Hello, I am Cyndi from bdancewear.com. I am doing a little tutorial on how to create that special cheer short or dance short that is just a little bit different and super easy. I am going to show you how to make two tone shorts just by taking the waistband off and replacing it. These are actually a pair of our high waisted shorts and I brought them down to a lower waist line. I like these shorts because the band keeps your bottom covered for dance but you might want to try it with a pair of booty shorts because they have a little less coverage and you can just cut off the elastic and create the same type of band.
I was watching promotiondance.com and looking at some of their tutorials on how dancers or cheerleaders are seen by coaches or judges and how you could stand out from others. They gave little tips and tricks that you could use to get that professional dance or cheer job. Jessica and Brittany are professionals and watching them really made me think about that little piece, that little change that you could make, that little something that causes you to stand out from the other girls. One of my little pet peeves is when you go to a competition or go to judge somebody and two girls are wearing the same top. It is really easy to get those two girls mixed up in your head because you might see that top that stands out but so does that other one. You want to have a top that is different or shorts that are different. Whatever it is, you want to change yours out so that you stand out from the crowd and not just look like everyone else.
Brittany and Jessica at ProMotion Dance have some great tips and techniques. Check out their website at promotiondance.com and you will see an outfit kind of like this that I copycatted. I hope you do not mind, Brittany and Jessica, but I just wanted to show people how to get that little edge. It is super inexpensive and super easy to sew. I know I say this a lot, but I really try to create things so that anybody, even a beginner sewer, can do it.
So, this video is to show how to create two tone low rise shorts. Check it out.
Supplies:
- Booty or High Waisted Shorts
- Contrasting Fabric
- Matching Thread
- Pins
- Scissors
- Sewing Machine
Directions:
- Choosing Your Materials
You will need to choose either high wasted or booty shorts in a color of your choice and then choose contrasting Lycra or other stretchy material for the waist band. These choices are all strictly up to your preference. Just use a little creativity to make your shorts stand out.
I am using a pair of our high waisted shorts but you could use booty shorts if you prefer. One of the things I like about the high waisted shorts is that there is a band of Lycra at that bottom of each leg opening that helps hold the shorts down. For a professional cheer you might want to use booty shorts because they are a little skimpier.
- Cutting the Waist Band Away From the Shorts
The first step is to turn the top of the shorts over so that it is inside out. Where you see this seam, we are just going to cut that seam away. You want the shorts lower than our high waisted shorts but the basic short is good and this gives you a line to cut from right here. We are cutting just below that seam because the top of the shorts is going to go a little lower when we replace the band. When you are done, you will end up with a piece of fabric that you can use as a pattern.
Now that I have cut the band away from the shorts, I have two pieces. Normally our high waisted briefs have a lining but this pair was whipped together real quick to give you an idea of how it would work.
- Cutting the Fabric Band
Using the band we cut away, we can use it as a guide to cut the material. We know the width (the circumference) is good, but the band is just a little too tall. I am going to fold the band in half so that it is half as tall as it was originally. When it is sewn to the shorts, it will be folded in half so that it will be even shorter in height.
Now, the band is still in one circular piece so, in essence, it is folded in half. Therefore, we are going to fold the fabric in half. Next, we are going to place the band with one end on the fold of the fabric and cut the fabric along the other three edges of the band. Of course, you need to allow for seams on the three cut edges. When cut, the folded fabric will be equal in length to, and half the height of, the original band. If you wish to have the band a little bit larger or smaller in height, you can just add or subtract a little from the height of the fabric piece. Keep in mind, however, that the fabric piece will be folded in half in height when it is sewn on the shorts.
- Pining and Sewing Fabric Band
First pin the side seam together and sew it so that the fabric band is one continuous loop. You will definitely want to use a stretch stitch if your sewing machine has one. If it does not have a stretch stitch, use a zigzag stitch. For the purposes of this demonstration, I am going to use a zigzag stitch because it is a little faster. Whichever stitch you use, make sure to back stitch to catch the ends of the thread at the beginning and end of each seam.
Once you have sewn that seam, open the seam up so that the ends of the fabric are laying flat. Then, fold the fabric band in half lengthwise so that the outsides of the fabric is facing each other and start pinning the top and bottom of that strip together. Pin the edges together all the way around the loop. If you are uncomfortable, use more pins. I am used to not using pins so do not go by what I do. There are also little clips that you can use t keep the edges together while you sew. It is very important to remember that this fabric stretches and it moves easily. Since it is necessary to keep the edges together while you sew to make sure the fabric is snug and not curling or bending.
Before attaching this fabric band to the shorts, I am going to stitch a quick running seam close to the edge to keep the fabric edges together when sewing it to the shorts. As you sew this running stitch, make sure that the edges of the band have stayed together and the band is nice and smooth.
- Pinning the New Band to Shorts
Place the fabric band upside down on the outside of the shorts with the raw edge of the fabric band matched to the top edge of the shorts. Match the seam of the new band to the back seam of the shorts. Make sure to pin the fabric band to the shorts at various spots around the circumference e of the shorts starting with those back seams. Then, fold the fabric in half using that back seam at one side and pin the folded edge to the front seam. Match the front and back seams together and pin the resulting folded edges on the left and right sides of the band and the shorts together. This will result with the band pinned to the shorts in four evenly placed spots. Once you have pinned the band to the shorts, you will notice that the circumference of the new band is slightly smaller than the circumference of the shorts. I suggest that you stretch the band just a little until the band is even with and lays flat on the shorts. You will then want to pin them together in between the four pins to keep the band and shorts together as they were when they were stretched out.
If for some reason the band edges are not even or you want the height of the band smaller, this is the point where you can correct it. Just pay attention as you are pinning it to the shorts to make those corrections.
- Sewing New Band to Shorts
It is preferable to use an overlock or baby lock machine if you have one. If not, use the stretch stitch or zigzag stitch. Stretch the band out as you sew so that it lays flat. When using the stretch or zigzag stitch, I use the running stitch I sewed earlier as a guide and stitch just outside of it so that it is hidden when the band is sewn to the shorts. Remember to pay attention as you sew so that the band is not gathered and the edge has not slipped away from the edge of the shorts.
If for some reason the band edges are not even or you want the height of the band smaller, this is the point where you can correct it. Just pay attention as you are pinning it to the shorts to make those corrections.
There you go. You have a new contrasting band on your shorts creating a look that is going to stand out. It is almost impossible for anyone else to have a pair of shorts just like yours. It is really that easy!
Thank you for watching this video and if you enjoyed it, make sure to click here and subscribe to our channel so that you do not miss any of the amazing videos that we will have coming out. If you want to get our free complete dance costume DIY guide, click right here or go to bdancewear.com/DIY guide. Thanks again for watching. Lastly, if you have any questions or ideas for future videos or demonstrations, please leave them in the comment section below or contact us through our YouTube channel or on our website – bdancewear.com
Remember – be original, be colorful, bdancewear.com.
