To Button Down or to Button Down . . .
Button downs. They are a classic staple. A wardrobe go to. Yet, they can cause nausea, disdain, and outright hatred in the form of spewing four lettered bombs deprecating anyone in earshot. Why? The gape. The gape of the stomach, making a tent like flutter occur. Or . . . every woman's favorite the boob gape. Yea. It's a thin line if I'd rather show off the boobage or look like a balloon.
For years I've avoided them, as I can't find one that will button around the double Ds. Or, even worse, I find ones that button around the chest but it is so loose up top that I end of looking like a DDDDD. I shit you not. Of course, you can always wear a tank underneath or a cami . . . but, seriously with a pencil skirt I often just want a clean line and look. Well, since I am making my own clothes and not bad at it I decided to finally give the Grainline Studio Archer pattern a shot. And, so I set out with my white shirting that I picked up when Mom and I went and tried to buy out Mood right after doing our best to buy out Mary Jos. I bought the fabric for a button down, and I was originally going to do another pattern with it. But, I fell in love with lines of this shirt. And away I went, and hot damn my wearable muslin is full on awesome.
A little french seaming at the shoulders. Seriously, you should try it. Give just enough support to shape them perfectly (that that Jen's pattern needed shaping). The french seams, the sleeves are shortened by two inches, and the sleeve seam are the only changes I needed. I did those on a quarter inch seam, as I forgot to add half an inch to the sleeve (My arms never fit, let's not talk about my arms. Okay? Okay.) Other than that, perfection in a Grainline via a white shirt.
I did look pretty damned nifty today. That's my pencil I made a week or so ago. Used a Simplicity pattern my Mom gave me when I saw her last month, had to alter it (as per usual with a Simplicity, but it was a free one!). And god bless early morning lighting that makes my walls look pink.
A side view. Since everyone wants a sidie.
For years I've avoided them, as I can't find one that will button around the double Ds. Or, even worse, I find ones that button around the chest but it is so loose up top that I end of looking like a DDDDD. I shit you not. Of course, you can always wear a tank underneath or a cami . . . but, seriously with a pencil skirt I often just want a clean line and look. Well, since I am making my own clothes and not bad at it I decided to finally give the Grainline Studio Archer pattern a shot. And, so I set out with my white shirting that I picked up when Mom and I went and tried to buy out Mood right after doing our best to buy out Mary Jos. I bought the fabric for a button down, and I was originally going to do another pattern with it. But, I fell in love with lines of this shirt. And away I went, and hot damn my wearable muslin is full on awesome.
I should note that I got Mr. Fairytale to take this shot when I got home today. After a full day of teaching, advising, grading, and writing. I starched the hell out of this one, and look at that . . . looks good still.
Those button holes are just gorgeous aren't they? Don't you just want to eat them up or marry them? I can't decide which I want to do! And yes, if you look close you can see my green chalk mark. I wore it like that today. Judge me later. I took all of these . . . ;)
Details on the pocket corners. Yes. And yes. You have to look close, as this is white on white. A total bitch to photograph, but on that note when I posted my proud work on Instagram I noted that this was my first white button down from my own hand. While I've worn them, bought them, and loved or hated them I've never made one until now. I made a semi-white wedding dress, and I can certainly tell you that white is a picky little bitch. She isn't like a print that an errant stitch can be hidden in the changing colors or design. White isn't a hider of dirt, stains, or dismaying stitches. So I set out hoping for a wearable muslin, and instead I ended up with pure, blazing white awesome. Did I also tell you that I made that collar stand my bitch? I've never had one go in that seamlessly before. Ever.
I tried to give you a photograph of the entire shirt, but Muttly decided she owned the bed. There's workday wrinkles on this beauty and then doggie hair from, well, her saying "hello, I love you, but get off my bed."
Guess where those buttons came from? I bought a box filled--and I mean filled to the freaking gills-- with vintage, vintagesque, and debatable sewing supplies. Buttons. And, I may never have to buy them again, as my best friend's Mom gave me the mother load of button collections. I have buttons for every project I have planned this fall, except one I think. Ha!
I did look pretty damned nifty today. That's my pencil I made a week or so ago. Used a Simplicity pattern my Mom gave me when I saw her last month, had to alter it (as per usual with a Simplicity, but it was a free one!). And god bless early morning lighting that makes my walls look pink.
Gotta say, I've had things come out, I've had some disasters, and then I have things I love like this shirt. Awesomeness. Even better that there is no gape and no need for serious alterations (as those french shoulder seams gave the slightest structure for a perfect line) and it still looks like a custom made beauty. Oh, wait. It is!
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