Friends, this is what I look like at 2:48 am. Not pretty but the tea is delicious (and if you squint I look like a gorilla in that picture, seriously). Perhaps due to the excitement of my flannel shirt project, I am up in the middle of the night and can't get back to sleep. I can't even blame the dogs. Happily, there's the blog.
The plaid flannel shirt is coming along well. I should finish tomorrow, I mean today. And now an endorsement. As you know, MPB is an ad-free blog and anything I recommend I genuinely use. I receive no compensation (if only).
But I am totally in like with my straight-stitch low-shank walking foot, which I purchased from Sew-Classic for about $20. This thing works well, fits my Pfaff 30 perfectly, and let's face it, half of it is psychological: I sew better knowing that I've taken this precaution; it's like a sew-condom. For $20, it's well worth it and you don't lose sensation.
And speaking of endorsements, after I mentioned blockfusing yesterday, clever Kiwi commentator Sherry put it in my head that I need a dry press, or a steam press, or an Elnapress, or -- well you get the idea -- and now I want one.
Question: Should I wait to stumble upon one at the thrift store for $4, buy a used one on eBay, or splurge for a new one on a site like Allbrands.com? I know ten anonymous commentors are going to try to talk me out of it, but I think I'd use this if I had it and could figure out a) where to store it, and b) where to use it.
I'm leaning toward a dry press since I really want it to fuse interfacing as opposed to pressing shirts. There's always the spray bottle if I need steam. I've read a lot of posts on Pattern Review about these and most people have very positive things to say about them.
Now back to the shirt. I have decided that one of my New Year's resolutions is to sew more slowly and carefully. I tend to speed through projects and sometimes the quality of my work suffers. I am trying to approach this flannel shirt project with more care and focus on getting the details right. Plus, let's face it -- plaid's a bitch and slows you down regardless.
So far, I like it. A few details:
Here's the left front button placket. Still haven't made up my mind about buttons vs. pearl snaps, though I'm leaning toward buttons.
I decided to do my facings in black cotton sateen. This is turned under and topstitched -- well, there's a tuck in there too but let's keep it simple.
I cut my back yoke on the bias and interfaced one side for a little more body.
I also used the black cotton sateen to make the inside collar stand. Here you can see it from the outside before topstitching down the outside collar stand.
I think it may be time for a men's shirt sew-a-long so I can discuss construction methods in greater detail. How much lead time do you think we'd need -- a month?
I have a (growing) file of pics of my shirt construction here, though with all that plaid and a fabric that has no right or wrong side, it may be hard to grasp what I'm doing.
Here's how things looked as of quitting time:
Next up is topstitching my sleeve plackets.
Friends, has this ever happened to you? I wanted to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich yesterday -- not something I often eat -- and I toasted my bread, a delicious sourdough from Trader Joe's and look:
I mean, honestly, no one loves yeast as much as I do, but isn't this kind of ridiculous?
I may have to flag down one of these next time it drives through town.
Rested readers, I must go back to bed or read or something.
In closing, do you own a walking foot and does it work for you? Do you own a press and do you love it/use it/want to donate it to me? If I did a men's shirt sew-along would you sew along?
And how about that bread?
I want to hear from you!
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