Man’s shirt in grey wool flannel from Simplicity 8753
Fine wool flannel, from a modern Simplicity pattern. Beautiful shirting fabric, even though few use it this way.
TOTAL TIME COMMITMENT: 18.5 hours (including toile)
Toile (without zip, buttons, lining, interior seam finishing, basting stitch removal or hemming): 7 hours
Cut out & transfer all pattern markings (both main fabric and interlining): 2.5 hours
Main construction: 5.5 hours
Lining construction: none
Finishings (hooks, hem): 3.5 hours
PATTERN CHANGES
None
SEAM FINISHING & DECORATIVE EXTRAS
Topstitch with regular thread & 2.8mm stitch length – lovely, very subtle
Rounded buttonhole – correct choice for fine/medium fabric
VERDICT & LESSONS LEARNT
I adored sewing with this fabric. And it finished up a dream. Will make myself a shirt in wool flannel, for certain.
Flat-felling the seams was easier than I expected and makes a very (unsurprisingly) flat finish on the inside, which I expect enhances the wear experience.
I couldn’t have been prouder of myself of my edgestiching on this make. On point. I’m improving.
Learnt a lot about buttonholing on this project. While certainly less effort than handbound buttonholes, doing them on the machine is not the most straight-forward task, and they can very easily go askew if you are just a tad too assertive when feeding the fabric through the machine.
I don’t like the instructions for the interfacing on the inside of the button placket, but haven’t figured out a better option.