Happy Friday, friends! I try to be a stickler about my blog schedule and meant to post this on Wednesday, but you know how it goes. Though I had a completed shirt, with the waning light situation (and oh, it’s so frigid these days), I didn’t have decent enough brightness to get photos until yesterday morning — I jumped out of the shower and snapped a few quick pix while I toasted a couple of slices of bread for breakfast.
Details, details:
Pattern: Pattern m from Basic Black Book
Fabric: Robert Kaufman Grey Cotton with White Polka Dots from here (they only seem to have the black available)
Size: M
Modifications: Before machine stitching, I hand-basted the collar, cuffs and front plackets. This makes for a much cleaner finish, I think.
Do you remember the black Franklin dress I made a few weeks back? This is the same fabric in the grey color way. I should have invested heavily in the grey because it has the perfect weight and drape.
I’m liking princess seams in lieu of bust darts more and more – I think the shape is a lot more flattering. Here, I’m tossing the camera remote and pondering about what I can scrounge up in the fridge to put in K’s lunchbox (pomegranate seeds, sunflower butter, string cheese and pita crackers as it turns out).
I’m not a fan of the sleeve cuffs, but it doesn’t really matter since I’ll always wear the sleeves rolled up. What you see above is how the sleeves look sans rolling. And I think the collar might be a little too big for the overall shape. I’m also of the opinion that the buttons should be smaller; to my eyes, the current size is throwing off the balance — what do you think? I didn’t have enough of any other buttons and these were grey so I said “design element!” and called it good.
Don’t get me wrong, I actually like the shirt a lot. It’s neutral and it has polka dots. That’s sufficient to earn my approval. A word of caution about the instructions though: they’re super sparse. In fact, I had to fill in the blanks on many occasions and I suspect I put the collar on incorrectly as it didn’t fit very well, but the beauty of fabric is that it stretches and careful hand-stitching can hide many a flaw.
I’m wearing the shirt as I write this in a coffee shop late in the afternoon and it’s so comfy. A man sitting next to me complimented me on it — not something that happens often. Actually, he saw the photo of the shirt on my laptop and asked me if I’m a photographer. I said, “Er. Uh. Um. Sort of.” Awkward. He was very friendly and when I ‘fessed up that I sew and that I was actually wearing the shirt in the photo, he told me about a time he tried to sew pajama pants in college (it didn’t go so well). “Your shirt is incredible!” he effused, which prompted more “Er. Uh. Thank you. Um.” I need to learn how to accept compliments more graciously. And here K and I are, pow-wowing over whether she should wear that uber bright pink top to school (she ended up nixing it):
I wouldn’t call this the easiest shirt to sew, but it was a gratifying project and I know I’ll get a lot of wear out of it. I have another one already to go with a different button-down shirt pattern, and I might be able to share it next week…we shall see.
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The winner of the giveaway is Mirabilys. Congrats! So so fun to read all the awesome/suh-weet/killer/lovely comments, yo.
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Have a delightful weekend, all!
It’s that time again
Advent calendar planning
My mind is churning
The ones from last year and year before have been huge, huge hits in our household. I may have set an unsustainable standard for myself…
What size did you make? Perfect fit. I love it.
Thanks, Greta! I made the medium and it’s very comfortable!
You look amazing! I really like the shape of the shirt on you…I bet you could go a size smaller eh? Really, really nice. I have been bitten by the home made advent calendars, thanks to you lovely ones!!! I’m brainstorming some ideas right now. Happy Friday!
I was wondering if I could go one size smaller too, but I think I like the looseness. Making advent calendars is so, so fun – I bet yours will be gorgeous!
love the shirt!
Thanks so much, Kristi!
I dig those Princess Seams. Yup.
Yup, yup! My bust darts are always way off, but princess seams seem to work out for me on a regular basis. Thanks, Brienne!
Big love. The shirt looks great on you. Next time if someone talks to you again in the coffee shop “um..I’m … Kinda… A children’s book writer, uh, too”
I’ve opted for Lego advent calendar this year instead of a chocolate version and considered myself super wise. But after seeing yours from previous years, I’m speechless.
Ha, I always dread the “What do you do?” question because I don’t know what to say! The Lego advent calendar sounds amazing! I tend to go overboard with the advent calendar thing, and I should definitely scale back
Thanks Jing!
I am always looking forward to that last picture. When I read your post on my mobile it is always a happy surprise because I only see it at the end! You two make my heart sing! How is that for “awesome”? Oh, and I also love the shirt!
Aw, thanks Ute! Slim pickings from this photo shoot because of the limited time we had, but sometimes the limitations result in unexpected gems. I love how K and I are looking at each other in that last image
The shirt looks so lovely that you have inspired me to sew today… Well, maybe not a shirt, but certainly something (its meant to be work today!).
That makes me so happy that you were inspired to sew, Grace! I hope you had a productive and fun day!
The shirt looks really professional and nicely made. I agree with man in the cafe. I am excited to see your advent calendar. The ones from past years are magical.
I made an advent calendar one year in which I wrapped 24 childrens books and assigned a number to each. Many books were library books so I just sent them back or renewed them once we were done. We have done this twice and I think this is in the works for this year. I also bought a handspun yarn calendar of sorts. there are 24 art yarns in mini balls based on scenes from Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. I can knit some every day to get a story scarf. My older daughter knits, but does not purl, so we can work together.
I love the book advent calendar idea and had considered doing something similar too, and the yarn calendar sounds fantastic, Max! I have all these grand ideas but my procrastinating tendencies always forces me to pare down. Still, I’ve been happy with the end results
Thanks for the shirt love!
grey + polka dots? isn’t that always a recipe for a successful project?:) love this shirt, and of course your fabric choice is spot-on. I’d totally wear this! Clearly the man in the coffee shop recognizes talent/good taste when he sees it! And hand-basting . . . I must admit I”m impressed:)
Hope you had a lovely weekend, Sanae. Thanks, as always, for posting your beautiful creations for us to enjoy. And thanks to K for last last shot which brought a smile to my face.
Thank you, Lucinda! The hand-basting is something I’ve been doing a lot of lately because I’m just not able to get decent top stitching done without it. I must not be pinning properly or something…we had a wonderful weekend, and I hope you did too!
I love the last picture of you and K together in a casual scene. I don´t remember seeing you smiling on your blog pictures ( I know it can feel weird smiling wide and open when posing for clothes showing) but you definitely should. You have a beautiful smile. Your sparkle on that picture.
Aw, thank you Miren! You’re right, I do feel silly sometimes smiling at the camera when I’m snapping with my remote by myself, so I tend to take my photos when K is around – I feel much more natural that way