Saturday, June 25, 2011

The Perfect "Campshirt" (Simplicity 2040)

I may have mislead you with the title.

I'm not thinking of a button-up lumberjack shirt.

I'm thinking of "that" shirt.

You know, the one that is okay, that maybe isn't the most flattering, the one that you secretly kind of like, the one that you don't "care" about, so it's okay if it gets dirty and smoky and sweaty and splashed by icky fish water.  That shirt.  The one that gets a lot of wear because you aren't saving it for anything special.

I think of this as the "campshirt".  (I would never dream of spraying mosquito repellent with abandon all over my favorite shirt--it might get ruined.  You understand.)

View C

Imagine my luck when I stumbled upon Simplicity 4020, winner of Best Pattern of the Year award twice for a mere 25 cents at the thrift store.  Even better someone had painstakingly cut out and folded the pattern back into the envelope.  I never do that.

Anyway, it went together easy peasy in a couple hours.


I guess there were a couple issues.  Namely, I stretched out the neckline and didn't use interfacing on the facing.  (Go me)  Again, because this is a campshirt, I just sewed the facing down an inch in with a pretty pink zigzag stitch.  [After understitching:)]

I also brought up the V-neck about an inch.  
This is the only picture that you can see the pleats on top.  The diagonal wrinkles are due to me pulling the bottom band down skewampusly.

Final cost analysis:
Fabric: $1/yard at Hancock's  poly-knit
Thread:  stash, several remnants (dark pink, light pink, dusty yellow)
Pattern:  .25

Total: $1.25

Time spent:  2 hours, give or take?

Thoughts:   I'm rectangle shaped and the top of the band goes across the largest part of my belly.  Which doesn't really work for me.  So I won't be making this top again, but I will wear this shirt.  Probably a lot. It's a campshirt:)

Besides posing for pictures against my lovely siding with my darling son, we've been having a lovely summer.  (Now that it has FINALLY warmed up!)

We've been going to lots of baseball games... T-Ball and our minor league just kicked off their season--with fireworks!

We didn't plan for quite so much sun!


Daddy had to make sure the little one didn't run away.  Again.


We read some Shel Silverstein to help pass the 4th inning along...


I'm having a lovely summer, and hope you are too!

P.S. Fingers crossed hoping my swimsuit(s?) will be done by 4th of July!


5 comments:

  1. Hey, I think you should make this pattern up again...I can't tell that it's the largest part of your belly, I think the shape looks really streamlined. Have fun wearing your don't-worry-about-it shirt!

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  2. I think your shirt looks lovely! Definitely two hours well spent in making it. We all need casual, easy to wear clothes that don't stop you having fun!

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  3. That turned out really cute! I think the shape is actually really good on you. Definitely a keeper and I'm so jealous you found that pattern for a quarter! Nice.

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  4. Cute shirt! I understand what you mean about the shape in a theoretical sense, but I think it looks really good on you, especially with the other fun details. Nice casual shirt - my favorite kind (:

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  5. You're obviously a much more stylish camper than me! The shape and colour of this shirt really suits you. You should definitely make this one up again.

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