Gifting, stashbusting and bloke sewing ...

I've managed all three of these in one garment.

I had this scant 1 metre of cotton check fabric that's been in my stash for about 15 years.  I bought it for $3 at a sale of remnants and bolt ends from a clothing store in Mullumbimby called Mokea.  I've pulled it out many times, but there just wasn't enough to make any of the things I had envisioned, so it always ended up neatly folded and back in the cupboard.

Somewhere in the middle of the night on Friday I remembered that I owe my friend, Bruce, a birthday gift from December and as he is a smaller guy, I thought I migh just be able to squeeze it out of this fabric.  I've only sewn for Bruce once before (a terry towelling bathrobe that didn't need fitting) and as he is about 2000km away I couldn't measure him, so I guessed.  I used KS3422 a pattern I've sewn for another similarly sized friend so I hope it comes close.  I know Bruce will wear it regardless, because he loves all things hand made.

I cut the outer yoke on the bias, only just managing to fit it into the odd little bits I had. I managed a pocket but there wasn't enough fabric to cut it on the bias, so it blends into the front and is hard to see in the first picture.

I didn't have quite enough fabric, so I cut the inside yoke, collar stand and under collar from a co-ordinating poplin remnant that I also happened to have in my stash.  The buttons are from stash, once again from an All Buttons Great and Small mixed bag and thread was all tail ends of reels leftover from other garments.  I'm really happy with this shirt and glad to have moved more fabric out of the stash cupboard.


This week I will make myself a birthday dress, but I really need to get started on my SWAP.