Blue and Green on white

A while ago, my mom inspired me to make a shirt for my husband, Dean. She had sewn a shirt for my dad for their first Christmas. About 9 months ago I ruined a shirt of Dean's (a nice shirt too!) in the laundry.  I felt bad, and decided to make one for him as a surprise. Well, the longer I kept it a secret without him knowing, the more times he would bring the subject up. One time he said, "If you were going to make a shirt for me I would want it taylored and...." At this moment we were actually at Joann's, I had to stop him right there - he was going too far with this conversation. I told him right then I was going to make a shirt for him and I was going to do it my way. He then of course smiled and told me he loved me.

{March} is when I started working on this shirt pattern. I did not have a goal of when I would be done with the shirt. I wasn't even shooting for Christmas. Mind I tell you I did NOT sew his shirt by a tutorial or any guidelines. I  patiently took out all the seams of the ruined shirt and used it for my pattern.  Between March and a little of April I had all the parts of the shirt cut out.  I left it sitting here and there in the guest room feeling discouraged of how I had no idea of what I was doing and I didn't have any motivation in starting the sewing project. A weekend either in April or beginning of May or heck it could have been in June but, I picked up the shirt project and started sewing. At this time I was using a 1964 Singer that belonged to my mom. It works great! I love the look of the old machine.  Whenever I was stuck (which were a lot of times) I would look at his other shirts (short sleeved, collared, button up shirts) as an example to see how a seam was sewn or how the shirt was suppose to look.

Long story short.. my mom recently bought a modern sewing machine for both of us to share.  We took a class on how to work the machine. I took it home first to play with it.  My mom bought the machine in {November} that means 6 months have past and I pretty much gave up on the shirt I was working on but, I knew with a new machine I could maybe get this finished. And I did! The week of Christmas is when I completely finished it with the button holes and all. I made a shirt! I did it! Every time I look at his shirt I think.. "I can't believe I made that shirt!" "I did that." I'm super proud of myself, this is the biggest sewing project that I have accomplished.

Here are a few pictures to show you my work:

hand sewn the buttons

 sleeve seam- took me three times on

 both sides to finally finish the arms.

 The two times I did not have them correct,

 and the last time I realized what I did wrong and resewed once again!

 made with love

 button hole

The sewing machine decided to quit before 

button hole was finished so I had to carefully take

 out the stitching and redo the stitch praying every time! 

 collar

 seams inside - connecting the back and arms

 This is the back of the shirt showing

 the pleat on left side

 Pleat on right side (right shoulder blade)

 Sleeve seam- probably the most easiest part

 back

Front

 My husband Dean!

:)

<3 Lovejoy Inspirations