May 18, 2009

Project MyWay #23–Pink Silk Shirt

Your Devoted Sewist Featured Articles, Project MyWay Butterick 5280, covered placket, how to topstich corners, sewing a fake pocket flap, sewing a silk shirt, The Feed Dog Sewing and Fashion Blog, topstitching tip 1 Comment

So, I was copying the picture of the shirt I pulled out of a magazine, (it’s actually a jumpsuit, but I love the top part) and I started with the kimono type sleeve, like in the photograph–what was I thinking?!? I already have the shoulders of a full-back and those sleeves made me look like I was about to take flight!

 

Luckily I had enough fabric to cut new sleeves and the second version is much improved.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I used Butterick 5284, View A and made the following changes:

• I created a covered placket by making an interfaced tube and topstitching it into place
• I used the sleeve from View A and lengthened it to make a self-cuff
• I shortened the shirt and straightened the hem and put vents at the side seams
• I added a fake pocket flap

Here’s a little tip you may or may not know for turning corners when topstitching very close to the edge:

Thread a needle with heavy thread and pull it half way through near the corner just inside your topstitching line:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Topstitch to the corner, turn and use the thread as a handle to pull as you stitch so the feed dogs can work properly and you don’t get some tiny stitches near the corner:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I shortened the pattern at little and straightened the curved hem and put little vents at the side seams. I like to wear pants with belts with this style shirt, the belt shows a little and  the untucked shirt makes me look slimmer than a shirt tucked-in. (I wear a light weight tank top under the shirt and I tuck that in.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All in all this was a satisfying project.

TTFN!