A New Shirt

I’ve been admiring all the embellished shirts ladies in Blogland are making. My bookmarks list has been growing and growing, so I thought it was about time I do something with it. I picked up some knit fabric at Jo-Ann’s the other day (when also getting some for Jace’s Halloween costume… more on that another day!). My original intention was to do something like this from Tea Rose Home:

But, when I got home, I was worried the fabric I got was a little too heavy to get the right ruffle effect. So I did some more digging through my bookmarks, and remembered this shirt from Anthropology:

Oh, how I love the cowl neck, and the way the fabric is gathered at the chest and then falls softly (perfect for hiding the not so pretty post-baby parts). So I got to work, my inspiration picture in hand. I used a shirt I liked the fit of as my pattern, cut the fabric, sewed the shirt together, added sleeves, you know… shirt making stuff. I really liked the way the shirt was shaping up. And then it was time to add the cowl. Ug. I did it once, sewed it on, pinned and pleated, fiddled, wiggled with it on, left it for a night hoping it might magically look nice in the morning. It didn’t. I think it might have looked worse. So out came my seam ripper. We have a love/hate relationship—I love how helpful it is, I hate that I have to use it. I visualized a better way to do the cowl. I did it. It didn’t look any better. Nolan was sweet and tried to be kind while also affirming my thought that it didn’t work. At all. Out came my seam ripper again. Back to my bookmarks.

I debated between this shirt with its fun flutter flowers by Momma Go Round:

And this one by Diary of a Crafty Lady (even though she made it for her daughter):

And this petal tank by Down East Basics (SOOOO wish they had a store in Oregon):

In the end, with no help from Nolan (his comment: I don’t like ruffles. Oh, you have shirts with ruffles already? I haven’t noticed any that I don’t like.), I decided to have fun with the flutter flowers! And finally, third time was the charm, I love how my shirt turned out!

It has the loose, flowey shape of the Anthro shirt, with the feminine flutter at the neck line (which also mimics the style of a bib necklace). I feel like I’m writing a description for a catalog.

A view from straight on.

Close up of the flutter flowers.

I did two pleats in the back (and still need to find a way so it’s not as loose from behind), and sewed a few flowers on to cover them up.

I paired the shirt with some skinnier jeans (I can’t bring myself to wear true skinny jeans), and a three-quarter length khaki jacket. I like the way they all look together.

Oh, and threw on some fun, platinum flats that I bought a few years ago at Payless.

I had so much fun wearing my shirt today, especially knowing I made it. And know what makes it all even more wonderful? I only spent $8 on it! I think I’m going to have to buy a basic shirt pattern and have fun making lots of shirts with different embellishments.

I’m linking up with some of these fun parties… you should check them out!