I can now share the fruits of my Christmas shirt-making bendah!! Old news? oh well…
I made four shirts recently. Yes, four! *phew* all since I returned home from Melbourne. I know. Sheer insanity. I has it.
Actually I did have different Christmas pressie plans, firm intentions to do something else for them all this year. And then couldn’t find the specific fabric I needed. And then the Fabric Store in Melbourne had such a gorgeous quality linens in stock…
resistance was futile. Shirts it was. My other plans will keep for next year 😉
All are made using Burda 7767, all with short sleeves, all felled seams, with those tricky curved armscye seams felled using this tip. The linen had no right or wrong side, enabling me to fold the buttonhole bands out, rather than under. This makes a rather nice distinct buttonhole band, which can be further emphasised with piping like I did here, or a coupla double rows of top-stitching, or both. This is my favourite way of doing the buttonhole band.
Burda 7767 has three collar variations; the button-down, the Kent and the shark. I’ve used all of them at one time or another in my 30-odd versions of this pattern, but haven’t ever pointed out the differences specifically when blogging about them. So this time, I shall do so 🙂
Shirts 1 and 2, above and below: Tim’s and Sam’s pale blue shirts both feature the “shark” collar, more traditionally known as the cutaway collar. It was a collar designed to accommodate a large or widely knotted tie, but I think it makes a nice collar for a casual shirt, worn open with the top few buttons undone. Which, lets face it, is how my boys wear their shirts, like 99.99% of the time.
They are both of sky blue linen, with piping inserted in under the buttonhole band, the pocket and sleeve hems. Tim’s piping is pale blue and Sam’s is creamy pale yellow; these fabrics harvested from two of Craig’s old business shirts. I cut both the boys’ shirts a little slimmer in the body and a little shorter of sleeve than I’ve done in the past, because I’ve noticed the fashion in young mens’ shirts is for a slightly shrunken look at the moment.
btw, Cassie made Sam’s shorts in the top picture; I think she did a brilliant job and they look gorgeous! The fabric is Batman cotton from Spotlight, and she drew up the pattern herself using some of Sam’s shorts to guide her. They have two welt pockets on the back as well as two inseam side pockets, and an elastic waistband.
Shirt 3; Craig’s blue linen shirt has a Kent collar, considered the classic collar. I originally made the sleeves on this shirt a little shorter like the boys… However! upon first try-on my conservative husband immediately requested a lengthening, ahem. *sigh* I complied and added a long cuff, with a decorative metal button sewn on the top edge.
This shirt has a longer back than front, and split side seams felled with a long bar tack at the top. The other three shirts all have a regular, shaped hemline.
Shirt number 4; Craig’s emerald green shirt has the rather difficult to execute button-down collar.
To my mind the button-down collar has the most formal appearance of the bunch, but actually this is considered the “sporty”option in collars.
So there you go! a short compilation of collars.
Haha, bevy of beauties, compilation of collars, I’m so alliterative this morning. Sheer poetry, wot.
All buttons were harvested from off of some of Craig’s old business shirts. RTW mens’ shirts nearly always have great buttons, good colours, good quality and in a difficult to find small size. Only the Craig’s blue linen shirt has new metal buttons, from Spotlight.
Four shirts? Yowsa. You have been quite a busy bee!
Your shirt making is so impressive! And I enjoyed the collar info. My husband just informed me that he dislikes wearing button down collars. I like the look, though. Didn't know they were the sporty option. I always thought they were the more formal choice.
Gorgeous shirts – and I love the Batman shorts!
I'm in awe of your shirt-making abilities! I made did my first collared shirtdress 🙂 and see it being rather addictive!
Sheer insanity indeed! But with such fab results. Lucky boys!
Lucky boys!
Everything you make is awesome…literally! The shorts Cassie made look like she bought them in a high end store!!!
thanks so much Judi! 🙂
well done you are so good – great shirts (I haven't made any for ages) Happy New Year
You are the shirt and collar queen – the rest of us would take soooo much longer to make that many shirts!
I have just made my husband his 4th shirt – I have made him one for each Christmas we have been back in the UK from living in NZ. This year I followed your curved flat fell tutorial properly – last year I trimmed the wrong side of the seam! These all look amazing as ever.
love all of them! great fabrics really, i can see why you changed your mind about the presents 🙂
Awesome work – so glad my husband does not read my blogrol.
Lucky guys to get such great shirts. Well done Carolyn!
They all look great, the green one is my favourite. Lucky men. I reuse buttons too. 😉 You're so right about those hard to find matching small ones.
they all look great, I particularly like the green one. And now I know that someone else harvests buttons from RTW 🙂
Wow! Aren't those men spoiled? Every shirt is beautiful!!!
great job. Love that first one.
I bow to your amazing shirt making abilities! You are the Queen of Shirts!!
I love the green one – so stylish and where the hell would you buy a green shirt anyway. I made burda jeans- go and take a look at http://joeveryday19.blogspot.co.uk
Wow!
You are definitely the queen of shirts, they all looking amazing and interesting about the different collars.
Great shirts! I'm sure they were well received.
Hot damn! You are a shirt making machine! Beyond impressed over here 😀 Side note- those Batman shorts are RAD! I want me a pair!
Four shirts? Wow! These look great. I also harvest buttons from any RTW anything that is too worn out to donate. Nicely done!
Great quartet of shirts. I have two jars full of harvested buttons. Love my button jars!
beautiful work 🙂
I think your men e very lucky to get shirts made to their specific taste. I am especially impressed with the button down collar – that really does take some getting right.