Boardshort inspiration with Elizabeth

March 19, 2026

Hey there! My name is Elizabeth, and I first started sewing with Raspberry Creek Fabrics several years ago. My very first RCF fabrics were swim and boardshort. I was sick of fabric that was slippery or immediately pilled, so I bought some RCF from a destash as a first try with a new (to me) company. I’ve been sewing their swim and boardshort ever since!

I obviously use their swim and boardshort for family swimsuits every year, but I absolutely love those fabrics for regular apparel as well. The boardshort is the perfect woven for so many projects; I love its weight, UV protection, sturdiness and durability, and especially that it doesn’t wrinkle. I have a whole Pinterest board with ideas for boardshort fabric. (I’ll share some of those at the end!)

This year, when I ordered our swim, I ordered some extra yardage of boardshort for some apparel projects I’ve been excited to make for myself. The bright swimwear patterns are so fun, especially as we head into warmer weather in the Midwest. The first print I have is the Peacock Polka Dot. I chose to make a shift dress with it. It has a fantastic deep back I need a better photo of. I will likely wear it both as a dress for cute outings and as a swim cover up since it dries so quickly! The balance of structure and its lightweightedness make this comfortable and cute.

My husband and I have also planned a hiking trip for early summer. In anticipation, I made some shorts out of the Yellow Drawn Daisy print. A popular brand has a very similar pair I’ve been eyeing forever. I love that I can wear these a million ways. I plan to bring them on our hiking trip, and I could definitely wear them for walks or runs. They’re cute and could be worn and styled for a cute outing. They also match the swim top I made (pictured) so I could wear them as a coverup or even into the pool. 

I am OBSESSED with these shorts. I love them so much. Yellows can be so tricky, but this one is perfect. It’s a light color, which would normally intimidate me, but RCF boardshort washes so well. They fit comfortably, and they have unique pockets and ruffles. They’re everything I’ve ever wanted.

As far as woven bases go, the boardshort is absolutely in my top five. Dresses, shorts, jackets – it’s just so useful. I usually sew clothing with it, but I’ve seen others make outdoor pillows, belt bags, key fobs, and I think the possibilities are endless. These are some of the board short ideas I’ve saved.

If you’ve made something other than swimwear with the boardshort fabric, leave a comment below or visit the Raspberry Creek Facebook group and share your idea and make! I’m always so inspired by the RCF community!

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