This past week I decided that I would make a shirt for the Sew Weekly button challenge. I chose the McCall’s pattern because it looked cute, had the button element and I had some white fabric that would work perfectly. The pattern lost it’s directions somewhere along the way but that didn’t faze me. I’ve sewn a shirt before and felt confident that I could do a passable job.
Well, putting the shirt together was not the problem. In one sitting I got everything but the hems and collar on. The biggest problem was in the bust size of the pattern, 34″. From previous measurements, this shirt would be a tad big on me. Just for the hell of it,I remeasured myself with a string (notice, AFTER I had done all that sewing, not BEFORE) and my bust measurement is smaller than my previous measurement.
I'm not sure I like the pleat in the center back of the shirt.
The word fuck played repeatedly in my head at this moment because the shirt was swallowing me up. I took in the sides, the darts, but the front of the shirt without the pocket was baggy. I could not figure out how to fix it and to say my frustration resembled that of a toddler throwing a fit is a vast understatement.
I said to hell with the shirt for the time being and turned my attention to making a circle skirt using this tutorial. The skirt went together quick, especially with the lapped zipper. I think my favorite part of the skirt is the two different pale pink buttons I used to latch the waist band above the zipper.I also tried to make a handmade belt for the skirt but failed. The glue from the belt kit was not sticky enough. Probably because it’s been sitting there since the forties. Instead, I made a quick ribbon out of some awesome pink fabric.
I managed to finish the shirt the day the challenge was due. I slapped a pocket on the bagginess and thankfully, it worked!!! I also realized I’d fucked up the collar, so instead I made a detachable peter pan collar for it. I think detachable collars may be my next big love.
In the end, I’m fairly happy with how the shirt came out. I think it’s the only shirt I will sew for awhile because I realized shirts…aren’t really for me. As evidenced by the fact that I don’t have any in my wardrobe, save this one. I think it’s because I find them uncomfortable to wear, just like I do jeans and bras. For more pictures and yammering, check out my post over at Sew Weekly.
Tags: 1956, mccall 3847 blouse, mccall 3847 misses' one-pattern-piece instant blouse, sew weekly 2012, sew weekly button challenge, vintage mccall paterns
