Apr 10, 2012

Who Doesn't Love a Little Western?

I tell my husband all the time how lucky he is to have a stylist. 


AND a personal seamstress? Not many men who make less than six figures have access to such largess. Who are you anyway in that custom-made classic Western shirt, Nelson Rockefeller? And in a perfect baby blue with pearly snaps no less:


That, ladies and gentlemen, is McCall's 6044 in a medium. Ryan was right. He is a medium. Look how perfectly this second shirt fits (I sewed it this morning in about 2 hours). There's just something about a Western shirt, isn't there?

There's that pose again
Don't tell Ryan, but he looks like he just found head lice in that photo. We need to work on our poses.

Does anybody know where to get pearly snaps for a good price? I bought these at SIL Thread in New York's Garment District. They were pricey at $6.50 for six snaps. Of course, for a short-sleeved Western shirt you need eight snaps.

Here's the large version, now with snaps added. As promised, this dear man wore this shirt today, even though it's a touch larger than he would like. In this photo he's in the middle of telling me how he keeps seeing Stephen Baldwin on the Metro North train home late at night after class. As a former Pentecostal, Ryan has a special disdain for the likes of the born-again Baldwin. Note my bias-cut pockets and placket (I should have also cut the yoke on the bias. My oversight):


I thought I should show you the back, though really: you've seen the back of a man's shirt, you've seen them all, right?


Of course, this pattern has long-sleeved options, but summer is coming as my itchy eyes have made evident, so I'll keep sewing him this seasonally appropriate version until fall. What colour/print would you choose? 

23 comments:

  1. You're right, the medium is a really good fit. Nice job! I heart pearl snaps on guys.

    SnapSource.com is a good place for snaps. They have normal snaps in several sizes and pearl snaps in two sizes - 10 sets for $3.45 + shipping (lots of colors!). I haven't actually bought any from them yet but a friend recommended the site to me.

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    1. Thanks for the recommendation! Holy crap! That site has an amazing array of colours. And so cheap. Thank you!

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  2. ooh i know, you should make one in a nice amethyst tone to compliment his eyes (sometimes you have to temper all those blue shirts), and then you should send it to me so ruggy can wear it (all he has are blue shirts). i promise to make him attempt ryan's "oh hey! i was just scratching the back of my head" pose.

    (yes, i searched your blog to come up with that quote. i recognized it immediately, but my brain is slow at the moment. could be the emerson.)

    these shirts are pure awesome. i mean, perfection!

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    1. I had to look up what colour amethyst is...and you know what, he asked me for a purple shirt! Spot on, Oona.

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  3. Aww, it totally warmed my heart that your husband obliged you with a photo shoot AND in such a great fitting shirt too! I have the best husband ever but there's no way he'd agree to posing for photos for my blog. The shirts look great. I think you have inspired me!

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    1. You just have to keep telling him how good he looks...and how all your readers will be hot for him. That'll work.

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  4. I think there need to be a couple of Ryan Gosling "Hey girl..." quotes attached to those photos. "Hey girl. There's nothing I'd rather do that pose for photos in my handmade, bespoke shirt for your blog" or something a bit more witty (it's too early!)

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  5. looks great. i love this pattern too. ive made it a few times for my husband, but have not attempted snaps. maybe next time. its great to have a go to for my husband though. its so hard to make him things.

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    1. Snaps are fairly easy to do. You just need a rubber mallet and this little metal piece you put on top to keep them lined up while you hammer. I'd rather hammer snaps than sew buttonholes!

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  6. love the shirt, my husband has been asking me to sew for him too... and crazy enough, i just finished a shirtdress for one of my daughters and used the pearly snaps as well! love those things! found mine on etsy--cowgirl snaps is the shop name. she'll put together custom sets if you ask!

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    1. I totally recommend this pattern. It has a couple different options, and was very easy to put together. The fit is great. I didn't have to make any adjustments. Thanks for the tip on the snaps!

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  7. Holy cow-- you made this one in two hours? I don't know how you speedy sewists do it! This looks amazing!

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  8. Wow, he doesn't look half as grumpy as my husband looks in photo shoots! LOL Awesome shirts!

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    1. Oh, have you tried Botani buttons on W36th for the snaps? I don't know if they carry them or not, but it might be worth a look.

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  9. Those look fantastic! I like the fabric that you've used.

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  10. I just bought this pattern the other day to make hubby a linen shirt. Your two shirts are fantastic. I'm worried that I bought the too big pattern now. J sort of fluctuates between large and xtra large. Love the pose ;)

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  11. The shirt came out really nice. I never thought about making shirts for my husband lol. I'm inspired to give it a shot.

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  12. Hello Suzanne!
    I just discovered your blog this morning and I have to tell you that I really love what you do and the way you tell it!
    This shirt is amazing, and I can't believe you did it in only 2 hours... Waoooow! Please tell me that you have an another pair of arms hidden in your back! ;) because right now I feel soooo slow! It would have taken me at least 4 days to achieve the same result (well not really the same since I'm practically sure that my level of finishing details is way below yours!).
    I'm a snaps-addict! I buy them on Etsy (I can't find decent pearl snaps in my area....) in the Cowgirlsnaps store: colors and quality are great!... I hope it will help you...
    Bye! :)

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  13. I love your versions of this shirt. I made my husband the same one recently (just not in 2 hours, more like in 2 weeks) and he loves it too... I made him a Small although he insisted to make a Medium, and I have to admit, he was right, but I like the snug fit around the body, just to bad the sleeves are a bit short.
    I wanted pearl snaps too, but when I went to buy them, the girl in the shop told me they are 2€ (what is that, 2.5 USD?) a piece !! Can you believe it? So he choose wooden buttons and I sewed those on... And he also agreed to a photoshoot, and to be honest, he kinda actually really enjoyed himself, and wouldn´t let me stop taking pictures... You can see him here: http://cosercosas.blogspot.com.es/2013/04/my-mans-new-shirt.html

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  14. Would you mind me sharing the first shirt on SSB in the future? I credit, link to your post and let you know when featured.
    https://facebook.com/sassysewingbees

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