Saturday 6 November 2010

The Book Launch Shirt

Well looky here! An actual finished garment from ‘Le Maison Zo’. Such an occurrence is a rare event these days, what with The Coat Project currently taking as much time and attention as a room full of naughty three-year-olds. All this talk of menswear sewing around here recently must have motivated me into finished this project which has been languishing for way too long.
Happily, I was able to get this shirt finished for my boyfriend with but minutes to spare before we headed up to London on Thursday to attend a launch party. We were celebrating the ‘launch’ of Beauty in Decay, a book about Urban Exploration, the copy (AKA, the words) of which having been written by my aforementioned boyfriend. Although it was the compiler of the images who got his name on the spine, my boy was required to sign a mountain of copies along with some of the photographic contributors who were also present.

I’m embarrassed to say that this shirt for my boyfriend was planned back in May after I got a bit spendy one day in Ribes i Casals, a fabric shop in Barcelona. It is based on the Jakob pattern available from Burdastyle which also formed the base of the only other thing I’ve made for him to date: the short sleeved western shirt. Whereas with the western shirt I drafted a new yoke pattern and new pocket detailing, this time I used the original pieces. He’s quite a slender chap and even the smallest size came out a bit too wide for him last time round, so this time made some alterations so that the sizing would be better around the chest.

Obviously I made this version short sleeved but created mock turn-ups instead of simply turning the sleeve edges under. Forgive my rudeness, but can you believe Burdastyle included a full length sleeve version and a sleeveless version but omitted a short sleeved version?! How many guys do you know would choose the sleeveless version if you offered to make them a Jakob? Anyways.....

All in all, I’m really pleased with how this shirt came out. The fit is much better than the first and the beautiful cotton fabric was so nice to work with, it was easy to create a nice clean finish to this garment. Obviously this version didn’t have all the fancy topstitching of the first, so after all the prevarication, it actually only took a couple of sewing stints to get it finished. After the excessive wait, hopefully it will prove to be a good, wearable garment that he will enjoy wearing as much as he has the first.

11 comments:

Flossie in Stitches said...

Ooh, spooky! I work for an architecture practice and received an email from a colleague about this book as her son (I think!) worked on it. I don't know if it was the images or copy though...small world!

Reneebies said...

Congrats for your man unit! That is so exciting!

jen said...

ooh lady that shirt is a beaut and congrats to your bf on the book!!

Veronica Darling... said...

Happy Birthday for last week! And happy book launch to Husbie/Boyf! He looks great in the shirt!!!

Digs said...

Very, very nice shirt. Oh, and don't feel bad: I've been promising my hubby a peacoat for, um, over two years... and we don't think he'll get it this year either. :)

sewistafashionista said...

The shirt looks great! My husband keeps hinting for a polarfleece jacket and I keep sewing everything but!

Drop Stitches Not Bombs said...

Congrats to your boy on the book, and the shirt looks very dapper. I am secretly knitting a hat for my boyfriend, though I'd be a little wary of making him anything much larger, due to the 'Sweater Curse' (in knitting lore, making a jumper for your boyfriend puts a dreadful jinx on the relationship) - out of curiosity, is there any sewing equivalent?

Stacy said...

Congrats to your boy on the book! The shirt looks great. I love the bias-cut pocket detail. And you look glamorous as usual. :)

Anonymous said...

Your boyfriend shirt is inspiring! I am a beginning seamstress bent upon sewing more clothing for her family, but I have yet to venture into sewing for the man of the family. This shirt gives me hope.

Zoe said...

Thanks peops! Well, Drop Stitches, I have never heard of that curse but after reading your comment it temporarily gave me the fear. Then I remembered that I already made him another shirt over a year ago, and seeing as he´s still around requiring another shirt, I guess means it doesn´t apply to sewing! Phew! Good luck with the knited hat for yours, you have the perfect excuse to never bother making anoything more difficult for anyone else!

PunkRizz, I wish you all the best, sewing for others can be really gratifying, especially when your handmade item becomes one of their favourites.

xxx

jessica said...

Hey Zoe, found this interview about dressing on a limited palette and thought of you: http://www.alreadypretty.com/2010/11/life-in-capsule-interview-with-nubby.html

Cheers!

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