Wednesday, September 25, 2013

PRP: Lil' Lumberjack

Here we are, week 3!  I was so excited for this week.  I have had this fabric for almost a year now, with the intentions to make this exact shirt but then never got around to it.  So thank you Project Run and Play for motivating me to finally finish a project! 

 I realize I haven't done anything earth-shattering with my plaid design, but I think it suits my little guy perfectly.  And I just can't seem to get enough of him in his awesome new shirt!
 

It is truly amazing that this project got finished.  I added a little wiggle room to  my self-drafted pattern, and somewhere along the line I really messed up the front overlap.  Of course I didn't realize this until the very last step of attaching the collar.  I have never done so much seam ripping on a single project, and had it not been for the looming deadline of PRP, I know I would have tossed it aside never to be touched again.

However I persevered, and wouldn't you know it... I ended up with a shirt I absolutely love!

 That's his serious fishing face

I used a nice, sturdy flannel for the shirt.  Perfect for layering for the chilly fall weather coming up.  The perfect shirt to wear fishing or hiking with his Dad. 



The back yoke and pocket are cut on the bias.  And my most favorite detail... the  sleeve cuffs!  

The sleeve cuffs/placket are made out of solid black twill, as well as the under collar and the under collar stand.  I thought it would be a fun, modern touch on an otherwise rugged shirt.

And can I just say how proud I am of those sleeve cuffs!  I've probably made 4 button-up shirts before this, and I have always cheated on the sleeves.  I ALWAYS cuff the sleeves, so I would just hem them like you would a short sleeved shirt since I knew no one would ever see it but me.  So happy to have finally conquered that sewing technique!


And a few more details:
Pattern:  Mostly self drafted, but I used the sleeves off the Peek-a-Boo Patterns Classic Oxford Shirt
Fabric:  Black twill from Joanns.  Buffalo check from Joanns.

Off to sew like crazy for next week!



Thursday, September 12, 2013

PRP: Starburst and Stripes Tee

 My first post.. how exciting!! I've been a long time follower of Project Run and Play, and have finally decided to try out a few sew-alongs.

When I read the themes for this season I sort-of dismissed this week.  Don't get me wrong, I love candy.  But when I think of candy I think of bright, crazy, over-the-top and in-your-face colors! And that is so far from my personal aesthetic I wasn't even going to try.

But then a Mini Boden catalog arrived in the mail and while looking through it with my son he found a shirt he LOVED.  This shirt to be exact.   And of course the first thought in my head was "I can totally make that!"  Gears started turning in my head about how I could incorporate this into PRP and, while, here we are!

So here it is:  our starburst and stripes tee


A nice basic raglan long sleeved shirt with a bright bold star to reference his new favorite candy: starburst!  I'm in love with how the shirt turned out.  Thankfully he loves it to, so we'll get lots of use out of it this winter.  
 
 

A few more details if you're interested:
Fabric:  The charcoal is an old tee of mine.  The striped is interlock from Joanns.
Star:  Acrylic paint mixed with textile medium, freezer paper stenciled on.
 
Excuse the lack of pictures.  I snapped these quickly on the way out the door to preschool with intentions to take close-ups later on.  While, he came home from preschool  a complete mess so that wasn't going to happen.  But come back next week, I've got something totally awesome in the works for plaid week, can't wait!