More Shirts, More Dolls -- Wow!

OK, was I like, not supposed to post this fabulous photo recently uploaded to the Men's Sew-Along Flickr group just because it can already be seen on the blog of Canadian sew-alongette and Mom-of-adorable-boy-model, Sony?

Doll talk + Cathy's Comeback muslin!

The darts need work, of course, but I think you'll agree that Vogue 4018 looks promising if a little Cinderelly at the moment.

When Ken Met Allan or "Guys and Dolls"

He's here.  After yesterday's rant about my eBay seller, how embarrassed I was when the mail delivery person dropped off a big Priority Mail box not an hour later.  Oh, Joy!

How Much For A Vintage Pattern or "10 bucks -- for THIS?"

Readers, have you ever purchased a pattern online that when you received it you realized you could have drafted it yourself in about twenty minutes and saved yourself some dough?

BREAKING -- We interrupt this crinoline...

Readers, I can't explain it.  Ever since formally ending the Men's Shirt Sew-Along on Monday, shirt photos have been pouring in over at our Flickr group.  Obviously reverse psychology, emotional manipulation, and veiled threats work!

Crinoline confessions for a Wednesday morning

OK, Debbie, climb out of that tree and let's get down to business.

Taffeta, tulle, and the big, BIG dress

Friends, I'm scared.  As you know, my plan for the Cathy Comeback dress is this late Fifties Vogue pattern I purchased on Etsy last week:

Men's Shirt Sew-Along 18 -- So Long, Sew-Along + The Men of Negroni!

Readers, today's final Men's Shirt Sew-Along post is dedicated to our Sew-Along participants.

Men's Shirt Sew-Along 17 -- Penultimate Post and Negroni 3 REVEAL!

Loyal Sew-Alongers, Sew-Alongettes, and others, it's nearly time to say good-bye to our first-ever MPB Men's Shirt Sew-Along.

Saturday Smorgasbord with a side of Sew-Along

Friends, my mind is beginning to wander.  I've been sewing shirts for nearly three weeks now.  It's not like I have ADD or anything, I'm just tired of thinking about men's shirts -- and I suspect so are many of you.

Men's Shirt Sew-Along 16 -- New and Final Negroni with Alterations

Friends, it may seem hard to believe, but we're now in the final portion of our Men's Shirt Sew-Along, which started February 1.  I can't remember when we weren't sewing shirts together.  Which reminds me -- Have you started yet?

New Acquisitions: Insomnia Edition

Friends, unlike you, I can't talk about men's shirtmaking endlessly without the occasional break; I'm simply not a shirt-obsessive.  With all the focus on our Sew-Along, I neglect to mention all the other exciting things going on.  Since I'm wide awake at 3 am, I'd like to share a few of them.

Men's Shirt Sew-Along 15 -- Addressing FIT: The Sloping Shoulder

Friends, one of the alterations I need on nearly every commercial shirt pattern I use is a sloping shoulder adjustment.  See that big diagonal crease running from my left shoulder to my left armhole?  You'll see it on nearly all my shirts, on both sides.

Men's Shirt Sew-Along 14 -- Addressing FIT

Friends, as our Men's Shirt Sew-Along, enters its third week, it's (finally) time to address fit.

As I've mentioned previously, the only shirt pattern alterations I'd made before this Sew-Along were to shorten sleeves and bodice length.  Not that other alterations might not have been called for, I simply didn't know how my shirts should/could fit.

Men's Shirt Sew-Along 13 -- A new collar for Negroni: CONCLUSION

Today, friends, we add our collar to our transformed Negroni shirt!

Men's Shirt Sew-Along 12 -- A new collar for Negroni: PART 2

Friends, yesterday I discussed how to create a new facing and front button placket for the Negroni shirt pattern.  We are turning the casual Negroni shirt into a traditional dress shirt.  Now that you know how to draft your right front facing and left front button placket, it's time to address the collar stand and collar.

Men's Shirt Sew-Along 11 -- A new collar for Negroni!

The Negroni men's shirt pattern is lovely.  I've seen some wonderful early versions in our Flickr group and it's great fun to see how different the results are depending on fabric choice.

Shirt-free Friday + parrot video!

Friends, I think we all deserve a day without shirts -- I know I do. 

Pants are optional.

Men's Shirt Sew-Along 10 -- Finishing Up!

It doesn't seem possible but it's true: today the first part of the MPB Men's Shirt Sew-Along draws to a close.

Now I have a suspicion, judging from your comments (and lack thereof) that not everybody is at this point in their projects yet.  Let me reiterate: no one is required to have a muslin done by today; you are always allowed to work at your own pace.

Men's Shirt Sew-Along 9 -- Side seams and cuffs!

Long-suffering Sew-Alongers, we're nearly at the end of our journey. We've been through so much together, I can hardly wait to relive the whole thing with my real fabric! (We'll be drafting new facings and collar stand/collar too.)  But first a few more steps.

Men's Shirt Sew-Along 8 -- Sleeves, etc.

Readers, leading a Sew-Along is often likened to parenting: there are some unpleasant truths that must be imparted and it's best to just state the facts.  So truth #1: Sewing a shirt can be hard.  Some of you realize this already.  I wish this weren't so but there it is.

Like old age according to Bette Davis, Shirtmaking ain't for sissies, not that sissy is a word I would ever use.  Wimps -- Shirtmaking ain't for wimps.  So if you're still with me at this point this much is clear: you're not a wimp.  I really should be raising children.

Men's Shirt Sew-Along 7 -- Let's get our collar on!

Friends, today is a very big day in our Men's Shirt Sew-Along.  We have a lot to cover so let's get to it!

Men's Shirt Sew-Along 6 -- Putting it together, bit by bit

Good morning, Sew-Along stalwarts.  Today is the first day of the rest of your shirts!

Men's Shirt Sew-Along 5 -- Collars and Cuffs and (belch) Interfacing

Goodness, is it Saturday already?

I hope you didn't think you were going to get the weekend off like on those other blogs.  I suppose you'll expect me to sing Do Re Mi and put on marionette shows, too.  (I would be open to a play clothes-from-curtains sew-along, however.)  Let's focus, people!

Men's Shirt Sew-Along 4 -- The Placket Racket

Friends, I want to teach you all about plackets.  Actually, I'd like you to read this first, from Wikipedia, and spare me some work.

Men's Shirt Sew-Along 3 -- Pockets, Plackets and Perfectionism

Sew-Alongers, what you are looking at is the first sleeve placket I ever made on my very first men's shirt.  Not pretty, is it?  Here's my first pocket:

Men's Shirt Sew-Along 2 -- Cut it out already!

Sew-Alongers, as exciting as yesterday was, it gets better today, way better.  We're ready to cut our muslin.

Men's Shirt Sew-Along 1 -- Let's get started!

Welcome to the MPB Men's Shirt Sew-Along!  In the next few weeks I am going to lead you through the construction of a men's shirt, starting first with a muslin and then moving on to our final garment.