I'm still not sure what posessed me. It may have been recent exposure to
really nice shirts, or my habit of exploring different processes of creation, or even a latent feeling that the pillow we were required to make in Home Ec. was a horrible representation of what a skill had to offer. In any case, I recently got the urge to make a shirt.
Luckily, I married someone with the patience to answer my never-ending stream of "why", while also knowing when to just let me veer off course and follow a hunch. Amanda escorted me to the nearest Jo-Ann Fabrics, guided me through the pattern books, dug through fabric, and helped me round up all of the other bits & bobbinss necessary. Once home, I got an introduction to the sewing machine, and was then turned loose.
In all, I think the project ran for about sixteen hours. I think a second round could run as short as twelve hours, since I could cut out the copious amounts of time staring at directions wondering what they could possibly mean. I'd be surprised if I ever got the process below eight hours, though. There was a lot of pinning, ironing, cutting, sewing, repinning, re-ironing, recutting, resewing, ...
But, the project ended successfully. I write this post while wearing the shirt, after it survived a full day of wear and coworker compliments. I don't know how soon I'll pick up the needle and thread again, but I'm more comfortable with the price tag attached to fine clothing now.
I've put up
pictures of the process here. Enjoy!
