Cinco de Mayo

When you've created a monster by making your husband a wardrobe of bowling shirts.  I kid you not, the other day, he actually opened his closet and said "I don't have anything to wear!"

JB now has 32 bowling shirts in his closet.  All but 4 of them have been made with my hands.  And when I recently did the fabric closet re-org (look for a future post on that) I put a stack of fabrics for just JBs shirts.  There's enough for at least 4 more. 

Also, now if he goes to the fabric store with me.  The first thing he does is head to the novelty prints and ask if I can make a shirt out of X?

But - I will say - he does wear his shirts.  And he shows anyone who comments on them that they match across the buttonholes and asks if they can find his pocket!  So - it's worth it.  

Flying His Flags

So, you've recently read the post on the shirt inspo and now we're ready for the next part - the actual flag shirts.

For JB's shirt, I cut the under collar, front facings, inner yoke, pocket and a little strip of fabric from the navy blue pin dot.  All shirts were sewn with red thread.  The little strip was folded into a 'hanging loop' and added at the back yoke over the pleat.  It's a fun little detail and I like it.  He's not ever going to use that little loop to hang his shirt up, but I can tell you it's handy for grabbing him to get him back in the kitchen. 

Back of the shirt with the collar turned up.  

I did not try to match anything on this shirt - just sewed it up!  

It was a horribly cold day in October when I managed to get these two together and take some pictures.  We were at Liberty Park in New Jersey.  Eleanor was a trouper, Gramps wined - just a bit :D

Gramps shirt is New Look 6197 with no alterations at all.  I haven't asked him how the fit is compared to the other shirts, but I will say he hasn't worn it a lot.  That could be because he has 21 other shirts in his closet and we are headed into the themed shirt portion of the year.  He's been wearing Christmas shirts since Thanksgiving - he has 4 of those.  

This is probably my favorite shirt of the whole bunch.  You can see just how long Eleanor's shirt is - tunic length.  

Next up:  More info on Eleanor's flag shirt.  

Shirt Inspo

Many of you know that I make JB shirts.  I started making them years ago using the now out of print McCall's 4399.  A quick search shows a very similar current McCall's pattern.

I just want to say - I'm bored.  I'm bored with this pattern.  The only way to really jazz it up is with fabric - and using a contrast pocket and under collar.  A quick count in his closet shows that I have now sewn this pattern up twenty-one (21!!) times!  And all but 3 of those have been made in the last 15 months or so.  I've gotten pretty good at matching the pattern across the placket - I guess the next thing to do is match the pattern all the way around?  And the sleeves?  I would say 95% of the time you can't find the pocket, I've gotten pretty good at that matching.

But, what I really want to sew is shirts like these jazzy little numbers:

Look at those fun details!  Contrasting fabric on the cuffs, button bands, collar stands and under collars.  

But you might have noticed one thing.  Those are all tailored button down shirts.  JB is NOT a buttoned down guy and while I could make shirts like for him - it would be a waste of my time and fabric.  I'm better off leaving those fun details for me.  So - what do I do?  I find a new shirt pattern that has a few places to play.  

For the flag shirt, I started with New Look D0966 (6197)

This was a great jumping off point for adding a little of interest to my sewing projects.  The New Look pattern has a back faced yoke and separate front facing piece, but it's still only a one piece collar.  I am still on the lookout for a men's pattern with a collar stand.  

Also, while cutting this one out, I decided to make E a matching tunic.  More on both shirts coming in a future post - I need more photos and want to get this one posted.  

But - while we wait talk to me.  Do you sew for anyone else?  Do you do it because you like it or because they do?  Do you ever get bored with the garments you are making?  How do you keep it interesting and exciting?