Male Pattern Boldness is proud to be the world's most popular men's sewing blog!



Jan 3, 2017

The Completed African Wax Print Shirt!


Readers, the shirt is finished!

The back consists of two halves that meet at the center back stripe.

I know I'm not the only one who thinks this print has a Dr. Seuss-ian flavor (that yellow, those black markings) -- it was the first thing that came to mind when I purchased the fabric.

In the end, I decided to add two rows of ruffles on the shirt fronts.   I had to use those ruffles somehow.


Here was the original fabric laid flat (below).  I'd love to see how other people have used it.



This shirt -- which I made with the same vintage McCall's pattern as the shirt I debuted last week -- will be a great addition to my warm-weather wardrobe and has definitely turned me onto the possibility of ruffles.

I'd never added them to a shirt before -- have you?

Have a great day, everybody!

23 comments:

  1. Amazing! The ruffles look fantastic, especially in the Dr. Seuss-esque fabric.
    I'd really like to add ruffles to a plain white shirt - you have inspired me!

    ReplyDelete
  2. What an amazing shirt. The fabric is fantastic. I was watching you ruffle on IG and have to say that they look fabulous on the front of that shirt. Lovely. Xx

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'm glad you reversed your decision and used ruffles. I think they made the shirt somehow "just exactly right."

    ReplyDelete
  4. Beautiful and imaginatively constructed. But how much yardage to purchase when you fall in love at first sight with a fabric that has a difficult pattern? Wonder how people decide this recurring question?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think I had four yards (the bolt was 36") but it was only about $3-4 per yard. With a large-scale pattern like this one, if you can afford it, it always pays to buy a little extra.

      Delete
    2. I have a couple of yards of a cotton that I purchased online. No time to get a swatch. When it arrived the pattern of uneven stripes overlaid with vines, etc., was much larger than it had looked and all the colors much brighter. I "visit" it from to time and wish there were more to work with.

      Delete
    3. Wax cottons seem to come in 6 yard lengths, which is too much and almost enough. Does allow for print placement potential.

      Delete
  5. Nice job with this fabric and shirt.

    ReplyDelete
  6. so what did you do with the center swirls? Will you attempt something with them or just get rid of them. If so...email me. I do a lot of quilting.
    I like the ruffles. Glad you didn't put them around the neck.

    ReplyDelete
  7. A shirt is a shirt no matter how yellow, especially if stitched by that MPB fellow! (hopefully Dr Seusish enough)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Great work manipulating that pattern. I know some band members who would LUV to have that shirt.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Wow! This turned out beautifully! I love the ruffles on the shirt and the way you manipulated the print of this fabric! It truly does have a "Dr. Seuss" type that to the print, that's so cute! Great job, you are so talented!

    ReplyDelete
  10. If anyone can pull off a ruffle front shirt it's you! Thanks for making the world a much more fun place to live.

    ReplyDelete
  11. This shirt is fantastic. Love the addition of the ruffles. It is a fun and whimsical shirt.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Wonderful shirt. I was a bit worried when I saw the bullseye spirals, but you avoided that particular trap.

    Yes. I've added ruffles to many things. In high school I'd buy cheap white cotton blouses and add ruffles, lace or embroidered ribbon. I added ruffles to a boy's shirt in college as revenge for his having demanded that we do his laundry.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I love it!
    Happy New Year!

    ReplyDelete
  14. That's a very eye-catching shirt, in a good way. I love how you used the print, but am also curious as to if/where the center swirls ended up. They didn't become the ruffles, did they?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Two did. Part of another swirl became the back outer yoke.

      Delete
    2. Wow! I didn't see that on the back yoke until you mentioned it. The alignment of the stripes with the swirls is incredible! Fantastic orchestration of the print!

      Delete
  15. Oh, the places you'll go in that shirt, Peter!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Have never been a fan of girly-girly ruffles and lace and ribbons on me. Am not opposed to them in principle, I just always liked simple shapes. The ruffles on this bright and cheerful garment make it extra special. elevated plane. Be careful: you may be "instantly translated to the Positive Absolute" when you wear it. (My favorite phrase from a volume of metaphysical twaddle that I read in the early 1970s. It did have interesting chapters about things like showers of fish and frogs, garnered from meteorological reports from the 19th century, but the author was nuts.)

    ReplyDelete

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.

Related Posts with Thumbnails