Sunday, January 26, 2020

The Angel Shirt Finished

Here is the completed shirt ~


Let's start with a few details.  I purchased 3 yards of extra wide cotton sheeting from Fashion Fabrics Club back in November. The print on the fabric is what intrigued me and even though it was sheeting fabric, I thought it would make a great shirt.

This is one of the reasons I like shirtmaking so much! You can use such a wide variety of fabrics to make one. I also have to admit that this one has been challenging right from the get go. I've had to make more adjustments, changes to my vision and purchasing new supplies to get to this point.

Supplies ~
11 1/2" red 4 hole buttons from Pacific Trimming
Red bias binding from Pacific Trimming
Interfacing from Steinlauf & Stoeller

Construction ~
This shirt is all about how I used this interesting print to make a wearable shirt.

A couple of things:

o  This fabric is a little heavier than regular cotton fabric. At first that threw me because I was expecting a softer, lighter hand. Then I realized it made a good layer for a winter shirt since it has a little heft to it.

o  While I fussy cut this to make the most of the print, I did face some obstacles.  The first was when the fronts didn't match. The second was when the original cut out collar did not match the front of the shirt.


Here is how I fixed it:

- I didn't have any scraps long enough with the roses on it to cut another collar which is the theme of this shirt.

- But I did have scrap pieces with roses on them. I decided to attach the scraps to the front of the collar.


- I was concerned that attaching the scraps to the collar would leave one edge exposed. So I looked around the sewing cave to see what I had onhand to cover the edge. I found some rick rack that worked but it really wasn't the look I wanted.


- For the red bias binding and buttons, I headed to Pacific Trimming. I threw my original vision for the shirt out and moved in another direction.

- I added the bias binding to the collar with two rows of stitching on either side of the bias binding.  Before I sewed the two collar pieces together then assembled the collar as usual.


I really wanted the red roses to work together on the front of the shirt and complete the look.  To me embellishments should be in an odd number - it looks better to me. So I added the red bias binding not only to the collar but to the cuffs and the red buttons down the front of the shirt. These changes really made the red in the roses pop.


Other than that there were no additional changes to the construction. Though I do need to make a few statements about my shirtmaking again...

1. I do not use french seams.  My seams are sewn and serged.

2. I have two versions of this shirt, one with princess seam back & yoke and the other with a yoke and a full gathered back. This is a gathered back version.

3. Sometimes I burrito the yoke, sometimes I use another method. I didn't burrito for this version.

4. I don't use the placket on the sleeve for cuffs. I use the continuous lap method.

5. Sometimes I use button cuffs and sometimes I use the sleeves sewn into a closed cuff.

A Few Pictures ~




The wind was blowing softly while I was taking these...
that's why the shirt looks so full.

I sew these shirts like I feel at the moment or like I feel the fabric deserves. I'm not about using a bunch a techniques for techniques sake. I kind of use what I want when I want because my sewing is now about the journey...and of course the fabric!

I made quite a few shirts over the last couple of weeks to replace shirts I'd given away, grown out of or worn out.  My goal is to add 6-7 more shirts to my wardrobe this winter and to use some of the interesting fabric I've collected.

...as always more later!







28 comments:

  1. This came out beautifully, love the pattern matching across the front. I'm glad you were able to fix those early hiccups, and ended up with such a great piece.

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    1. Ary'sMom - me too! I would have hated to have to give up on this fabric because I love the finished shirt!

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  2. It's really beautiful Carolyn! I love the way you've used the red accents and how you came up with creative solutions re the pattern matching on the front and the roses on the collar. Your blog posts are always full of useful information, and the shirt looks great on you.

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    1. Thanks Lara! I really like the challenge of making something work and this one really challenged me!

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  3. You did a great job, Carolyn. I think I would have picked up some of that fabric too!

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  4. Shirt looks fabulous. Love the fabric and pattern matching.

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  5. I love the post:)Have a nice day, dear!

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  6. It is absolutely gorgeous. Serious contender for Garment of the Year!

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  7. Ahhh! Naming this your "angel shirt" is so appropriate but all your techniques make it the "marvel shirt" IMHO. Loved reading about all the decisions you made/changed during its construction! Karen

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    1. Karen - but it's full of angels! That's why I named it that and c'mon a lot of my shirts would be "marvel shirts" I tend to jump through a lot of hoops for a simple garment.

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  8. my compliments, carolyn! what could have been a hodgepodge of mismatched pattern came together, thasnks to your atristry, into an outstanding, delightful garment.--anne

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  9. Love it! The bib effect in the front would have been exactly what I would have done. You look like an angel Kudos.

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  10. Love. Love. Love the collar especially! I love how it comes together and how the red buttons pop.

    And +1 for not using techniques just because!

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    1. K - please! I'm so far past that point in my sewing. I love the creative journeys so much better now.

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  11. Great as always, I am looking forward to your woredrobe updates 👍

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  12. You pulled this one out of the flames! Amazing, considering its rocky start. Plus, let's hear it for winter shirts. Nothing wrong with heavier fabric and some extra warmth.

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  13. You flexed those creative muscles again and to great effect. The shirt is perfect and all your own unique design!

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  14. Your angel shirt is heavenly! That is a great save on the collar and red binding in other spots makes it all so intentional. Excellent job on this, Carolyn.

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  15. This shirt turned out to be very nice!

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  16. It's this kind of vision that makes me love your blog
    You make it seem easy and attainable-It only took (how many years) of experience?
    And thank you for the note about continuous lap...I've got some fabric which I keep feeling should be a shirt but I did not want to deal with a placket...It was a nice reminder to not follow the pattern.

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    1. Pal K - just 50 years of experience! *LOL* Lately I really feel all those years of sewing. Very little scares me now and I know I can make it work if I just keep trying things!

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  17. I found this shirt really fascinating and I love what you did with it! Me, personally, I would wear it for Christmas for years to come because it has that holiday vibe to it without being covered in reindeer and Santa hats! But I don't think it needs to be limited to that, by any means. It's just really very nicely done!

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    1. Schmoomom - well I can see it being a Christmas shirt but after all this work I don't want to wear it only one day a year!!!

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  18. I love how this turned out! Great job! But I giggle when I see it. I just imagine in my mind where those 2 gold circles with the angels would have landed on just 5 foot tall me, who is not a careful cutter.

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    1. TC - believe me it was a consideration! LOL! I'm thrilled I was able to cut around it though!

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