Peter's Holiday Hijinks + Another Tunic Shirt!

The last week of the year means festivities, friends, family, and sewing fun!

A beautiful knit shirt and I didn't make it!

With the exception of fabric, I don't get offered a lot of freebies.

But I did get an offer recently that sounded interesting.  A company called The Uniform asked if I'd like to sample a shirt they manufacture -- a white knit shirt styled exactly like -- and potentially a substitute for -- a formal men's dress shirt.  I said, sure!

Sewing For Money + Flea Market Finds

Behold my latest shirt, made for a male client.  I love this plaid fabric, which my client actually purchased himself and brought to me, unusual in my business thus far.

The Completed Color-blocked Corduroy Shirt!

The corduroy shirt is finished!

Adventures in Normcore: The Color-blocked Corduroy Shirt

I'm guessing that most of you are familiar with the term "normcore" which, when applied to fashion, basically means ordinary, boring style.  (You can read more about normcore here.)

A Second Stab at the Self-Drafted Blouse (for my Patternmaking class)

OK, so yesterday I swung by the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), where I'm taking a patternmaking class, since my Professor holds office hours on Sundays.

Lessons Learned Sewing My First Silk Blouse or "Never trace darts with red carbon paper"

Roughly three years ago, at the Chelsea flea market, I impulsively purchased three yards of lightweight silk taffeta in a gold, beige, and black plaid, at a very good price.

My First African Wax Print Garment!

Monday afternoon I was heading uptown to a meeting and, with half an hour to spare, decided to pop into the hit-or-miss fabric store "It's a Material World" on 39th Street in the Garment District. 

NAME THAT PATTERN - Ho Ho Ho Edition!

Dear readers, it's hard to believe that it's jingle-bell time already -- weren't we just carving pumpkins?

Unusual Black Fabric Project + A New Vintage Sewing Machine!

I've just finished sewing a tunic-style shirt for a male client who wears mainly black (or dark gray) but wanted something a little unusual too.

Peter Models the Black Denim Jacket!

It's finished!

You can see me model my black denim jacket here.

Irons vs. Garment Steamers

Readers, when it comes to sewing tools, I'm pretty old-school.

The Impromptu Black Denim Jacket Project

If you follow me on Instagram, you know that two weeks ago I tried on a very cute Comme des Garcons jacket at Dover Street Market and decided to make something (somewhat) similar.
Here's the jacket.

What I've Been Sewing of Late

I always enjoy expanding my sewing horizons by taking on new challenges.

And the WINNER IS......!

Readers, while you're all deserving of prizes in my mind, sadly I had only one Kenneth King DVD to give away to a lucky MPB reader.

Today, I am happy to announce that the winner of the Smart Sewing With Fake Fur DVD is.......

Mackinaw Madness!

Readers, while I try to maintain a clear plotline here at Male Pattern Boldness, there are usually a few subplots going on, not all of which I discuss publicly. 

MPB Exclusive: KENNETH KING GIVEAWAY!

Friends, despite extensive negotiation between his people and my people, I am sad to report that I will not be able to give couture fashion designer Kenneth D. King away to any of my readers.  There's only one of him, alas, and he's a busy man.

However, thanks to the generosity of Mr. King, I am able to give away a sealed copy of his latest DVD, Smart Sewing with Fake Fur to one lucky MPB reader!

Neoprene Updates!

Now that my silver jeans are done, I'm thinking about my neoprene project again.

Peter Models the Silver Metallic Jeans!

My silver jeans are done and you can see me model them here!

WARNING: Silver Denim Can Be Blinding

I'm happy to report that my silver denim jeans are nearly finished.

Revisiting Metallics: Silver Denim Jeans!

So I was thinking...

I'm Taking the Neoprene Challenge

Readers, I know.

My New Paisley Shirt -- from 1942!

A few weeks ago, longtime MPB reader Pam (who comments as erzulimojo) sent me extraordinary cotton paisley shirting she'd purchased in the UK a number of years ago and never used.

Things I Don't Get, Vol. 17 - People Who Wear Black All the Time

I know them.  You know them.  You may even be one of them!

Readers, what is it with people who wear black, like, all the time?

Peter Models (Belatedly) the Striped Knit Rugby Shirt!

Now that fall is here and, with it, cooler days, I finally found a weather-appropriate day to model my striped knit rugby shirt which, you may or may not recall, I completed late last summer.

You can view it today by clicking here.

What I've Been Sewing, et al.

It will come as no surprise that I've been sewing a lot of shirts lately.

Laura Mae Comes Over to Play!

It isn't often I get to see my friend, Californian co-blogger Laura Mae, so when I heard she was coming East to visit family and would be in New York City for the day, I quickly arranged a play date!

NAME THAT PATTERN -- Happy Birthday, Luke Perry Edition!

Readers, I know as well as you do that former teen idol and star of Beverly Hills 90210, Luke Perry's birthday was actually yesterday, October 11th, but I still think it's not too late to celebrate this beloved actor's 49th.

Why I Gave Away My Miyake Coat + More Shirtmaking!

One of my favorite projects of 2014 was the leopard print Issey Miyake coat I made as part of the Mood Sewing Network.  So glamorous!

BREAKING: MPB Reader Donates Grandmother's Stash to Peter!

Imagine my delight when, a few days ago, I received an email from MPB reader and fellow native New Yorker Jay (above) asking if I might be interested in his late grandmother's stash of vintage fabric, which had been stored in his family's attic for at least four decades.

Honk If You Like My Sewing Label

For my first-ever sewing label, I opted to go for the handcrafted hipster look.

New Fabric, New Books, and MORE!

I went fabric shopping this week and the theme was cotton flannel.  No neoprene for me -- yet.

Things I Don't Get, Vol. 16 -- The Neoprene Craze

Neoprene -- you know, the stuff they make wetsuits out of -- is now a popular fashion fabric!

And speaking of ponchos...et al.

Readers, today we visited a wonderful street fair/flea market that takes place once a year just a block from my apartment building.

Peter Models the Plaid Overcoat!

My coat is finished!  You can see me model it here.

Ponchos for Men -- YEA or NAY?

Readers, I have never been a fan of the poncho.

Plaid Overcoat Progress + More Pattern Drafting!

My plaid Burda overcoat is coming along slowly but surely.

Remaking a Coat Pattern from Six Years Ago, et al.

Readers, I don't know how I managed it, but six years ago, with little more than two months' sewing experience under my belt, I made Burda 7780 (above).  It turned out pretty nice, especially from a distance.

Back to School -- First Patternmaking Class!

I went back to school yesterday!

Say Hello to My New Elna Grasshopper!

Readers, this has been a good week for me sewing machine-wise and it's only Tuesday!

Home Again + TWO New Sewing Machines!

Friends, you can exhale -- I'm back!

I'll See You In September!

Vacation Eve!

I have not been out of town in a very long time and I'm really looking forward to a break in my routine.  Can't wait to eat some lobster!

Modeling My New Summer Outfit or "Pink Pants-a--palooza"

Readers, my last Mood outfit of the summer is complete!

Click here to see it.

Liked It So Much, I Made Another!

One of the garments I'm complimented on most frequently when I wear it is the blue cotton shawl-collar sweater I made a little over a year ago.

The Mystery of Phoebus Dressmaking Patterns

So I was surfing aimlessly through the vintage pattern pages over at Etsy, as I am wont to do from time to time, when I stumbled upon this.

Susan Models Summer Separates!

Susan's back and looking sensational!

The Scary World of Sewing Labels (and what they should say)

I feel like now that I'm doing a lot of sewing for others, it's time to order some custom labels.

Ed's Second Shirt -- Pink and Blue Gingham!

I've been sewing a lot for the past few days and I'm happy to say I am 95% finished with Ed's second shirt (above).

Plaid linen shirt, completed and modeled!

Meet Ed, our dear neighbors Irma and John's son-in-law, who's visiting this week with his wife from California.

Sewing a fine linen plaid men's shirt

I've fallen behind, readers.  I haven't yet shown you photos from Susan's last fitting from last Friday, which went very well.  I hope to share those with you later in the week.