Get Creative 2002: third version

Third times a charm right? Umm, not for me! This shirt was meant to be a quick easy project and ended up being a complete headache! I didn't buy enough fabric to begin with so had to change from a proper facing to a skinny one, then I managed to cut that too short and had to join another bit of fabric. Plus I'm not really happy with the hem and I decided to leave out the side slits but might have to add some in as it tends to bunch up on his hips a bit.


But at least its done and I managed to match the plaid better this time!


i've been trying to finish off a few UFO's that I've had lying around, I really don't like to leave anything unfinished so its nice to clear out some stuff.

Get Creative 2002: long sleeve version

Another shirt version - these are so quick to sew up!
I made a couple of changes - a front placket instead of facings, I made it longer and a sz large this time, which fits a lot better through the shoulders/chest and lengthened the arms by 4".
The material is a cotton poplin off the clearance table at Spotlight (surprise, surprise, lol) and the buttons were off the clearance table - I stocked up on a few basic buttons, it always surprises me how dear they are so I like to grab them when they're out cheap.



I did a better job on my flat felled seams this time because I used a ditch foot for the top stitching so its a lot neater and my cuffs and collar attachment is neater too, but still room for improvement.



My son is still wearing it so I count it as a win, but he wants it as a Pj top whereas I like it as a proper shirt, but I suppose at least its getting worn! I got a nice bright plaid for the next version which hopefully will be a dress shirt for him.

Get Creative 2002: Boys Shirt

I bought this pattern out of the clearance bin at Spotlight when I first started sewing, I've never heard of the pattern brand (I think it might be one made by Spotlight?) but it was well drafted and the instructions were pretty good.

I made the kids button up shirt (it also has men's sizes and a cargo pant in the pattern). I made a Medium with added extra width to the sides and arms and originally made long sleeves but they were way too short so they got cut off!
I followed Male Pattern Boldness's shirt sewalong instructions for the flat felled seams and construction, worked a treat - a lot easier than I thought honestly!


First time matching a plaid, took a bit of fiddling at the start and one side doesn't match perfectly but the front is pretty good.


Its a little tight through the chest so next one I'll make a Large and I want to change the front facing to an attached placket like in Simplicity 1941, it just folds back and is top stitched.

Simplicty 1941: Short sleeve shirt

I'm on a bit of a shirt sewing thing at the moment - I sewed one for my son last night (still to be blogged) and so I thought I'd finish this one off - its been sitting in a drawer half finished for a couple of months. I inserted a sleeve realised how much I didn't like the pleated sleeve heads and stuck it aside.
Its version B of S1941, one of the amazing fit patterns. Is it just me or do they never fit right plus I can never work out which size to start with. So I traced off a B cup and did my normal 1.5" FBA instead on a sz20. I deepened the back darts by 1/2" and extended them, even after pinning them while on me (or trying to at least) I still have a lot of fabric puddling in my lower back so the next version I want to try eliminating the back darts and sewing a channel and threading through elastic - I saw it on a RTW shirt and it worked really well.
Its ended up a bit shapeless, looks fine with the belt but feels quite loose without, again I think adding an elasticated back next time will help that and I might end up doing that to this shirt as well.


The sleeves come with quite deep pleats, I found them to be way too big and made the sleeve head puff up a LOT.....I ended up cutting nearly 2" off the top of the sleeve cap to try and get them to sit smoother. For some reason I had sewed and serged the side seam allowances before I left it so I couldn't put them in flat without unpicking a lot, it would be a lot easier to do them flat and would turn out a lot nicer and smoother.


I used a stretch poplin, it doesn't seem to stay pressed very well though, and inside I just serged the seam allowances, nothing fancy!


This version was really turned into a bit of a practise go, gave me a good feel for the pattern and what to change next time and I've already picked out a really nice soft plaid for next time.