Tuesday 29 November 2011

Slight shirt strangeness in not-for-me November, Vogue 8096

My husband is a most conservative dresser. He saw Mario's Dr. Who Dalek shirt, by Karen of Sewing by the Seat of My Pants whilst I was reading her blog some months ago.
He was very impressed. He suggested that a shirt with bicycles on it would be equally amusing and well appreciated.
I was astounded. I thought the men of my aquaintance had no fun with their clothes. How could I resist such an opportunity? Even if it was another Vogue 8096....
SAM_0147

The fabric is from Spoonflower, with our cycling group logo on it. My husband designed the team logo some years ago, and I secretly filched it from his computer files and had Spoonflower print it on the fabric. Unfortunately this is quilting fabric, not shirting cotton, but the print turned out nicely.

I was not confident of matching at the collar and cuffs etc, so used a stripey shirting fabric from Michael's fabrics as a contrast.
SAM_0149
SAM_0152
I rather like the front placket effect that reminds me of a road. I used David Page Coffin's Shirtmaking book for the construction techniques - except for the armscye seams. These are overlocked and topstitched in a manner worthy of a quilting cotton shirt.

I did match the back pleat, but that was all.

SAM_0148
I was planning to save this as a Christmas present, but having finished it before the end of year cycling party, handed it over early for an outing.
He was very pleased.
Can anyone explain why this appreciation does not convert to modelling for photographs?
I don't think Genivieve the dressform has quite the right figure for this shirt.

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wonderful! Whimsical and wonderful. I love it. He will be irrestistable in this shirt and you will have to make them for everyone in the club. I hope you ordered a lot of that fabric.

kbenco said...

Some jealousy of his possession of this shirt was expressed at the party. This was very gratifying, but no-one else will be getting one, no matter how much they beg and offer me glasses of wine (Evil laugh)
(someone did say that I had made a spectacle of my husband, but I am sure this was sour grapes;)

kbenco said...
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shams said...

This is beyond great!! I love the whimsy of it!!! And, I agree, this should be for him only :)

Mary said...

Love, love, love...I just finished reading Shirtmaking for the first time, and have been thinking of a motorcycle shirt. Your biking shirt is so well done, and how nice of you to make something for the hub. Beautiful work.

Audrey said...

This is so fantastic. I love the "road" stripe trim.

Pam Erny said...
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Pam Erny said...

How fab is this...totally fun, and beautifully sewn :)

katherine h said...

I have not ventured down the path of spoonflower...I suspect that once I did, it would be like opening up the floodgates.

Cool shirt. I would not have let him wear it if he did not model it!

Tammy said...

Awesome! Love the fabrics combo!

Mary Nanna said...

It looks great - I hope that early delivery of present has not necessitated an obligation to get him another.. I love how the trim and pattern work together. I hope he has lots more fun and enjoyment out of it.

velosews said...

Wow. That's really cool. I can see why you'd be pressured to make more for the crew. You are so clever.

Gail said...

Johnny Chester* eat your heart out! My husband is equally conservative in dress, yet he surprised me by bringing home a tshirt with Einstein on a surfboard. his fav, not mine. Its a little thing, but I love the alignment of the buttonholes on the dark stripe.*The pushbike song circa 1972.

Sue said...

Fab shirt... nothing else to say that hasn't been said already...

Joy said...

Wow, this is the niftiest shirt! Since he likes it, you've probably opened up opportunities to make more whimsical menswear in the future.

Carolyn said...

Very clever indeed! Making a spectacle of your husband? Ignore such petty jealousy, I think most men would kill for an uber-cool shirt like this!
Hmmm, Spoonflower...? Tempting, very tempting indeed (evil cackle ensues...)

The Slapdash Sewist said...

I am so amused by the "spectacle" comment. I am sure he is quite old enough to make a spectacle of himself! What a wonderful shirt, and how nice to discover a hidden bit of whimsy in your partner.

Gabrielle said...

What a fantastic shirt - a fun surprise that your husband wanted a 'cycling' shirt, but the shirt also looks so beautifully and neatly tailored, and you've matched it perfectly with the stripey fabric. I am sure it looks wonderful on.

MushyWear said...

Oh wow, this is super creative. I do think the center placket looks like a road too. Very clever!