I can’t tell you how pleased I am with this 🙂 I actually made my boy a shirt, albeit with a little help from the lovely tutor at The Ministry of Craft in Manchester. On Saturday I attended the second part of my two part course, where we fitted the sleeves and attached the button holes. This was a half day session, rather than the full, first day and relatively simple by comparison in terms of skills. No head in my hands this time!
I’ve fitted a fair few sleeves in the past, but realised that it’s a lot easier in my usual knit fabrics. This went in relatively easily, but I ended up with a couple of unintentional, small pleats on each side, which is fine when you’re female, but less desirable on a boy’s shirt… Frustrating though this was, he wore it last night and no one noticed at all, as per usual. The button holes I’d kind of been dreading, but actually in this lovely, crisp cotton they were a breeze.
This course was money well spent indeed, and I’d thoroughly recommend it if you live in the North West. I’m equal parts amazed and delighted that I managed to make this! It’s by far my most complicated and accomplished sewing project. The finish is brilliant (a direct result of the design and a very patient, experienced tutor, rather than my sewing skills), with the shoulder yoke and collars all neatly hidden away. Even my hand sewing managed to rise to the occasion and didn’t let the side down! And my son is delighted with the result, wearing it proudly out for dinner last night 🙂 Job well done, and my maternal guilt eased for a while 😉
navybluethreads 
Great job ~ Congratulations!
Love the shirt, and your photos are priceless!
Thank you! He actually told me off for forgetting the back view ones originally, he knows the process so well now 🙂
LOL!
Hard getting a boy to ‘work it’ in front of the camera, but he’d well 🙂
This looks great, well done you!
A lot of work, so a good project to take a course on. We certainly got our money’s worth out of the tutors 🙂
Well done! It’s fab! Not sure which is the cutest though – your cheeky chappy or the foxy fabric 😀
🙂 Let’s call it a tie then. He’s ridiculously pleased with it, so worth all the effort!
Looks a lovely fit – I’m sure you do need some of the credit for that too. Great pics, but where’s the hands on hips? 😉
Thank you, fingers crossed he’ll get more than one year’s wear out of it. Totally forgot the hands on hips one, next time…
How very very impressive! I bet your son is well chuffed with mom now and I suppose there will be repeat orders?
Thanks Chris, I’m amazed anyone manages to whip one of these up without any help! How’s yours doing? It was looking good last time I saw it 🙂
Love the shirt! What’s with the sticking-tongue out photo??
Thank you! Just being daft I guess or a little self conscious. He’s not used to being that side of the camera.
Very smart!
Thank you, we’re both wry pleased with it.
Well done, it looks great x
Thank you, it turned out far better than I’d expected.
Your shirt looks fantastic! Not at all ‘homemade’ (unlike my last attempt). Do you have plans for another?
Thanks Corrine, I may have already made another as I know myself too well, and knew I’d forget it all if I didn’t put it into practice soon! Will post later in the week if I can get him to pose again…
Excellent. I look forward to seeing it!
What a fantastic job and hasn’t he got such a lovely cheeky smile! A shirt is definitely on my list of things I want to try making. I just like the speed of T-shirts too much
Thank you, I can’t quite believe it turned out so well, but definitely not a quick make! Relieved he’s so pleased with it 🙂
Ooh how adorable!
Thanks Louise, very proud of my handsome boy in it 🙂
Fab shirt. Your pics are lovely. You should be feeling pretty proud of yourself. Out of all of your makes this is one of my favorites.
Ahh, thank you! It’s certainly one of the neatest and he’s happy, so I’m happy 🙂
Brilliant job! The fabric suits him very well and is perfect for the shirt. I can’t wait for some adults to sign up for sewing classes as, although I love teaching kids the basics and watch them shine, it’s a different kind of satisfaction when adults finally ‘get it’.
If only I lived nearer, I could sign up for crochet lessons 🙂 I think all of us on the shirt-making course enjoyed the collective oohs and ahhs as each of us managed the next stage.
Well done! You are obligated to keep him in new handmade shirts now!
Rather more scary my Dad asked if I could make him a similar one, although not in the fox fabric… Yikes! Now, there’s a challenge.
I think I might have some tummy fitting problems if I made a shirt for my dad!
Ditto here! He needs far more room circumference-wise than height-wise 😉
Hmm I wonder if there is a class for that!
🙂
This turned out so great! I think the bowling shirt style is so perfect for him. I will have to be on the lookout for a similar pattern for my boys. I just finished making a button down shirt for myself and there is such a great sense of accomplishment at the end of the process. I hope your son gets a lot of wear out of his awesome new shirt!
Thanks Teri, we’re both really pleased with it and it’s (hopefully) plenty big enough to last him a while. Yes, now I’ve learnt all of these stages, I think I might enjoy making shirt-style items as more slower-burner projects in between quicker makes 🙂
Gorgeous! Love the crisp collar and all of the details, and the fox print is adorable – I’ve just ordered some similar ready for my next quilting project 🐺
Thank you. It does sit really nicely . Bet this fabric would look lovely in a quilt, will look forward to seeing it 🙂
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This is fantastic sell done Teresa, your son certainly looks happy with it to say the least!! You don’t have time to make anything for yourself now!
Thanks Beth, will be back to my usual selfish sewing habits soon. Was worth the efforts for the big smiles and hugs 🙂
Well done. it looks great!
Thank you! Have you made your son anything else since that beautiful waistcoat?
I managed to buy a vintage Donegal tweed waistcoat but the silk back was badly stained so I took it apart and made and new one. I was pleased I took the plunge although it was a bit nerve wracking! At the moment I am running up a pair of harem trousers for him as he wants a pair for dance practise – strange things!! I would really like to make him a shirt but it looks so complex!
The waistcoat upcyling sounds fab, will you post about it? I bet harem trousers are an odd thing to get your head round! Just about to investigate your beret…
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I skim read this a while back but just caught up on it properly now – I love the fabric you’ve used. Your boy looks super smart!!
Thanks Steph, by far my most accomplished make, money well spent on this course 🙂