My Christmas present to my boys this year is a tailored shirt for each one; in pin-striped linen with contrasting white collar, cuffs, and buttonbands, and a double welted breast pocket with looped button closure.
Three shirts in addition to Cassie’s outfit and Craig’s birthday shirt. Phew! These have kept me super busybusybusy, nose to the grindstone sewing machine for the last few weeks since we got back from Melbourne! This is the first year I’ve made three long-sleeved shirts for Christmas, the past few years I’ve made things a little easier on myself by slipping at least one short-sleeved one in there. The cuffs and little sleeve plackets are quite a bit of work, and a short sleeved shirt feels almost quick and easy by comparison. In the past I’ve always given each item I make its own post, and particularly because of the amount of work that goes into a highly tailored item like a man’s shirt, I kinda reckon they deserve a post each; but this time I just couldn’t with that. It’s all been just too much!
All three shirts are made using Burda 7767, with the personal fitting modifications for each of my men that I’ve fine-tuned over many many shirts. How many of these am I up to?? Must be over 30 of them by now, I think.
Craig’s is a white with purple pin-stripe and brown-y purple buttons, Tim’s is a charcoal with white pin/stripe and black buttons, and Sam’s is a white with blue pin-stripe and caramel-coloured buttons. All three pin-striped linens are from Tessuti’s in Melbourne, bought during my recent girls’ weekend away with Mum and Cassie; and all the buttons are from Fabulous Fabrics. The white contrasting fabric is a silk/linen mix bought from Fabulous Fabrics. I’ve totally hoarded this lovely and quite expensive stuff for aaaages and had toyed with bravely cutting into it for one for my own SWAP projects, but decided that my boys deserved the best… (deep breath, must learn to let go of precious fabrics) Fortunately I should still have enough to make something for myself. Bonus!
All the seams are flat-felled; I used my own tutorial for flat-felling a curved seam to get a nice finish along those sleeve caps. Craig’s shirt has a long curved hemline because it’s more business-like, and the boys’ shirts both have straight hemlines with a lapped split side seam.
My review of this excellent pattern is here
Wow. Stunning. Big pat on your back from CA.
Wow Carolyn…what a mammoth task you set for yourself. I can truly appreciate the amount of work you have put into sewing these shirts (having just finished another one for my partner, not yet blogged about). They all look so professional and smart. I hope the men in your life appreciate your efforts.
This shirt pattern is just made for your boys ~ the fit is just perfect, and the actual sewing and construction is awesome! You should be extremely proud … J
Thanks J, actually over many shirts I have fine-tuned the fit of this pattern so for each of my boys there are little bits shaved off and added here and there; customised to each one :).
These are gorgeous. There must be something in the water here in Perth because I made two of my menfolk long-sleeved shirts for Christmas (yet to be blogged), but neither is as well executed. Loving the little details of the pockets. The linen looks super cool and comfortable.
Yes there is a lot of work in these – the sort that gives you a sore neck, backache and a headache :). The results are fantastic – I like the way they all sort of match:)
Wow Carolyn, I bet you were a popular mum this Christmas! They are sensational. So much effort.
They are all so nice looking. You have some lucky family 🙂
you're my hero, carolyn! really! such a fabulous garments, and so perfectly executed.. i've been sewing like mad past two weeks, but not one of my christmas presents is as complex and perfect as this (i kind of played it safe, choose to make t-shirts, sweatshirts, pjs and stuff)..
Wow, Carolyn. What eye candy – both the impeccably made shirts and the handsome men in your family!
Beautiful work !
Beautiful Carolyn!
Wow! Not one or two…you made three beautiful dress shirts! They look very happy with their Christmas gift.
Wow!!! Every detail is so perfect, from your choice of fabrics and buttons to impeccable sewing!!!
You have one lucky family because your impeccable sewing and tailoring keep them looking stylish. Those shirts and Cassie's orange outfit are amazing. I hope they all enjoy them.
Wauw, 3 shirts for Christmas! Congrats on finishing. The button hole on the welt pockets is an awesome detail! I hope your boys gave you an equally awesome present.
Wow! You have been busy!!! These all look great.
WOW Carolyn! Going for "mum of the year"!!!
Impeccable, as always!
Those are gorgeous! I really admire you for making your Christmas presents!
What a great collection!
These are gorgeous. Great!
fantastic, and love that comment about "must learn to let go" regarding the nice fabrics. I often feel the same way. the button colors are such a nice touch.
I'm sure these are some happy fellas!
Wow, they look gorgeous (the shirts and the boys :-)). I like this pattern, too, and have made it up several times. I have never done a long sleeve version however and I am sure the contrasting elements add quite some work, too. Congratulations on these!
Wow! That first photo looks like a band album cover! Very cool. What a fabulous job and a huge task you accomplished!
beautiful shirts which I am sure they are thrilled to bits with. I favoured the Kwik Sew pattern for my D Mike's shirts but do have another few patterns to try out (when I have time) – and you are making me feel guilty that I haven't make a shirt for Mike for some time. Happy New Year.
Very suave and sophisticated. Lovely work.
Wow! Lovely shirts and so much work! They must have been thrilled 🙂
Great job! Your family must be so very proud of you…and so grateful! You are such a good wife and mum, sewing such beautiful pieces for them. Enjoy what´s left of this year and happy 2014!
Gosh you are such a fast stitcher. The shirts look great. well done.
beautifully done! i kept my xmas sewing pretty modest (pj pants for the kids), so i'm very impressed. your shirts are, as always, so well executed. what lucky men in your life! 🙂
Oh wow, they are all impeccably done! I love the photo of all three of your boys together. Great work, Carolyn!
Just awesome!
Amazing shirts, they all look so fantastic, well done!!
nice casual shirts…..you all look great 🙂
Beautiful shirts – love the pinstripes in all the different colours! Your guys must be awfully proud of you!
Wow Carolyn!!! You are a stunning seamstress! The three pin-striped shirts look very nice on them!
Well done Carolyn, you've done so much generous sewing this Christmas.
Carolyn, you are a rock star! Your family is so spoiled by getting these custom garments. Do they know that? They will never again enjoy wearing garments so much. Your vision for these shirts is impeccable. As usual, I am sooooo impressed.
Beautiful work as usual! I am very impressed!
Love all your shirts, Carolyn! Talk about a spoiled family with custom-fit garments to wear everyday! Love it!
Fabulous, fabulous shirts! And oh my gosh your boys are growing up!
What an amazing trio of shirts. Excellent work.
Very impressive! I can only imagine how much work went in to each one. I hope you rewarded yourself with a rest this Christmas!
Love your custom made shirts. You definitely deserve a rest after that.xxx
Wow! These are just amazing; what wonderful gifts! Very inspiring.
Brilliant! With four sons – something for me to aspire to. Congratulations! Cheers, Karen
How lucky, and how stylish when they wear them together as a trio!
Wow – fabulous shirts!
Did I mention lately – you're the queen of shirts! They all look great, your men are very lucky!
Thanks for sharing this great post. It’s very enlightening. I absolutely love to read informative stuff. Looking forward to find out more and acquire further knowledge from here! Cheers!
mens custom dress shirts