
Juli
April 10, 2012 #
Yay! I’m so excited for these new patterns. The two dresses are just adorable and I am really loving the new Iris shorts pattern – they look cute and summery without being short shorts. As someone who has never sewn shorts before, I am particularly excited about this pattern. As a side note, I’m currently working on a Sencha blouse in what I think is the same yellow polka dot fabric that is paired with the yellow shorts above… how funny! The polka dot print paired with the yellow shorts look so cute that I might have to start hunting for some yellow twill fabric for shorts! I just love your photo shoots for the new patterns. :-)
Amanda
April 10, 2012 #
Cute!! The other posts didn’t show up in my google reader for some reason but this one did. They’re all adorable! I also like your diverse models.
Amanda
April 10, 2012 #
Also, FYI, the first photo in this post isn’t showing up (at least for me).
Sarai
April 10, 2012 #
Eep, looks like that image was cmyk, so it wasn’t displaying in all browsers. I just fixed!
Suzy
April 10, 2012 #
Can you tell us how many pages the digital version takes to print out? Are all sizes included?
Sarai
April 10, 2012 #
All sizes are included. For Iris, the pattern pieces themselves are 20 pages. The instructions and details are an additional 16 pages.
Rebekka
April 10, 2012 #
Fabulous new patterns! Really cute shorts – almost makes me wish I was a shorts person (but I am definitely not, so I will just make the Clover in a capri length instead). I really like the Hazel!
Angela
April 10, 2012 #
I really like these! I look forward to trying them.
Amanda
April 10, 2012 #
These are adorable, chic and the absolute perfect length – I’m so excited to try them out!! :D
Violet
April 10, 2012 #
I don’t know how you do it! You’ve come up with sundresses that “anyone” can wear. They are fun, summery, yet modest and with minor adjustments appropriate for all ages.
I don’t wear shorts anymore but I’ll want to make these for the younger women in my life! I love the way they look and I’ll bet they are comfy as can be…move over shopping cart her I come!
Clare
April 10, 2012 #
Ooooh, much excitement here!!!! I am in nz so about to go into winter and desperate to make winter pants – Sarai, do you think the iris shorts could be extended into pants without too much trouble, I love wide legs pants and have made myself several pairs of the burda bella pants but have been desperately hoping you would do a wide leg pattern!
Sarai
April 10, 2012 #
I think it depends on how comfortable you are with altering patterns / drafting. Pants legs can get a little tricky sometimes, but I would certainly not discourage you from giving it a shot!
Many many people have asked for wide legs, so without giving too much away, you might see some from CP in the future. :)
Clare
April 10, 2012 #
I have just ordered with much excitement! And looking forward to seeing any future patterns too!
colleen
April 10, 2012 #
I am so happy to be printing out my Hazel right now! I’ll miss having the adorable little packet but I have many many others (hee hee). I also bought Iris and, now, after reading about Lily, I realize there’s no reason at all to leave her out of the mix. Very sexy, indeed.
Thanks so much!!!
Dana
April 10, 2012 #
LOVE these…… I am so happy you included shorts in this release. I was super excited when you went on holiday and showed us the versions you included in your holiday wardrobe but even more excited to have the opportunity to own this pattern!!!! It is going into Winter here in Australia (and I really ought to be sewing season appropriate clothes) but hey I could get a massive jump on Spring if I start sewing now right????
knitmo
April 10, 2012 #
These shorts are amazing, and basically what I’ve been looking for, for a long time.
Amy
April 10, 2012 #
These are adorable, I love the buttons on the pocket version. My favorite pair of shorts were similar and they just bit the dust, so as soon as I have a bit more experience I’ll have to make a pair or two of these.
Bethany
April 10, 2012 #
Anyone more tied into the blogs (i.e. not just a lurker) know if anyone is going to do an Iris sew-along for beginners?
I’m definitely tempted by these as they’re identical to the ones I was sketching (down to the yellow color!) that I remembered stealing from my mom years ago that sadly no longer fit! I’ll be keeping my eyes on Flickr for curvy Iris wearers–I’ve avoided sewing anything pant-like given the amount of heft I carry back there making fit intimidating for me!
Jackie
April 11, 2012 #
I am absolutely loving the new patterns. I recently purchased your book and my plan was to sew those up before buying any more, but I don’t think I can wait for that to happen! Those shorts must be mine!
Alexis
April 11, 2012 #
Oh these are absolutely perfect – i can’t get enough high(er) waisted shorts! Is there any way (maybe possibly a little tutorial or something) that you could show how to alter it for a higher waist?
Jesssie Bower
April 11, 2012 #
I love these! They are the kind of perfect shorts I have been looking for. Casual but can be made dressy and most of all they are longish and have a higher rise for us classy ladies. I am tired of finding all these crotch shot shorts in stores. Can’t wait for the sew along!
Wendy
April 12, 2012 #
I’m definitely going to make these this summer. I’ve been planning to make my first pair of trousers for a while, but have been feeling a bit daunted. Shorts require less fabric so should be a nice introduction! I am another fan of the higher waist as I have a long-waisted figure type, and like Alexis I would love to see a tutorial for us higher-waisted ladies.
Vanessa Traylor
April 12, 2012 #
Bought fabric for the Iris shorts today!!! Can’t wait to make some!
Natalie Deporto
April 23, 2012 #
Love these shorts! On the digital patterns, can you print out just your size or do you need to print the whole multi size pattern sheet?
Sarai
April 23, 2012 #
All the sizes are nested together. So you get all sizes, but it doesn’t mean you’re printing out that much more. Also, makes it easier to grade between sizes if you need to (e.g. if you’re one size at the waist, another size at the hips).
Joanne
June 23, 2013 #
I really LOVE the Iris shorts. Recently I looked in commercial pattern books for a shorts pattern and did not see one thing I really liked. Some were balloon-like in their elastic waist design, others were bermuda-shaped with the length 1″ above the knee. I was looking for shorts with some style to them. I plan to make a lot of shorts this summer as our desert is very hot for about 4 months. Usually buy stretch twill in a variety of colors and just live in them from morning to night.