If you follow my blog, you may already know I freakin’ love boardshorts. I will also wear them while surfing too, since few people appreciate me duckdiving a wave in a thong. Their loss.

Christmas in July

Anywho, I picked up this pair of Quiksilver Waterman Boardshorts a while back. I love them except for the thicky-thick tie that came with it. It’s bulgy, doesn’t stay tied, and hurts when I lay on my board to paddle. Time for a makeover.

Nice except for the crappy tie

This tie NEVER stays tied

I gathered some 1/4″ flat elastic, a needle and thread, some scissors, and a seam ripper (if needed).

My supplies

The tie was sewn into the shorts, so I had to use my seam ripper to remove it:

Removing the original tie

Taking just a small length of the flat elastic, I laced it through the grommets of the shorts’ fly from the TOP DOWN. This is important since I want to join the elastic together at the BOTTOM, where the elastic won’t get as much action. I pulled the sides of the fly together flush, and pinned the elastic ends together where it’s comfortable.

Laced through, ends come out on the INSIDE of the fly

Sewing the elastic ends together

Looking inside the fly, the ends have been clipped and sewn

Completed!

Pull on and off!!

This now stays flat, pulls on and off easily, and there’s no need to worry about my shorts staying tied finally.

I’m so happy that the biggest pressing concern is chafing my belly button when I surf. It can ALWAYS be worse, brah….

Get him a ticket to Tahiti NOW