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Apr 28, 2010

Give me Liberty!



Oh, the joys of sewing with luxury fabric!  I mean, sure, a Ralph Lauren bedsheet is nice, but Liberty of London is a whole other animal.

From the minute I started ironing it I knew this was something special: the iron glided along the fabric's smooth surface like Santa riding a Norelco razor.

I decided to use McCall's 6890 for Michael's shirt -- the same one I used to make my club-collared shirt last month.



So how's it going, you ask?  He likes it!



A few surprises.  When I stitched a sample with my polyester thread (and readers, shame on me: I've been using serger thread in my sewing machine for months now) I realized it was too thick and coarse for this project.  David Coffin recommends using fine cotton thread, so I hightailed it over to the notions store and picked up two cotton threads, one Gutermann and one Coats.



The Gutermann is on the right.  It's a little bit finer, so I ended up using that.



I cut this very carefully, due to the pattern, which is directional (i.e., there's a clear up and down).  And like a plaid, it also has to match side-to-side.

I'm proud of this button placket, which matches nicely.



Here's the collar:



I toyed with the idea of splitting the collar in two so the pattern would be perfectly symmetrical, but it reads fine; it's not like it's arrows or numbers that scream runs from left to right.  (Does that make sense?)

By day's end I'd sewn the collar on:



So I should have this finished later today with a final "reveal" tomorrow -- perhaps a glossy spread with Michael himself! 

I must thank Grace once again for sending me this beautiful fabric.  (Grace, Grace, Grace..., right?)  I bet a lot of you are sitting on some all-but-forgotten good stuff, huh?  (hint, hint)

OK, kids, time to put the pedal to the metal...or is it the other way around, I'm never sure.

Happy Wednesday everybody!

43 comments:

  1. ooohhhh! It looks great so far! can't wait to see the photoshoot!

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  2. Beautiful (I'd be tempted to FRAME that button placket)

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  3. That shirt is going to be GORGEOUS!!!!

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  4. It's looking amazing! And yep, I totally know what you mean with your collar description. Besides, I don't think you'd want a seam disrupting the pattern anyway. Liberty is a DREAM to sew on.

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  5. I need one of your many books to look up what a button placket is.

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  6. Oh, that PRINT! Liberty absolutely rules the roost when it comes to prints, if ya ask me. And could Michael be any cuter in that photo? Clearly he's just tickled about this gorgeous shirt.

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  7. My goodness, you are a men's shirting FIEND. That button placket placement is making me green with envy, and it's a good thing I don't live in NYC, else I'd be breaking into your place and stealing that shirt for myself. Can't wait to see the finished product, I'm glad Micheal likes it so far! I'm always nervous about sewing for someone else, so more power to you.

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  8. I used a liberty print many years ago and I do remember it as one of the most wonderful fabrics I've ever sewn with.
    That shirt is going to be gorgeous. I'm wondering, how many hours sleep do you need? You're so fast and so accurate in your sewing. Beautiful work!

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  9. Grace is a very good friend indeed! And Michael is a lucky man. And you're fortunate, too . . . you'll have the pleasure of looking at Michael while he's wearing that gorgeous shirt!

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  10. 1) Gorgeous. 2) What are you using for interfacing on the placket, collar and cuffs? 3) Bravo. Andy by the way, Cathy could use a nice blouse, don't you think? collar stand with a nice 1" ruffle?

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  11. I love my few garments I have made with Liberty cottons. It is like wearing cobwebs. I feel lovely and wrinkle-free all day and at my age, that is special!

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  12. I can't believe that you've been sewing for less than a year. Are you hiding a tailor beneath your sewing table? This shirt is going to be to die for.

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  13. Gorgeous work! Now I'm ashamed of the side-to-side non-matching-ness of some of my sewing. Clearly, it's time for me to step it up a notch.

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  14. YUM (the print, the shirt, and Michael)!

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  15. Rather Be Sewing - Lynne WApril 28, 2010 at 10:22 AM

    Peter, You do Liberty justice.

    And that matched placket is giving me heart palpitations.

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  16. *bounce* I can't wait! I'm starting my own project with directional fabric today. It's a novelty quilting cotton that says, "I love strawberries" and, of course, you have to be able to read it right side up!

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  17. That shirt is already looking beautiful and it's not even finished. I live in London and Liberty is one of my favourite shops to visit - creaking floorboards and blackened oak beams everywhere. Their haberdashery department is gorgeous. And they have a loyalty card and sometimes a card holder is invited to champagne evenings with discounts. Oh, it's heaven. Expensive heaven, but heaven.

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  18. beautiful work so far - especially that matching placket. Careful, you'll get addicted to liberty lawns! It's expensive fabric but worth the extra pennies (ok, pounds). It's worth looking on UK ebay - you can find some good deals from regular sellers.

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  19. That button placket deserves an award of some sort!

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  20. The fabric is beautiful in your photos. I look forward to seeing more photos of the finished shirt!

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  21. As a London girl I know how beautiful Liberty print fabric is!! I often pop into the Liberty store to stroke their stock. Your piece is particularly lovely and is going to be a wonderful shirt. If you are ever in London, there is a store in the Goldhawk Road that usually has some very nice discounted Liberty print fabrics.

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  22. Such tidy sewing. This shirt will be killer. Beautiful work.

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  23. Eugenia, so YOU'RE the one who's been stroking that stock. Good to know. ;)

    Thanks everybody. It's coming along. Nearly time for the buttonholes: cross your fingers!

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  24. Wow! Fantastic matching. Can't wait to see it finished. You make me want to dig around my fabric for something to send you. :-)

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  25. Wah! Peter! That's awesome! Phenomenal pattern matching and Michael will look amazing in that shirt. Eagerly awaiting the Big Reveal...

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  26. There is nothing like long staple cotton, which is what Liberty of London uses, for ease of pressing. It will wrinkle less too. You are going to be too spoiled to go back to the cheap stuff! The execution is equal to the fabric.

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  27. Wow, Peter!! It is looking fantastic so far. Can't wait to see the finished shirt. That placket and your matching skills are beyond words.

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  28. Peter, that shirt will be beautiful, your matching on the placket is amazing. Did you know the print is called Pelagia? I have sewed a couple of dresses in lawn and a jacket in the twill. I am a liberty addict with another twill, three chords, 1 jersey and five lawns in my stash. Did you see True Ups excellent post on where to buy Liberty

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  29. Wow, what a great fabric! Can't wait to see the final version.

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  30. Hi Peter
    I am a new fan..
    I think you may just be my new idol. Hope you dont mind. That shirt just sealed the deal for me.

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  31. They way you matched the prints on the placket is amazing.

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  32. It's a stunning fabric and the shirt is perfect for Michael. YOur work is perfection!

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  33. Gorgeous! I can't believe you matched the print on the placket, I'm very impressed. Isn't it a dream working with fancy fabrics? You won't want to go back to anything less after this!

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  34. I hate you. Your sewing is perfect. Please show us some flops to make us feel better.

    Thank you. :-P


    P.S. You should be proud. I only hate on the really, really good sewers.

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  35. I can't believe how awesome you're sewing is - the shirt is fantastic - I'm about to blog about Liberty fabric - I've become obsessed and even more so after this beautiful post by you! Can't wait to see the reveal.

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  36. Wow, that shirt is amazing. I want one too! By the way, we just used the same post title, I used it on the 23rd and I have another Liberty-related post coming up tomorrow.

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  37. You are too neat for words! are you really human?
    Anyone with eyes will covet that shirt when completed!!
    Vicky

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  38. Are you a wizard, Peter? How else do you explain always sewing SO STRAIGHT!

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  39. Beautiful shirt! I'm still afraid for making a button-up shirt... with collar, placket, and sleeves... eek!

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