Brighter blues

Right! I haven’t shown you my latest make yet, which is very remiss of me. It’s yet another sleeveless shirt.

The fabric is a vintage cotton (it said 1960s, and the print certainly looks like it to me) I got on Etsy, and it’s stiffer and heavier than any I’ve worked with yet. My first was a quilting weight, my second a cotton lawn, and this is just a touch heavier than quilting cotton. I didn’t mind that as with the collar and darts this is a style that works with a substantial fabric. However, it did raise the dilemma of what to do with the darts…

I’ve customised my pattern with a full bust adjustment, which means big darts. On my previous shirts I French-seamed the excess fabric away; this time I decided to try flat felling them, forgetting that this would lead to an additional visible line of stitching at each dart. Happily that got lost in the pattern, and it’s ensured the whole thing is very neat, but I think when I make another (I want more in plain colours for the summer) I’ll revert to slightly lighter fabric and French seams.

I chose buttons that were just a scootch larger than they needed to be, and with their thick rims and four holes look like the sort of thing you can imagine a child drawing. I’m really pleased with the effect they give; the buttons grab a little attention without quarrelling with the lively print on the cloth.

There’s not much more to say about this. I’ve made this pattern twice before, and I’ll certainly make it again. Before I started sewing I never understood why friends would make more than one of a design; now I understand the satisfaction of making something that looks good and feels great. I’m certainly getting my money’s worth out of this pattern. And that’s one of my Make Nines out of the way too. Hoorah!