Giddyap, the shirt is done and sorry about the state of the sofa.
After returning home from the notorious birthday portrait, I finished the second cuff and got to work on those snaps. I had never attached snaps before and I was a little uncertain about the process, but I followed the directions and it worked great.
You really can't be timid about it: you have to hammer down hard to make sure the snaps hold but it's not difficult once you get the hang of it and I love the result. I used an antique wooden spool to hammer down onto (you don't want to hammer directly onto the snap) which allowed me to hammer on the rim of the snap and avoid the center. I demolished the spool in the process but it was worth it.
Nothing looks as good on a Western style shirt as faux pearl snaps. I used the Dritz brand: they come in packages of 12, precisely the number I needed for the shirt. Luckily I didn't ruin any.
I'm very happy with this shirt and proud I made it on my beloved treadle.
The shirt could still use a good pressing but otherwise it's finished and I'm now ready to move on to...
Dare I even say it?
Is there anything about making a Western style shirt you have questions about?
McCall's 6383 is a vintage pattern from 1978 with very good instructions and I recommend it. There are a ton of Western shirt patterns out there from every era but I think the ones from the Seventies are cut a little slimmer. Etsy is a great place to find them.
There are a few more treadle shirt pics here if you care to relive the journey.
And that's it. A new week begins and hopefully no more portraits for a while.
What's going on in your corner of the sewing room? Is it time to start nagging again?
Have a great day, everybody!
Posts
Love the snaps! I finished my Emma Pillsbury inspired skirt last week. So this week I've got McCalls 5977 on the cutting table. I love me some ruffles. I just have to figure out which view I like the most. Great job on your shirt, Peter!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful shirt! Next up, try a western shirt with color-blocking and embroidery, for the full country western experience. I especially love the pearl snaps
ReplyDeleteYou look so awesome in this shirt. In fact, I am lusting about something just like this right now, for me and my fella. Nothing is cooler than a lanky dude in a Western shirt that fits well.
ReplyDeleteI am duly impressed. Also a little jealous at your proficiency in such a short amount of time. It's a great shirt Peter and you should be justly proud of yourself.
ReplyDeleteI think you did fabulously on your shirt. Save a horse and ride a cowboy!! I have 23 no lie 23 flower dresses to sew in the next 2 1/2 weeks! Yes I really do love my sister a lot.
ReplyDeleteYee Haw!! Good looking shirt--I fully expect the complete Grand Ole Opry treatment soon.
ReplyDeleteWoo! The shirt turned out fantastic! I really dig the color - looks great against your skin :)
ReplyDeleteI swear, every time we do a show, you manage to sew a project that goes along with it! This weekend we opened our production of 2 Gentlemen of Verona set in the Old West :)
Rootin' tootin' fabulous . . . I wish you had used your guitar prop from your last Cathy photo shoot for a little Western flavor. And to think it's from a treadle. Complete awe.
ReplyDeleteI used those same snaps on a Western shirt I made about 1975 :-) They are great, and I like that your shirt is all one fabric ... very classy! I'm almost done my Jalie 2908 stretch jeans, then on to Gertie's coat sew-a-long!
ReplyDeleteGood job on the pearl snaps! I (tried to) use some on my kids' jean jackets this past summer and had a terrible time. Not so much with getting them to attach, but to do it without shattering the 'pearl'. Nice thought about the spool.
ReplyDeleteI do miss your Monday goals. My goal was to finish my winter coat this week, but I forgot to buy buttons and won't be able to until the weekend, so now I'm kind of at a loss.
Super awesome shirt! I love the snaps. This is downright demure for you. :-) It looks great.
ReplyDeleteVery impressive - Yee Haw!! I like the color on you too.
ReplyDeleteI was going to say the only thing missing from the sofa was the dogs, but then I looked at your pics and saw Willy's cute little noggin sticking out of a blanket. You really should treat those dogs a little better, don't you think? Feeding them bobbins and making them sleep on sofas with fuzzy pillows and blankets. The horror!
I have a question! Will you make one for my husband? Because if he sees this awesome shirt, he will demand one. And then I'll have to sew it and it will be all your fault!
ReplyDeleteBoy this is fabulous. But where oh where is the glitter, sequins, embroidered steer head? Where is Dale Evans? And where are you going to store your pony????
ReplyDeleteLove
Claire
Thank you Pierre, I am having a rough day today and to read your blog lifts me up and reminds me that work is not all there is to life!
ReplyDeleteHugs and kisses,
- t.
Peter! The shirt is completely fantastic! I love everything about it, especially the faux pearl snaps.
ReplyDeleteAs an avid barrel racer I would wear this in a heartbeat! One of my favorite competition shirts was made by my grandmother (I still have it though I'll never fit into it again - I was 11 when she made it). It has red, orange, and yellow wagon wheels on a black background with a contrasting red yoke and cuffs. I had pearl snaps too. Yes it was loud and obnoxious, but I loved it! Love the blog, it's a must read every day. :)
ReplyDeleteYES! Nag away! We decided to do a pajama Christmas this year, so I have to make a dozen pairs between now and December 25th in sizes ranging from tent to infant. I'm starting this week so hopefully, I won't be sewing at the last minute... especially considering I also have to make two dollies, a dolly cradle mattress and sheets for the dolly bed and a stuffed turtle. If that was the extent of it, it's hard, but doable considering I have about three months. But that's without the other projects I need to do. A shirt for the baby to go with her dress, a sailor suit for the two-year-old, two dresses (and the underthings to go with the fifties one) for Evie, a fancy pair of overalls and a matching shirt, also for Evie, and Christmas outfits for all three kids. I've got my work cut out for me!
ReplyDeleteI figure if I do at least one pair of jammies a week between now and Christmas, I can get through them. And the more I do it, the faster I'll get.
I'm wearing my pearl-snap Western shirt today, too!
ReplyDeleteI didn't sew mine, though, so you win.
Oh, can I have one too! I love western shirts, but they definitely look better on a man. Oh well! Maybe my Jason will get one someday.
ReplyDeleteI've been working on a 70's peasant-style dress to which I've given a bit of a russian twist. Maybe I'll have it done for my trip to Hartford on Thursday.
My husband wants a cowboy shirt too, as he says he was "born to the saddle" ha. They do look so good on him, but he would like elaborate embroidery, piping, the works. Could be a fun project--might make me hate him.
ReplyDeletepeter, it's stunning. love the solid color. looks like clothing rather than costumes. was wondering how you sewed the inside seams: felled?
ReplyDeleteand thanks for the advice on the slimmer fit. i married a skinny man with a giant fat neck. his shirts tend to blouse out too much.
Thanks, all!
ReplyDeleteFitz, I flat-felled the shoulder and side seams. First I did the side seams (torso and arms) using French seams but it didn't look good in the armpit area -- too thick -- so I undid the whole thing and did it as flat-felled. I think French seams work best with a lighter fabric like silk.
Very nice! I'm impressed.
ReplyDeleteGreat shirt! It fits beautifully and really suits you.
ReplyDeleteOh I do love a man in a western shirt...Now for the tight Wranglers and a pair of Ropers to go along with it. Whoooeee! Ride 'em Cowboy! I love the shirt. Great fabric choice for it and the snaps are seriously a snap! I do request next time that you include fringe though...
ReplyDeleteBeautiful. Impressive. I love the pearl snaps.
ReplyDeleteThis is a fabulous, perfect shirt. The pearl snaps definitely add a RTW touch. I'll have to use them in a project sometime soon.
ReplyDeleteYour shirt looks snazzy!
ReplyDeleteBrilliant. Nice sidestep from the suit. Thanks for writing about the snaps. I wanted to do them on a shirt for my husband but chickened out and did little pearly buttons that look similar. (I have one of those fab old Singer buttonholer attachments so buttonholes are a joy.) I particularly love the 3 snaps on each cuff.
ReplyDeleteI've been sewing for 50 years and I can say you did a fabulous job. But let me give you one hint. After each project is finished, clean at least one room. It keeps you balanced.
ReplyDeleteThat shirt is so awesome...you did a terrific job. Your sewing skills are fabulous!!!! You are putting me to shame...i've been promising my husband a shirt because he is hard to fit.......aw, now I gotta do it.
ReplyDeleteNice shirt. Where did you get the men's dressform in the background. I am looking for one. Love your blog and your great sense of humour.
ReplyDeleteThat old vintage torso is from the flea market -- it's actually too big to use and is just for display. It's hard to find a mens bodyform with a smaller than 38" chest size (I need 36"); I ended up getting one of those cheap adjustable female body forms; I'm not really doing extensive tailoring on it so it's perfectly adequate.
ReplyDelete