Even though we had beautiful weather this weekend, I hardly left the house. I sewed all day yesterday and most of today and may still sew some more.
I started my "Home Sewing Is Easy" shirt. I considered a lot of shirt style options -- camp collar, pull-over tunic, short sleeve, long sleeve, etc. In the end I decided on a standard long sleeve shirt. I'm glad I have a full three yards because one of the sleeves I cut ended up upside down.
Maybe home sewing isn't so easy after all.
Aside from some pattern-matching challenges, this cotton quilting fabric has given me no trouble. The shirt is coming together nicely and I hope to have it finished tomorrow.
On Friday, I bought fabric for my March Mood project. The top two fabrics are cotton prints with an organza-like stiffness (organdy perhaps?). They called it voile but it's crisper than what I thought voile usually feels like. The pink, white, and black fabric is a softer silk-cotton blend.
I also bought pleated polyester and a black cotton knit. Now who's that designer who uses pleated polyester....?
This will be the focus of the coming week. I'm excited.
They are lovely to sew with, but my limited experience so far with silk cotton blends is that they don't hold up well to wear compared to all cotton or all silk. Also, cellulose fibers usually wash well under different conditions than animal proteins (cottons can be great with bleach, silks are great with more acidic water) so it's challenging to launder them. They do come in great colors though.
I am dying to see what you will make with the pleated polyester. I just got me a pleated fabric (not sure what exactly it is) and although I love the colour and the texture, I am not sure how to work with it and what to do with all that pleat!!
I would prewash those voiles, Peter, they may be stiff because they contain dressing and will go soft. I hope not if that's not what you want them to do but I have been caught by that in the past!
Gold star for pattern matching on the fronts … looks so perfect! Can't wait to see it when it's finished. Must make sure my bloke doesn't see this as he will want one the same.
That must be a pattern matching nightmare! I am just beginning to learn the importance of pattern matching/ placement. I should have learned something from the master Oona!
I'm a native New Yorker and sewing fanatic! I started sewing in 2009 and today make all my own clothes using vintage sewing machines and vintage patterns, in addition to sewing for private clients. Welcome to the warm and whimsical world of Male Pattern Boldness, where the conversation is sewing, style, fashion, fabric, and more!
oooh, i love the silk-cotton print. and those blends are always lovely to sew with as well.
ReplyDeleteThe shirt looks great so far. definitely not too much with the long sleeve instead of short sleeved.
They are lovely to sew with, but my limited experience so far with silk cotton blends is that they don't hold up well to wear compared to all cotton or all silk. Also, cellulose fibers usually wash well under different conditions than animal proteins (cottons can be great with bleach, silks are great with more acidic water) so it's challenging to launder them.
DeleteThey do come in great colors though.
that fabric is way too fun!
ReplyDeleteIssey Miyake, "Pleats Please"
ReplyDeletehttp://www.isseymiyake.com/en/brands/pleats_please.html
I am dying to see what you will make with the pleated polyester. I just got me a pleated fabric (not sure what exactly it is) and although I love the colour and the texture, I am not sure how to work with it and what to do with all that pleat!!
ReplyDeleteYour shirt makes me smile--especially that ace matching at center front!
ReplyDeleteDon't look too closely, Mary -- it's not so ace! ;)
DeleteMary McFadden. (Pleated poly fabric designer.)
ReplyDelete~Pam
Fortuny. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/1995.28.6a
ReplyDeleteI would prewash those voiles, Peter, they may be stiff because they contain dressing and will go soft. I hope not if that's not what you want them to do but I have been caught by that in the past!
ReplyDeleteGood morning, I am back again..... Issey Miyake was inspired by Vionnet, when creating his Pleats Please collection...
ReplyDeleteNice placket. The body of the shirt falls very nicely on you. Have you drafted your own pattern?
ReplyDeleteGold star for pattern matching on the fronts … looks so perfect! Can't wait to see it when it's finished. Must make sure my bloke doesn't see this as he will want one the same.
ReplyDeleteThat must be a pattern matching nightmare! I am just beginning to learn the importance of pattern matching/ placement. I should have learned something from the master Oona!
ReplyDelete