It’s been a while since I made Mr Ooobop something. Quite shameful really for all the lovely photos he takes for me. So I’m delighted to have finally finished his latest shirt. And he loves it, thankfully!
The hardest bit for me was being back behind the camera again. Well out of practice I was. But luckily Dan has more patience than me and was very obliging as I got him to mill around on Barnes common!
This is the third version I’ve made from the same pattern – Butterick 5007 – A 70s men’s western shirt. The kind of shirt you have to imagine beyond the pattern pic:
Mr O is quite good at that. Non-conformist to a T for Taurus he is, and believes very firmly that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. So all that needed to be altered this time was the choice of fabric. The flowery fabric used in the last shirt I made him was gorgeous but faded so quickly in the wash. Such a shame. So he chose this gorgeous black linen with embroidered details.
When we came to buy the fabric. I didn’t think I would have a problem with pattern matching because the little embroidered motifs were quite sparse but that’s where I massively slipped up. Didn’t really consider placement, did I…doh!
Placement isn’t really that difficult if you take time and consider each piece and where it’s going to sit with the adjoining pieces, of course, but when you’ve purchased only just enough fabric for the job and it was end of roll, it creates a problem or ten.
You can move the pieces around to work as much as you like but sometimes that ain’t very economical and you end up short of material for all the pieces. Luckily enough I had some spare plain black linen floating around because what was left didn’t leave suitable areas for the cuffs, collar stands and one of the pockets. I also used some of the plain stuff for the underside of the pocket flaps.
It’s a close-fitting shirt, which required a bit of fitting but that was done on the first version, which incidentally has disappeared from my blog but here’s a pic of it. I just love the vintage Laura Ashley curtain fabric I rescued here. The beard, not so much!
In all cases, the pointed collar is large. He likes it that way. But I did include a stiffer facing this time so it is even more exaggerated!
The back and front yokes are cut on the bias. Fine for the back but I did some serious head-scratching on the placement decisions for the front yokes. In my head I wanted the design flipped and symmetrical. Why my brain couldn’t let it lie I have no idea!
I love how the above picture shows the texture of the linen. It is one of my favourite fabrics to work with. And I’m told it feels great and is dead comfy to wear too! Also shows up some of the painstaking topstitching. I had clearly forgotten just how long this takes. It can’t be rushed. And I couldn’t do it at night-time. Sewing black on black with stupid crap low energy ethical lightbulbs is not good for anyone’s health. So I’m glad I waited for weekend daylight hours to get a neat job.
You can’t see from these photos, and you probably wouldn’t have noticed in real-life and close up either, but I interfaced the cuffs and button band in a white fusible woven interfacing. French stuff. Great quality in fact. But when I cut the button holes it was a little irritating to see the white edges. So I got my Sharpie out and coloured them in… shhhh!
The buttons aren’t an exact match for the blue in the embroidery which bugs a bit but I’m keeping eyes peeled for a closer colour. They can always be replaced at a later date. But I so wish I’d put the buttons on the other side of the cuff. Mr O doesn’t often do his cuffs up so you don’t get to see them side on!
He also doesn’t like to tuck a shirt in much. And so it’s great that the shaped hemline gets a showcase. I used a bias tape to finish the edge because I forgot to lengthen it again I much prefer how it looks.
It was really lovely to catch an hour or so of the sunshine in Barnes, today and especially lovely to spend a little time with this fella. We’ve been like passing ships lately. And he’s off again now to do a gig in Kent! So what’s a girl to do? Crack open a bottle and crank up the sewing machine I guess! Tough life on a Sunday afternoon, hey!
Happy sewing, everyone!
You’re married to Johnny Cash!
Haha. He will love that! xxx
YES! That was my first thought exactly! Love the streamlined/shorter hair look and the shirt of course, it’s totally rock and roll! x
I used to have that Laura Ashley print on my wall when I was a kid!
Mr Ooobop looks pretty fly
How funny. I love that print. Still have a few scraps. Too precious to bin!
Oh! Our pattern! I owe MrC 4 shirts right now too, although I am probably going to sew them “by proxy”!! I am loving the embroidered linen – I am addicted to embroidered linens and silks and have an entire cupboard of them.
Dan does black so well, just like a muso. Are you used to the new hair yet? 🙂
Ha! You know me so well from afar Mrs C!! It’s growing on me. I loved Samson so much and so its taking a bit of getting-used-to. But I guess I’m a teen of the 80s so it won’t take too long!! xxx
Mr. Oopbop is one seriously sexy guy. You lucky girl and he is lucky too since you do make a great looking shirt.
Why, thank you Connie! x
You are my sewing hero with this latest shirt. I’m making my bloke a cowboy shirt, too – with PIPING. I know, I know… But I think it’ll work 🙂
OMG! Shhhh….don’t mention the piping!! I know he will want that next! Keep me posted. Something tells me I will be calling on you for future help!! 🙂
Well yes, that’s a great shirt! Gah, there’s no reason I shouldn’t start sewing for my husband is there – he sure moans about the lack of options for mens shirts a lot, and this post has really driven it home that I can fix all of that!
Not at all. It’s great to get experience in making something other than you would for yourself. You pick up new skills on the way too!
Shirt looks great. Gives me some confidence my end, as I’m starting sewing for my husband sometime this week
Good luck Kaitlyn. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it as much as he will!
Beautiful Janene! He must be delighted with it. That linen is gorgeous and your stitching so neat!
Thanks Fiona. He is and I’m pretty chuffed about it too! 🙂
Love mr o’s new hair! And a great shirt. I will not be showing it to my hubby since i have 3 pieces of lovely shirting lurking in the stash and he has given up hope of them becoming shirts any time soon!
Thanks Jo. Believe me, he won’t have given up. He’s just waiting for an opportune moment! 😉
Looks great! I think the pattern placement worked out lovely 🙂
Thanks Rebecca 🙂
It looks amazing – with so much attention to detail. The photos aren’t bad either! Did he give you some constructive criticism afterwards?
Thanks Tialys. Of course he did!!
Best.wife.ever
What an epic shirt – I want it!
I’ve stolen my husband’s fishing head lamp on the odd occasion to either sew black fabric or unpick a thread that is almost impossible to see. It’s really amazing the difference it makes!
Ha. Thanks Lizzy. I think I want a shirt in linen too now. Feels sooo good. Yes those head torches are great. Wish I knew where I hid mine!
You keep making shirts like this and he will become a country music legend! I use vintage shirt patterns to make shirts for my husband and he also loves them.
Here’s hoping! I always love a vintage pattern over a modern one!
Great shirt and I love the fabric.
Thank you Norma 🙂
Love that western style! Also love the fabric, and how you were able to make some substitutions in order to stretch it to do what you needed to do. As usual, beautiful work, Janene!
Thank you Karen. I’m definitely getting a little more patient as I grow older!
Oh Wow! What lovely fabric for the shirt! The shirt looks fabulous on Mr O. Good going with all that top stitching black on black. Hmmm, not sure I’d my husband a shirt, maybe I’ll stick to pyjama trousers!!!
Thank you Linda. It all started with a pair of pj’s!! 😉
This shirt screams “designer’s piece”. Such a nonconforming approach, so out-of-box, so unique. Neatest finish. Fantastic post!
Thank you so much. *blush, blush* 🙂
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