Hi Readers,

I have been on a shirt making kick. Shirt making is a great way to improve your precision sewing! And it is something you only get better with, with practice. Over the years I have accumulated my own tried and true methods for shirt making, so I rarely follow pattern instructions, preferring to flat fell or french seam seams, and use the burrito method to attach the yoke and encase the shoulder seams, for example. So satisfying. Today I am sharing two new shirts, both using fabrics from Fabworks, and both using patterns I have made before.

First up, I said I loved my first version of Kwik Sew 3586 made in white cotton, and here is my second version. This time I made it in a very drapey silk blend crepe de chine in a midnight navy. It is so dark I actually used black thread to sew it.

Such a classic piece that feels wonderful to wear and goes with lots of pieces in my wardrobe. The only changes I made to this second version were:

• I raised the armholes up by 1 inch for better range of arm movement, and that seems to have worked
• I french seamed the sleeves and sides
• I did a continuous lapped placket rather than a tower placket

Nothing much else to say about this shirt. I have another 2 metre cut of this silk blend in my stash in a pink colour and I am very tempted to make another version!

I also made a new shirt for Philip’s birthday (which happens to be today!) I used this cotton check shirting from Fabworks, and it is a beautiful cloth. Strong yet soft and very high quality. I used his tried and true shirt pattern to make this; McCalls 6613 which I have made at least 5 or 6 times now. Not much to say about this make either!

See you all soon!