I finished a simple project!
The story behind these is that back in 2015, I made cotton tap pants to wear under my dresses and skirts in the summer. Here is the link to the original post. Wow, I can’t believe it’s been five years!
The original tap pants have been great and seen tons of wear! In fact, the original pairs are pretty much threadbare on the inseams. I’m kind of surprised they’re still holding together, as there’s not much left!
I made another pair with slight pattern tweaks about two years ago, but I felt it was time to add a few more pairs into the rotation. I found great satisfaction in the theme of all three of my older pairs having dots on them (in addition to the dots on the pairs in the original blog post, the third pair was made out of scraps left over from my Bubble Dots Skirt). So when I had this idea to make more tap pants over the winter, I was on the lookout for new dotty fabrics that I could make into shorts to stay with the theme.
I would have made multiple pairs out of the green fabric if I could, but there wasn’t much left on the bolt, so I had to pick a second fabric. The white background fabric has allium flowers printed on it. I love the round shape of allium flowers in full bloom, so this fabric was what I decided on.
After being washed a few months ago, the new fabrics sat around until April, when I was inspired to tweak my pattern (again–this is the third time) and cut out the pieces. About a month after that I finally got inspired to whip these up.
As with the other tap pants I’ve made these are entirely machine sewn with the seam allowances finished with an overlock machine. The waist is zig zagged to a bit of loop edged elastic. And really, that’s all there is to them!
Sometimes a quick project is just the thing to feel successful. And it’s great to fill a wardrobe need with handmade items, especially when they bring extra joy, as these do by continuing the dotty theme.
The Quintessential Clothes Pen 
These are so cute, Quinn! I love the prints you chose. We sometimes have wild onions growing in our garden, and the bulbs are indeed very cool. I, too, find tap pants indispensable under skirts – and they are so fun to make because they take no time to whip up, right? I love the pretty elastic edging you used. I always sew my tap panties the historical way with buttons or snaps but I need to try your method for when i make another pair…it would makes things much easier!
I find it so challenging to get around to making the super necessary stuff, myself. But often it ends up being so easy to make I say to myself ‘why did I procrastinate’?!
Haha, yes, I love this quick, satisfying project! It’s fun to know that I’m not the only person who wears shorts under skirts! 🙂
The elastic definitely makes them very easy to wear. And yes, you are right, sometimes the necessary stuff is not easy to actually get on the sewing table!
Thanks for engaging with me here and on your blog! 🙂
For the past 12 years, I’ve worn skorts by preference, and until this year wore slips under all dresses and skirts . Then the main slip wore out. Tap pants may be the answer!
Grand idea, Quinn!
Very best,
Natalie in KY
Yay, so glad to hear that you may be inspired!
Tap pants won’t keep skirts from being see-through or sticking to your legs, though, so I often wear tap pants and a slip. Lots of layers, lol, but they are washable and breathable (and I never have to worry about my skirt flying up, because no one is going to see anything but layers of clothes!).
It’s wonderful to ‘hear’ your voice. Thanks for your comment!