A Negroni Shirt for My Husband
A Negroni Shirt for My Husband
When you can do some sewing, and you own a fabric shop, and you have a husband, then the fact that one day you should really make a shirt for that husband sits on your shoulder taunting you until you give in. Well, I finally gave in. Hurrah and Huzzah the man has a shirt!
I haven't ever made a shirt before so approached this with some trepidation. The Negroni by Colette Walden Patterns was an obvious choice and searching the interweb suggested that it would be a good fit for my 6'4" long-armed man (the 6'4" refers to his height here, not the length of his arms).
I measured him up and miraculously he seemed good for a straight large. The fabric I chose was the Studio E Peppered Cotton in Char-Gold which although being black shot with yellow gives a green look over all. I did the facings and inside cuffs, pocket flaps and collar with a poplin we have in the shop called Grantchester Meadows. The shot cotton is so lovely and soft to wear, with a nice weight behind it, not heavy, but not flimsy either.
In the construction, I was most worried about the plackets, but actually they were no problem. I found fitting the cuffs the trickiest bit and this is by no means a perfect shirt, but hey, who's looking? Finishing the inside with flat felled seams was very satisfying and gives a lovely finish.
I decided to go with snaps instead of buttons and used the black ring top style. The tool protects the snap whilst you take a hammer to it, which I hadn't previously realised. I had imagined that the tool somehow engaged the snap into the fabric, but no, you just grip it and bang! It worked well although rather surprised the household to hear furious hammering whilst I was supposed to be sewing.
Well, the man likes his shirt. And I managed to get a picture of him in it at the beginning of a day of gardening. I have learned that my husband wears his clothes indiscriminately, which used to infuriate me, but I've got over that and am just pleased he likes it enough to wear it at all.
If you are curious the greenhouse now has tomatoes, peppers, chillis and an aubergine plant in it. We have room for a couple of cucumbers too... bring on the veg.
I haven't ever made a shirt before so approached this with some trepidation. The Negroni by Colette Walden Patterns was an obvious choice and searching the interweb suggested that it would be a good fit for my 6'4" long-armed man (the 6'4" refers to his height here, not the length of his arms).
I measured him up and miraculously he seemed good for a straight large. The fabric I chose was the Studio E Peppered Cotton in Char-Gold which although being black shot with yellow gives a green look over all. I did the facings and inside cuffs, pocket flaps and collar with a poplin we have in the shop called Grantchester Meadows. The shot cotton is so lovely and soft to wear, with a nice weight behind it, not heavy, but not flimsy either.
In the construction, I was most worried about the plackets, but actually they were no problem. I found fitting the cuffs the trickiest bit and this is by no means a perfect shirt, but hey, who's looking? Finishing the inside with flat felled seams was very satisfying and gives a lovely finish.
I decided to go with snaps instead of buttons and used the black ring top style. The tool protects the snap whilst you take a hammer to it, which I hadn't previously realised. I had imagined that the tool somehow engaged the snap into the fabric, but no, you just grip it and bang! It worked well although rather surprised the household to hear furious hammering whilst I was supposed to be sewing.
Well, the man likes his shirt. And I managed to get a picture of him in it at the beginning of a day of gardening. I have learned that my husband wears his clothes indiscriminately, which used to infuriate me, but I've got over that and am just pleased he likes it enough to wear it at all.
If you are curious the greenhouse now has tomatoes, peppers, chillis and an aubergine plant in it. We have room for a couple of cucumbers too... bring on the veg.
