Hello lovely ladies of the CSC community! I’m thrilled to kick-off shirt-making month, where, for the month of November, we’ll be diving into everything you need to know about shirt-making for a curvy body.
I don’t know about you, but before I learned to sew, I just thought that shirts were something that would never suit or fit me. They’d either gape at the button band, or fall from my bust and tent me into a veritable muumuu (which is an excellent look, just not the one I was going for). Even when I started to sew I found it frustrating, because at the time, many patterns were still only available in straight sizes and for a relatively small bust. But so much has changed since then!
This month, you can look forward to:
- A comprehensive pattern round-up, plus additional reviews of shirts from Pattern for Pirates, Simplicity, Decades of Style and more
- Another ever-popular “Pattern Throwdown” from Jennifer where she sews up and compares several popular patterns
- A brand new “Same Pattern, Different Bodies” post
- Pattern adjustments and hacks
- Resources for awesome fabrics, notions, classes and more
- And more!
In addition, we’re encouraging you to all sew along with us! Sew a shirt during November (deadline: Dec 10th), and hashtag it with #CSCShirtMakingParty on social media (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter), submit it to our Flickr group, or email it to us (mail@curvysewingcollective.com). We’ll do a fun round-up in December – and three lucky participants will win great prizes!
Meg’s Grainline Archer shirt
You must be reading my mind! I’m just planning a shirt right now. I would appreciate an article on matching up horizontal patterns. I tried the Craftsy Shirt class and the Libety shirt as well but my memory is poor so I’m happy to follow a long with you. Thank you.
I am super excited to see these patterns,you really look gorgeous.So happy to found this vintage blog
My Harrison pattern arrived in the post yesterday. On a craft Stall deadline for the end of November too….ummm can I do both. Keep up the great work CSC.
So so so excited and pleased! I love shirts (all types of top really!) But shirts are my favourite and sadly lacking in my wardrobe unless you count the men’s ones because I rarely find a ladies one that fits! I’m not a dress wearer, jeans and a tee gal really so I’m feeling pretty happy and very lucky right now!
I have a couple of shirt patterns waiting… A summer cover up type pattern and another that’ll need a little adjustment. Not sure I’ll be well enough to join in but I will learn loads I’m sure and hey, should I be ok to play I’ll know exactly what I want to do!
I feel the only appropriate sign off here is- thank you thank you thank you thank you!!!!!!!!
T x
Maybe I’ll join in with the ‘along. Might be a bit of incentive. I haven’t worn a button up shirt for about 20 years, mainly because I haven’t found them that comfortable as I grew into my current size 😉
Would be extremely helpful if you referenced those line drawings with links, as you did for your own pattern and the grainline archer. Some of those patterns look very interesting.
Hi Michelle- links to each of the line drawings will be provided in our pattern round-up tomorrow!
Fantastic – thanks!
Please could you link to the patterns you’ve added in the line drawing section? Some of them look very interesting, but with no links or information, it’s not very useful!
Hi Alexandra- links to each of the line drawings will be provided in our pattern round-up tomorrow!
Could you add a link to Lekala/Bootstrap to let people know where the tech illustrations come from? Seems disrespectful use the images and not include the source, as well as unhelpful.
I commented on this matter earlier but my comment has not appeared. It is ‘awaiting moderation’ apparently …
Hi all- sorry about that, links to each of the line drawings will be provided in our pattern round-up tomorrow!
I look forward to the pattern throw down – I thought that was a lot of fun! I love the CSC!
This is just the incentive I need to get back to work on a shirt muslin I stared in July! So happy to have found this blog.
I’m super excited about this month. Some of my deadlines are decreasing, so I should have some time to crank another shirt or two!
I would love it if someone had some tips on upping shirt-making game with flat felling (especially curvy seams).
I have discovered I LOVE sewing shirts and the methodical construction process is almost like meditation.
What about a hack of a shirt into a shirtdress?
Brilliant! I’m newly back to sewing after a long break – and a change in body shape! – and I have been struggling to grade up a pattern which I can see heaps of potential for variety in. This is perfect timing and I aim to have the perfect muslin by the final date.
It would’ve surely been both polite and helpful of the CSC to acknowledge the source of the tech drawings of the shirts at the head of the article. In case anyone wants to know, they are all from Lekala – http://www.lekala.co/ and are, from left to right and top to bottom, as follows:
5762 5767 5753
4249 4086 4457
4456 5446 (free!) 4200
4000 5759
They are also available from Bootstrap, with a slightly different numbering system.
NO Lekala patterns have comprehensive instructions; all of those which I have made have been beautifully drafted, and most of them have fitted me – short, fat, old and droopy – at least ‘OK’ even if I have not liked the style on me. I have made several shirts from different patterns with only very minimal alterations (customisation is not, and really never can be at this level, 100%).
Thanks for listing the Lekala pattern numbers. I pasted each of the 4 digit codes into the search box on BootstrapFashion and the corresponding pattern pulled up with no problem.
Hi all, sorry, we have a comprehensive pattern round-up coming tomorrow with links to all the patterns, including all of these Bootstrap patterns.
Thankyou so much for the Lekala link and style numbers! Very helpful, great styles 🙂
I’m new to CSC, and I love the excitement here. I, too, am built like you, except I have a really BIG problem with fitting a large upper arm. If you can direct me to help with this, I’m in for the sew along! I haven’t sewn for myself in a very long time, and I can’t wait to get started 😀
I’m in! Ive got a couple of patterns in my pattern stash. I’ll go through and pick one. Ive even got fabric! This will be great!
Yay! So excited!
I’m in too. I’m ready to work on the Harrison shirt now that Halloween sewing is out of the way. Back to making for me. 🙂
I’m in times two! I am going to make a Granville and a Harrison. Thanks so much for doing this. FUN!!
I loved the Grainline shirt but just as in Meg’s picture, found the sleeves designed for knuckle walkers. So I took the cuffs off, shortened the sleeves and you guessed it–too much. So now it’s in time-out until I think of a 3/4 sleeve I can make with no more fabric that goes with plaid flannel 🙁
I’m in! I will be playing along. Working on the Harrison at this moment but may also go back and make another Liberty shirt from Sewing Workshop.
Does a shirt that only has a half-placket count for the round-up? Or does it have to button up all the way down?
Where do I find the patterns pictured in the line art? I love the all!!!
I recognize some of the as “Bootstrap” patterns. Or Lekala.
Hi all- they’re Bootstrap patterns, links to the patterns coming tomorrow as part of our comprehensive pattern round-up.
I love the pattern throwdown as well as same pattern different bodies.
Should be a great month!
I hope to get to the Harrison this month and your class! I have loads of fantasies about what I’d like to do with this pattern such as a tunic length (shirt tunic) and perhaps even a shirt dress or shirt jumper/tunic. 🙂 It’s so enlivening to imagine all the possibilities once you have a shirt pattern that actually fits and you know how to sew it up. 🙂
You must be psychic! LOL! I too am working on the Harrison. And I have the same visions of what the shirt may becom! Working on a hack right now! ? Great minds think alike.
I’m excited to see all the makes from the sew along. Which shirt will be used in the sew along, or just pick your own shirt pattern and then sew along?? Those are all Lekala patterns shown. I’m built like you and absolutely love the Harrison…but missed the sale! So excited to follow this~