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Man Month Project: 1930s Man's Shirt

Well we are nearing the last week of my Man Month series. 
I'm hoping everyone is still having a good time with it.

My last project is a man's shirt. 


Yesterday I went out to try and find some fabric for said garment. I purposefully looked through some men's shirting at one of the larger fabric stores in the garment district in down town LA. I tell you, I do love this place but you have to know where to go. I simply cut my losses and went to the big store, Michael Lavine. It's pretty good and they do carry a lot ore of the specialty odds and ends that you either have to get online or make a trek for.

Well their shirting was something to be desired. Most was polly/cotton and if you know anything about me, you know Mama do likie the polly. I was quite discouraged by it, but then I saw this nice tan chambray that almost won me over, but it was only 36" long and I'd need nearly 3 1/2 yrds for the shirt. That's about $20 for fabric. Now for me, I'd have gone for it.

That's nothing, but I've never made this pattern before, and I didn't like that color on my skin even if I was going to keep it, and I didn't have too much money anyway, so I left it. I did however find some more chambray a bit down the block for a good price, so I'm more than likely going to use that.

I got some nice cotton thread (at a discount, woo hoo!) and I'm going to launder the fabric this morning. I'm still getting some final opinions on the cloth, as I'm still on the fence between this and a couple of other choices.

(all images from Wards '33 and '38)

But I'm planning to get started tomorrow, and I'm going to document this process exhaustively! 
So stay tuned! 

Oh! And don't forget! Today is the last day to enter my Man Month Giveaway!

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6 comments:

  1. Peter LappinMarch 25, 2011 at 10:09 AM

    LOVE that pattern. Is this for you -- or a person you know -- to wear? Hope so! Nice fabric and, looking at those old ads, I see that crimson was a popular shirt color. Who knew?

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  2. ShelleyjMarch 25, 2011 at 10:15 AM

    No, the shirt isn't for anyone. I'm making it just for the exercise of making it.

    I wanted to make one for someone, but he flaked out on buying yardage. I'm having a lot of people flake on me lately so I'm just going it alone.

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  3. Peter LappinMarch 25, 2011 at 1:39 PM

    I'm going to hunt down a man with a 16 1/2" neck for you...maybe a football player. ;)

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  4. NancyMarch 25, 2011 at 2:07 PM

    I've been thinking a lot about men's shirts lately, especially collar starching, and, what do you know, two full cans of spray starch appeared out by the trash just this morning.
    Looking forward to the results!

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  5. Eleen FashionsMarch 25, 2011 at 5:40 PM

    Can't wait to see it completed. Be sure to post it on Sew Retro because I miss some of the feeds because I'm so busy right now!

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  6. AnonymousApril 1, 2011 at 7:58 PM

    This article is inspiring. I love to wear suits that show 1930s because I'm a thespian. I know I can buy vintage discount suits for men in various selected stores.

    ReplyDelete