Here you go! A pair of sassy shorts that are also comfortable, unique, and ready for you to knit!
You can choose between two different designs for the fly: Adam carries a bold fig leaf, and Frej is a bit more innocent in his expression.
I felt like designing the Adam shorts because I always wondered why the fig leaf, in depictions of Adam, is pointing downwards. I think we need a better, more proud way for men to carry their fig leaf.
For those who don't appreciate a fig leaf I designed the Frej-fly, inspired by the Nordic God of fertility. Both charts are included in the pattern.
The shorts are fitted, but not tight, and the inseam length can easily be adjusted. If you want a more neutral look, you could choose to knit the shorts in just one color. The texture of the brioche will still be beautiful.
Techniques and difficulty rating
The shorts are knitted from the bottom up. The stitches are cast on using a two-colored rib cast-on which integrates beautifully with the two-colored brioche.
The legs are knitted separately and joined. The fly is made with increases and decreases, and the shorts are finished with a waistband made in a combination of ribbing and stockinette with a casing for an elastic.
There is no finishing work on these shorts, and if you weave in your tails carefully, you have a pair of fully reversible shorts with two different looks on the two sides. If you opt for a yarn in pure wool, you can even spit splice your ends and make them invisible.
The shorts are knit using 4 mm circular needles. You'll probably need to hold your breath when doing the short rows and the charts.
I provide a serial of tutorials to support you along the way with the different techniques, and I’m certain your new shorts will be such a joy to knit, wear and show off that you will make more than one pair.
Sizes
The shorts come in 10 sizes: (XXS) XS (S) M (L) XL (2XL) 3XL (4XL) 5XL
Hip measurement (shorts): (78) 83 (88) 93 (98) 103 (108) 113 (118) 123 cm.
Thigh circumference (shorts): (51) 53 (55) 57 (59) 61 (63) 65 (67) 69 cm.
Tension
Brioche: 16 sts x 50 r = 10x10 cm on 3.5 mm needle with two strands of yarn, after blocking (meaning the knitting has been steamed carefully, and the stitches lay nicely and evenly). The gauge for brioche includes every stitch and every row, that is knits and purls and right side rows and wrong side row.
Ribbing: 17 sts x 33 r = 10x10 cm with 3.5 mm needles and two strands of yarn, after blocking.
Stockinette: 17 sts x 33 r = 10x10 cm with 3.75 mm needles and two strands of yarn, after blocking.
Yarn
The shorts are knit double stranded throughout using Bio Balance from BC Yarn. The yarn is made of 55 % wool and 45 % cotton. It is GOTS certified and has 225 m/50 g. It is also wonderfully soft and comes in numerous gorgeous colors.
Color 1 (for the brioche knits): (2) 2 (3) 3 (3) 3 (4) 4 (4) 4 hanks of Bio Balance from BC Yarn.
Color 2 (for the brioche purls): (2) 2 (3) 3 (3) 3 (4) 4 (4) 4 hanks of Bio Balance from BC Yarn.
I really like the yarn. It’s soft after being washed, it’s gentle to your skin and it keeps you warm without being too warm.
Remember to make a gauge swatch to ensure the size of your garment.
The pattern is available in Danish and English. Upon purchasing, you receive an e-mail with a link to the pattern in both languages.
