Monday, December 31, 2007

The shirt off his back

Okay, last project for 2007: the shirt is finished. I should probably have ironed it before taking its picture, but if I waited to do that, we'd be into January.

This was the easiest one yet. Even the sewing machine cooperated, only grumbling over one final buttonhole (on the sleeve placket, for some reason). I think the machine knew I was bidding on a Viking 770 on Ebay and it might soon be replaced (it didn't realize I didn't win).
How well this shirt turned out stems partly from the fact that it's my fourth one, but also from several other factors: my new toys, a point turner and a buttonhole gauge, two inexpensive items that for some reason I put off buying and which made the whole process much easier. Sometimes it really is the little things that count. Also, David Page Coffin's book on shirtmaking. If you don't have it, you really need to get it. 'Nuff said.

This was a nice change from all the gift sewing I did this year. It got my head back where I needed it to be - thinking about fit, precision, details like top-stitching. The boy says it's time I made something for myself; he didn't realize this was as much about me making a shirt as it was about him getting one, and he doesn't need to realize that.

4 comments:

Kat said...

The shirt looks great, Karen! And motivating too! DH has been complaining loudly that I don't do any sewing for him. Time to hunt up my KS patterns for him.

Unknown said...

Which KS pattern are you using? I doubt my hubby would wear a nice dress shirt, but it might be nice to make one up to see. Your shirt looks great - I hope hubby enjoys it.

Carolyn (Diary of a Sewing Fanatic) said...

The shirt looks fantastic on HIM! Great job!

Connie B said...

mmmnn nice shirt for the boy- love the yoke!