shirts

Did you see that I won the contest??!! (not the grand prize, but 12 fat quarters -woot woot!!)

I made a few shirts in honor of Rae's Spring Top Sew-along. There are a ton of great submissions! It's so inspiring to see them all. The first one (aside from the last one) is Simplicity 3835. If you're wanting to try sewing clothes for you, this shirt one is a fantastic one to start on. It's super easy. And is actually a good foundation to experiment with. Instead of inserting elastic into the neckline I shirred it. It pulls a little under my arms, but I think that's because I shirred too many rows (5). I wonder if I just did 3 if it wouldn't pull so tight (but I don't REALLY know). I love the look anyway. For the arms the pattern calls for elastic, but i don't think I'd like to have something that tight around my arms. I found some vintage buttons in my stash and just pulled the sleeve over into a small tuck. Originally I thought it was a little too big around the waist so I shirred a few rows just under my bust line. It was a little too maternity looking, and unless you're prego, not always a very flattering look.

The next one. . . I can't decide. What do you think? I had been wanting this Madras Plaid fabric for a couple of years and saw it on sale at Joanns for only $1.50/yd. I don't know. . . it's a lot of . . . plaid. I won't be offended if you don't like it. I just don't want to be that lady in the store that people are thinking "what the H is she wearing?"

It too is Simplicity 3835. I've made this dress once before and really liked it. This is the "mini dress" version. I count it as a shirt even though it's technically a dress. I would never wear it as a dress as it is too short for me. And I am a big fan of pants with dresses. Skinny jeans maybe? It calls for a zipper. I'm lazy (I think I could write a book called Bend The Rules Sewing. Too bad it's already taken. . .) I sewed up the back until about 4 inches from the top and just put in a hook-and-eye. I'd show you, but the plaid doesn't match up so great. Another reason I'm hesitant to wear it out in public. . . BUT - I love the neck and would definitely make this dress again.

The last one is from a shirt I meant to give away but found in a bag up in the attic with a bunch of other shirts. It was like a goldmine finding all of those shirts. I can't believe I was going to get rid of them. So. . . how can I make them wearable again.

For this shirt I cut up the middle, cut off the bottom edge, arms (edge) and neckband. Took another shirt, cut two strips, layered and gathered. Sewed them on sort of eye-balling-it-like (so if the strips aren't even. . . that's why). And viola. New wearable shirt. My husband thinks it looks homemade, but I asked him if I'd paid $50 for it at Anthro if he'd feel differently about it. He didn't say anything.