I started this venture into the blogging world just this summer. Working two part-time jobs as a Mom of two gets overwhelming at times and I really needed a creative outlet to satisfy the crafter in me. A friend of mine suggested blogging. My first reaction: I don’t know the first thing about blogging! Put my vulnerable self out there for the whole world to see? No way!
But this quote kept finding me:
Life always begins with one step outside of your comfort zone.
Shannon L. Alder
I took it as a sign from the universe. Why couldn’t I have a crafting blog? I’ve been sewing and crafting my whole life! I can’t wait to share my love of that with you all. I have so much to learn on the website creation side of things but I’m having fun and I think that’s all that matters!
I spent some time thinking about what project to feature first on this blog and inevitably fell down the rabbit hole of the internet. I came across The Paranoid Flannel Shirt by George and Ginger and I immediately saw myself swathed in a cozy plaid, reading a good book and sipping a hot cup of tea as the world descended into fall.
This brushed oxford cotton was found at my local Fabricland. It has a very fluid drape and is butter soft. Rosie, my mischievous little kitten, gave it her stamp of approval too!
The size guide recommended a 2X based off my bust measurements but as there is so much ease in the pattern, I chose instead to cut my fabric to an XL as this is the size I most commonly wear in tops.
The instructions were quite straightforward, and aside from a slight mishap in which I cut my collar on the wrong fold, I had this shirt finished within the weekend! The only change I made was to the opening of the sleeves down to the cuff. I sewed the sleeve seam down about three extra inches so there wasn’t such a large slit when the cuff was buttoned.
Of course Miss Rosie insisted on “helping out”! Honestly, I had to keep moving her off the table, she was very distracting!
I opted for black buttons and here is the finished result!
My takeaway:
This pattern is definitely as comfy and slouchy as the pattern advertises and I think the back pleat and rounded hem are cute details. I’m glad I didn’t make the 2X as I felt I would have been swimming in it, but I do have some pulling across the bust (evidence in the above photo) so next time I sew up this pattern I will attempt a full bust adjustment to give myself some more room in that area. Otherwise I love the way the shirt fits everywhere else! I’d like to make another in flannel and perhaps a version in light cotton for the summer.
As for the brushed oxford cotton I used; it is incredibly soft but it was actually quite slippery to work with! I would probably purchase this fabric again if it was on sale. I have a bit leftover… maybe it will become a pair of sleep shorts! Any pattern suggestions?
