Monday, April 02, 2018

April is Shirt Month

I was discussing my sewing with a dear friend and lamented that you, my blog readers, were going to be tired of shirt post after shirt post appearing here.  See I've been on a serious shirt sewing tear.  I'd originally thought that I would make a couple of shirts every month and mix them in with the other tops and vests that I was also sewing.

Well due to illness and a host of other life things, including my photographer going on vacation, I'm just getting around to scheduling time to photograph my new makes.  There are presently 5 shirts sewn with another 5 waiting to be cut and sewn. This dear friend suggested that I have a "Shirt Month" on the blog.


So April will be dedicated to my new found love of making shirts.  All of these shirts are made from my TNT pattern which is a mash-up of Butterick 5678 and Vogue 7700 - both of which are out of print.  Now that I've got all of the fitting issues worked out with the pattern, my shirt making is all about fabric choices and design details.


My new shirts are chock full of fun and flights of fancy.  98% of the fabric is from the collection - which thrills me to no end!  I've mixed prints.  I've played with sleeve widths.  I've let interesting fabrics take center front and buttons were chosen to add drama to the shirts.  I've thoroughly enjoyed making each and every one of them. I love the construction process and how each individual shirt has it's own design story.







I've sewn so many shirts in the last two years, that when these latest versions are done, I will have made a total of  17 shirts...









I hope you enjoy "Shirt Month". If you get bored halfway through the month, tune back in during the month of May, where there will be new sewing adventures! However, I can't promise that there won't be more shirts or shirtdresses cause I really want to make my own version of Carolyn's Perth Dress!

...as always more later! 

26 comments:

  1. All the shirts are great. Will be fun to see all the variations you come up with.

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  2. 17 shirts! Amazing! Looking forward to checking out your new makes!

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  3. Ah, yes, this is what I need - inspiration! I am in desperate need of shirts, so I will be watching your site very closely. Keep 'em comin'!

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    1. R - get ready cause I'm going in. There is a little bit of everything in the upcoming shirts cause it's all about the fabric and the buttons for me now!

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  4. Yay! I couldn't be happier. Shirts are my favorite thing to sew!

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    1. Cynthia - shirts are now right up there behind dresses for me!

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  5. Yesterday I finished sewing a shirt muslin to be a TNT pattern. Once I get it fit I hope to join you. Of course there are 3 other items I want to sew now.

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    1. Carol - one word - FOCUS! It's the only way that I'm getting these made...I'm focusing on these shirts until they are done.

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  6. Really looking forward to shirt month. Bring it on! I love how you make each shirt unique and you look great in each one of them. I'm excited for some sewing inspiration.

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    1. Julia - thanks! And without sounding like I'm bragging I think I have some inspiration for you. Though honestly I have gathered it from a number of sources and when I have photographic proof it will be included in the blog post.

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  7. I'm looking forward to shirt month and hopefully following along! g

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    1. Yes, I need you to make some shirts for just you. You have some amazing pieces of fabric that would look wonderful on you.

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  8. Sew all the shirts!!! :) I am still enamored with the collar on the floral one. I just love it so much.

    My border print shirting that I couldn't get while we were at FM is on it's way to me. I got extra to make sure I can have fun with it! :)

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    1. What border print shirting did you get? How did I miss that? Or is it this one: https://www.fabricmartfabrics.com/Gray-White-Black-Pink-100-Cotton-Stripe-Shirting-With-Border-60W.html - cause this is the one I bought and can't wait to use for a new shirt. Cause border print shirting, people!!!

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    2. HAHAHAHA! It is! But I saw it on the table upstairs when first got there! And when I went to get my sweatshirt fabric I asked if I could get a cut but he said it wasn't ready for the website yet. So I HAD to order it!

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    3. Just a little annoyed though that the fabric is now 70% off and $3.60 per yard. But you know if we'd waited it would be gone...*sigh*

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  9. Let the shirts come! Can't wait to see and be inspired. Perhaps I'll even sew one or two also.























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  10. Ooooh-ooooh, you're starting your own trend. I like it! That Perth Dress is a winner-- I may try that one myself as a tunic. Can't wait to see you model your new shirts--your photos from the recent Sew Camp are teasing me. lol.

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    1. Robin - don't know if I'm starting my own trend. More like doing my own thing...hahahaha! I'm kinda excited about the Perth Dress - my only concern is that I'm going to have to grade it up because it stops at what seems like an 18 to me.

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  11. Love it! Button down shirts are missing from my wardrobe right now. I pulled out a pattern to fit last week and I will be making the same. They are great to wear to work.

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  12. Looking forward to Shirt Month and seeing all the creative changing up on the shirts you've done! Got my first shirt in the making now thanks to your posting the how-to-sew-a-burrito-method-yoke on instagram enabling me to move forward.

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    1. Lisa - I'm so glad that the video helped you out! I know it turned the lights on in my brain and I will be burrito-ing everything.

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  13. I seem to be on a skirt making kick and I'm definitely going to need some shirts and tops to go with them so I'm looking forward to seeing all your shirts in the next month and getting inspired!!

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  14. I am totally on board with shirt month. You do the hard part, I sit in the easy chair and admire. Thanks, Rhonda

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  15. Outstanding, Carolyn. Devoting one month to making shirts is a great idea. It is an opportunity to beef up your shirt collection as well as exploring new and creative design elements to make your shirts unique. I love seeing your creative process and how you've showcased you designs here on your blog. Keep up the good work. It is certainly inspiring.

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