The idea of a white shirt has been lurking at the back of my mind for about a year now, but I hadn't come across a style that I liked*. Then, when I made the black blouse with princess seams at the back I thought those seams would work for the back of a shirt, and it sort of took off from there. Then I realised that I've pretty much made Butterick 5526 View D!
(* That was until I saw the new Deer and Doe Melilot Shirt pattern, and this lovely version by Camille. And, yes, I have already bought it.)
The eagle-eyed amongst you will have spotted that this isn't actually white. I have some white peachskin fabric which is going to become another version, but I was afraid a solid colour would show up too many new shirt-making mistakes, and I remembered this cotton lawn that I'd bought last year. It's from a website called Fabrics For Sale, the print doesn't have a name, and they don't seem to have it anymore but it was £14 for 2 metres. I had sort of planned to make a blouse with it, but it didn't match any of my skirts and I thought it would look well as a shirt with jeans.
This is drafted from my block, and the shirt collar was already drafted from my shirtdresses (here, here and here). I gave myself extra work by adding a separate button placket, but I'm pleased with how it looks.
The sleeve pleats and cuffs are drafted from the Craftsy class "Pattern Making and Design: Creative Sleeves". This class shows you how to draft a one piece cuff placket, but having never sewn one, it looked pretty complicated. So I googled it, and came up with this brilliant tutorial on drafting and sewing a two piece placket. The triangle bit at the top of the placket isn't right. It should have a rectangle below the triangle, but I didn't fold it properly. I'll know for next time though.
I made the cuffs as two separate pieces rather than one piece folded in half.
I had a bit of trouble working out what way round the pleats went, and had to have a look at one of Andrew's shirts, but I got there in the end.
There was nearly a disaster just after my shirt was finished. I had brought it downstairs to iron it with my good iron, not the crappy one in my sewing room. My sewing room is in the attic, and has pull-down ladders to access it. Andrew has recently greased the ladders because they were sticking a bit. You can probably see where this is going...
I was carrying my shirt on a coat hanger and my camera in one go, because I didn't want to have to make two trips up the ladder. The shirt brushed one edge of the ladder, and got grease on one of the front side pieces. I had only myself to blame! I was strangely calm about it though, which shocked me. Thankfully I couldn't do anything hasty like shove it in the washing machine, because it was in the middle of washing a load of towels. So I had a think about it, and then treated the stain with some Vanish stain remover. A 40 degree wash later, and the grease came out. Phew!
These photos were taken last Thursday - St Patrick's Day, which I had off work as a public holiday. Thank you St P! So I ended up taking the rest of the week off as annual leave, because: five days off for the price of four. The weather has been lovely all week, I got the garden tidied up, cut the grass and blasted everywhere with the power hose. I hadn't used the power hose before, and it's brilliant! I also finished a blouse with a convertible collar, and have lowered the neckline on the pattern for the black blouse. So I'll see how it turns out.
There was nearly a disaster just after my shirt was finished. I had brought it downstairs to iron it with my good iron, not the crappy one in my sewing room. My sewing room is in the attic, and has pull-down ladders to access it. Andrew has recently greased the ladders because they were sticking a bit. You can probably see where this is going...
I was carrying my shirt on a coat hanger and my camera in one go, because I didn't want to have to make two trips up the ladder. The shirt brushed one edge of the ladder, and got grease on one of the front side pieces. I had only myself to blame! I was strangely calm about it though, which shocked me. Thankfully I couldn't do anything hasty like shove it in the washing machine, because it was in the middle of washing a load of towels. So I had a think about it, and then treated the stain with some Vanish stain remover. A 40 degree wash later, and the grease came out. Phew!
These photos were taken last Thursday - St Patrick's Day, which I had off work as a public holiday. Thank you St P! So I ended up taking the rest of the week off as annual leave, because: five days off for the price of four. The weather has been lovely all week, I got the garden tidied up, cut the grass and blasted everywhere with the power hose. I hadn't used the power hose before, and it's brilliant! I also finished a blouse with a convertible collar, and have lowered the neckline on the pattern for the black blouse. So I'll see how it turns out.
Very impressive drafting!Great work.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteGreat detailed post. You have combined all your favourite elements into this shirt. The fabric is fantastic.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I think the fabric suits being a shirt!
DeleteIt's lovely - love your choice of fabric. A very inspirational post.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I was glad to find a use for the fabric.
DeleteThat's a nice shirt! Well done!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteI love, love, love the fabric! Thank goodness you managed to get the grease out. I don't think I would have been quite as calm as you!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I was afraid the fabric would end up at the bottom of the fabric box, and I was glad that the grease came out!
DeleteI love the fabric - it has such a 70s vibe! I think your shirtmaking turned out really well - I struggled for ages with Granville last year and wasn't entirely happy with the end result. Can't wait to see how you get on with Melilot - I already ordered it as well!
ReplyDeleteLouise
Thank you! I made a toile of Melilot, and want to make a few tweeks - shorten the sleeves and hem, and raise the bust dart. Good luck with yours!
DeleteIt's such a perfect fit Lynne. Even your sleeves, I never seem to get my sleeves the right length, especially when there are cuffs too.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I'm really pleased with how the sleeves turned out. I ended up adding a inch to the length from my sleeve block, and they are perfect - even if I say so myself!
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