Military Shirt
I finally sat down and finished the shirt I started for the Boy Challenge at Project Toddler Runway with Shwin and Shwin. Funny, it's been sitting in my "to finish" box for over a month just needing sleeves sewn on and a few buttons, most of which I completed while the kids ate breakfast. For the love of procrastination! Argh.
Ah well. It's done now, and I am so pleased! (So is Liam!)
I created the pattern using my new favorite book Metric Pattern Cutting for Children's Wear and Babywear by Winifred Aldrich as a guide. This book basically shows you how to use body measurements to create a basic block or sloper that can then be altered to create a variety of patterns. It's kind of like a cookbook for sewing. There's still altering for personal taste or fit, but it saves SO much time. I have learned so much about pattern-making from it.
The thing I love about a military shirt is the details, and I went all out on this one: a yoke, patch pockets with flaps, double top-stitching, sleeve plackets, and epaulets. I've always loved fussy little details, but I don't get a chance to use them much in boy's wear. Honestly, Liam is happiest in a knit shirt with some licensed character plastered across the front. He's still trying to get me to put a Lego Hero Factory character on this one.
I was surprised by how much easier sewing a sleeve placket was than I imagined. I used this great tutorial which includes a free pattern.
This shirt has a very narrow black and white stripe pattern that reads as a solid gray from a distance and does some funny things when being photographed. It was a Walmart find for $1 a yard that's been in my stash for a while just begging to be made into this shirt. (You thought I was going to say that was the best part, didn't you? What? Have I done that before?) This time, instead of the price or the fact that it came from my stash, the best part is that it's a cotton polyester blend so it won't need ironing all the time! Yay!
Ah well. It's done now, and I am so pleased! (So is Liam!)
I created the pattern using my new favorite book Metric Pattern Cutting for Children's Wear and Babywear by Winifred Aldrich as a guide. This book basically shows you how to use body measurements to create a basic block or sloper that can then be altered to create a variety of patterns. It's kind of like a cookbook for sewing. There's still altering for personal taste or fit, but it saves SO much time. I have learned so much about pattern-making from it.
The thing I love about a military shirt is the details, and I went all out on this one: a yoke, patch pockets with flaps, double top-stitching, sleeve plackets, and epaulets. I've always loved fussy little details, but I don't get a chance to use them much in boy's wear. Honestly, Liam is happiest in a knit shirt with some licensed character plastered across the front. He's still trying to get me to put a Lego Hero Factory character on this one.
I was surprised by how much easier sewing a sleeve placket was than I imagined. I used this great tutorial which includes a free pattern.
This shirt has a very narrow black and white stripe pattern that reads as a solid gray from a distance and does some funny things when being photographed. It was a Walmart find for $1 a yard that's been in my stash for a while just begging to be made into this shirt. (You thought I was going to say that was the best part, didn't you? What? Have I done that before?) This time, instead of the price or the fact that it came from my stash, the best part is that it's a cotton polyester blend so it won't need ironing all the time! Yay!
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