Friends, something special today!
You can (finally) see me model my completed paisley shirt over at the Mood Sewing Network -- just click here.
Now I don't know much about fabric design -- OK, I know nothing -- but for those of you who do, how do you explain how this fabric can turn up as this fabric, in the same colors and at 1/3 the price? (I did once sew with genuine Liberty of London tana lawn and it has a crisper hand and, mostly likely, a higher thread count. Still my mint paisley shirting is marvelous.)
I love my new paisley shirt and I hope you like it too. As I say in the Mood post, sometimes it's nice to put aside the black lace and man-skirts and get back to basics!
Have a great day, everybody!
What beautiful fabric and you made great use of it. The collar, placket, everything is beautifully done. It looks like the $250 shirt that's just hanging in the closet, ready to be sported. And your understated jeans and Vans(?) are the perfect backdrop. Best of all, your smile isn't merely for the camera -- you look genuinely happy. That is exactly what clothing should do for us. Great stuff, Peter.
ReplyDeleteYou can't compare fabric prices across $ and £. Fabrics are MUCH more expensive in the UK, and we don't get all the sales and coupons I see from reading US blogs. I want 3meters of silk jersey for a dress and it actually may worth paying $50 to have it shipped from the US as I can find it so much cheaper.
ReplyDeleteBut both the Liberty lawn and the Mood paisley are shipping from NYC in USD.
DeleteThe cheaper one is a bootleg fabric?
DeleteHow does one make a perfect copy of an intricate fabric design like that?
DeleteI expect the price is being jacked up by someone who thinks or at least is claiming it is Liberty when it is not. I don't see that pattern anywhere on Liberty's site. Doesn't mean it's not nice, just means its original price is not so high as the etsy seller believes or would like a customer believe, at least.
DeleteI found it:
Deletehttp://www.liberty.co.uk/fcp/product/Liberty//Kitty-Grace-D-Tana-Lawn,-Liberty-Art-Fabrics/56673
The griege goods are likely of a lower quality. That's what happens with quilting cottons. The "same pattern" is sold both at a local quilt shop ($12/yd) and at Walmart ($3/yd) Part of it is that Walmart orders an entire boatload where the local shop can't, and part is that the mfctr used lower quality base fabric (griege goods) for the Walmart stuff to come in at the price point they contracted for. Same print, but not the same base fabric. You'd probably be able to tell the difference if you had the Liberty and your fabric right next to each other. And you'd likely really notice a difference in wearing after a few washings. (Like if you made the shirt fronts out of each one). Fading, pilling and dye quality can be issues. Hard to say how much of an issue though.
DeleteOr you could simply have gotten a really good deal. :)
By the way, it looks GREAT! You did a fabulous job as always.
DeleteAh, you found it, Peter!
DeleteThen I go with the Chinese counterfeiters as below.
I no longer buy quilting fabrics at places like Walmart; the dyes aren't fast, and fading and pilling are real issues. I stick to manufacturers that I trust now. There is a real difference in the hand of the fabric, so it's not that hard to tell the difference.
DeleteWell, I should be walking the dog, but instead I got caught up in trying to find the difference between the two fabrics. I think the Mood piece is the knockoff. The weave is looser and the printing process is not as precise. Now, back to the dog...
ReplyDeleteYou look so proud, and you should. This is a beautiful shirt that looks great on you. I really appreciate the effort that went into the pattern matching, it is striking.
ReplyDeleteGood shot dude!
Wonderful job! The hidden button placket was a great idea for this fabric.
ReplyDeleteThat is one perfect wardrobe staple shirt with just the right amount of individuality to make it special. Perfectly fitted and sewing - as always!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful shirt. The pattern matching is top drawer!! Love the fit. Love the placket. Would you do another one in the colorways you showed last week? Or do you like to tackle something new as your next thing?
ReplyDeleteI'm moving on! ;)
DeleteI once watched as 2 Chinese men bought a 1/4 yard of every fabric in Liberty and the salespeople thought they had a good sale. There were many stacks of pieces of fabric....
ReplyDeleteThat may be our clue...
DeleteI also had 2 other thoughts. The factory might have run a test on non Liberty goods before they did the actual run and that made its way to Mood..... or they could have printed a separate run for themselves to sell.
DeleteI love paisley and your shirt is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI think this shirt perfectly showcases for how far you've come in terms of technical skill. Your'e inspiring. Great job. I'm sure Prof B would be proud.
ReplyDeleteSpud.
One word: elegant.
ReplyDeleteGreat shirt! Your menswear class has taken your already very good skills to a whole new level. Beautiful work!
ReplyDeleteVery cool all the way around. It would be great also paired with a conservative navy sports coat. I may have to find time to do a little Mooding.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous Shirt!!!
ReplyDeleteThe shirt looks so good, love the collar especially. That first photo of you is fantastic!
ReplyDeleteI think I can explain the difference in price between the fabrics in the links you posted. I noticed that the paisley print fabric in the mood fabrics link is on voile fabric. Voile fabric has a lighter weight and has a lower thread count than lawn fabric. The fabric that's on the etsy link is apparently lawn fabric. So there you go. Smart shirt, by the way!!
ReplyDeleteCette chemise est splendide!! (Had to switch to French to make my compliment as unique as your shirt)
ReplyDeleteReally a beauty and it suits you so well! I think that the mood fabric is a better choice for this shirt, as the liberty would have been heavier.
The new shirt is great, and you did a really nice job on the pattern matching.
ReplyDeleteI'm going with those who say a big part is the quality of the basic fabric. Another part is paying for the Liberty name. I know the Mood fabric makers probably didn't dare use exact colors, but it also looks like they used less amount of dye for printing. It's probably not a big difference on one bolt or design, but if using the same dyes on different designs, it could. I'd add in labour costs, but I can see no country of manufacture on the Liberty site.
Beautiful shirt, and you look really fabulous in it. Half drop repeats are tricky to match but you did an exquisite job of that front. All around a 10/10!
ReplyDeleteYour shirt looks really expensive, and kudos on the styling!
ReplyDeleteI often wondered about the copyright for fabric and patterns actually, because in reality with the big 4 quite a lot of patterns look alike (as frequently demonstrated on your blog) Some might fit better then others, but fitting is always subjective of just how closely the sloper used compares to your body. In books that come with patterns there is usually always a note that says that the patterns are copyrighted and can only be used for personal use, but really how unique are those patterns for an A-line skirt or pj pants or the best one: a little girls gathered skirt consisting of 2 rectangles of fabric.
ReplyDeleteI may be wrong, but I recall reading that you cannot copyright a pattern, only the pattern envelope art and instructions. To answer your question, no, they are not unique at all!
DeleteEveryone needs many more then one.
ReplyDeleteLooking justifiably pleased with yourself, and so you should! Well done. :-)
ReplyDeleteWow, Peter, that shirt is my favorite thing you have made - and I have loved a lot of your creations! It looks fantastic on you!
ReplyDeletegreat shirt. I love the choice of club collar. I was just discussing with my co-worker on how difficult they can be to find (he is a real fan).
ReplyDeleteI live fairly near a factory in the north of England which prints a great deal of top-quality fabrics - Sanderson, Wm Morris and - yes! - Liberty, among others.
ReplyDeleteLocal rumour has it that, because of environmental legislation increasing costs at the printing works, Liberty is - unlike the other companies which use it - unwilling to pay, and is soon to move their printing out of the UK to a non-EU location, where they will no doubt be able to use a print works not subject to the same range of environmental pollution controls and occupational health legislation.
Must visit the mill fent shop soon to stock up on Liberty 'seconds' in case the rumour is true - it probably is ...
Esseesee
Love the paisley!! Went to the Mood site & got a few yard meself. Your sewing is wonderful as always. :)
ReplyDeletePeter, what pattern did you use for your shirt?
ReplyDeleteIt's Butterick 4712 (a vintage pattern) but I added the covered button placket and changed the collar.
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