I finished another button down shirt and am I over sewing these for awhile!
This was actually supposed to have long sleeves. I read some other reviews that complained about the ease on the sleeves to this pattern, McCall’s 6436 so I set upon removing the 3 inches of ease from the sleeve. The pattern actually has a two piece sleeve, unusual for shirts, but makes it possible to not have a placket. Which is a cool thing since sleeve plackets are a pain in the butt for me to sew. I somehow butchered the job and the sleeve was actually too small for my armsceye! I had already cut it out and didn’t have any more of this Robert Kaufman blue linen or hemp type cotton, so it had to be sleeveless. Oh well! I’ll probably wear it more this way. Don’t be jealous, but it’s like 80 degrees in January here.I wasn’t sure what this fabric was as I didn’t ask at Superbuzzy, where I bought it. The kids and husband were waiting in the car while it was idling out front, so I was a fabric buying speed demon. Two yards and make it snappy! But I just checked now and found out it’s a linen cotton chambray. It feels almost like hemp. Here is a link to the shop. I also had forgotten that I had used the exact same fabric about two years ago for this little coat I made.
Man, am I out of it.
I like this tunic length as I can wear it over leggings and get the butt coverage needed. These jeans I’m wearing were on my Goodwill pile because they had a light acidy looking wash I wasn’t feeling, so I died them black and now I love them!
I was really curious to make a button down shirt that was designed for a D cup. FBA’s are another pain. One reason I never buy button downs is when they fit in the bust, they are often too big everywhere else on me. And when they fit everywhere else I get the dreaded button gap.
This pattern fit basically well and course had to make some adjustments. But the bust was perfect. I did have to readjust the shoulder seam. I had to cut off about an inch at the shoulder armsceye and I also had to reshape and lower the entire neckline. It was too high and too wide and there was a lot of extra fabric flopping around the neck area.. I removed about an inch and a half from the neckline, so I had to redo the collar and stand patterns, too. Even then, I still had to slightly gather and ease the neckline to get it to lay nicely.
Like I mentioned before,the sleeve had a huge amount of ease and I screwed up the pattern alteration. Moral of that story is trace your pattern piece before you chop it up.I finally got to use my vintage sailor buttons!
Love this detail.
And these pockets.
This pattern is a keeper now that I’ve worked on the fit. I’ll need to swing by JoAnn’s tomorrow since there is another two dollar sale on McCall’s. I can grab another pattern and use the sleeve for my next button down. How they stay in business giving away patterns like this, I have no idea. But I’m not complaining. Here was the original inspiration for my shirt.
Ralph Lauren Military shirt from my Pinterest Board.
Cute shirt..
I am so jealous of that nice warm weather.. ha
Happy sewing.
Thanks Judy.
I think your shirt came out great. Love the fabric. For all the stress it put you in, know that it was worth it in the end. You look terrific in it.
Thanks Debbe!
You look great, Justine! I have the same problem with tops, so maybe I should give this pattern a try, and I am so loving cotton/linen blends and chambray these days.
You’d like it Veronica, Just tissue fit it first.
I love your denim shirt!
Your shirt is so cute! and I really like those shoulder tabs and breast pockets. LOVE the fabric too. I would be buying it up over and over as well!
Just as a btw, “button-down” technically describes a shirt that has a collar that buttons down on to the body of the shirt. 🙂
So cute, I love the fit and the curve along the back hem. Looks like a great pattern, once you get the fit right…which is something I’d like to work on this year. Muslins muslins muslins!
Thanks Monica. I usually get away with not doing a muslin as long as the pattern is not too small. I just fit it onto my form that had my size bra on it and shape away all the excess. I don’t like too much ease.