Dilatory

This is like…the only thing I’ve made in AGES. But I’m becoming less lazy these days. Don’t you hate it when the more you have to do, the more you feel compelled to add to your load?

Shirts are actually pretty easy to make. The collar is the only thing that jams up the process.

The secret to putting to collar together is to attach the collar to its stabilizing strip first then attach that to the shirt, not the other way around. Makes life loads easier.

I’ve found that covering up the seam edges with bias tape (made from the fabric) makes for a very professional look and gives structure to the shirt so it doesn’t bunch. But never buy bias tape, just cut some from the scraps.

No, I don’t have instagram. My camera is just that shitty.

Attila cat is having a nice day dreaming about tuna.

Haven’t been up to much. If there’s one thing lacking in the city, it’s a nice private place with good lighting for photos.

Maybe I’ll go take a walk and try to find one, but it seems there’s always someone watching. Whether it be from a window above, a boat on the river, or rolling by on a car, somebody is in the open.

A simple shift dress was the last thing I made, aside from my curtains, which are pretty unspectacular haha. It’s linen, taffeta, and ribbons. A bit too summery for the weather now, but I did make it in the summer.

Close up!

I’ve caught this awful cold and had to take the day off because it had me too congested and feverish to go to work. I think someone needs to invent clothing that makes you feel better—like health promoting factors embedded in the fabric. Or maybe they can make a detergent that sticks health factors in the fabric. Or better yet, it’ll be laundry sheets and the heat makes them stick. Obviously I’m delirious.

The inside of a sunflower, a reminder that everything is still beautiful.

The Peter-pan collar, or in menswear, the Club Collar, is a mysterious and painful sewing experience. “But it is so adorable!” you say. I couldn’t agree more, so I’ll show you how I attach it. I actually stole this construction idea from American Apparel.

First, you start with your pattern. I can’t release this one because it’s for sale this season, but as soon as the season’s over, I promise I will share.

I’ve made this blouse with all french seams, which I highly recommend for sheer and light fabrics—it gives a much better finish and holds up in the wash. You will, of course, need to line the collar with interfacing and straight attachment piece to keep it from puckering.

Sew along the outer edge of the collar pieces, attaching the top, interface, and bottom together. Here is the set up all together and clipped.

Make sure whenever you are working with pairs of things to work them in mirror images. When you turn the collars and iron, make sure they’re turned the opposite direction of each other. Because the fabric is sheer, the seam will show up teeth-like on one side and not the other. You’ll want to keep that side as the underside of the collar.

Sew on the straight piece to the turned collars. This will be a little difficult since the strips are so thin. An over stitch will help keep it flipped in place at the end.

And now we attach this firm and stiff collar to the shirt. This part is a little tricky; the key is to stitch it on twice, once for the inside seam, once for the outside seam—this uses one side of the collar strip to act as facing and close up all the fringes.

This is the outside half of the seam; it goes on first.

This is the inside half, it folds over all everything so it looks neat. The incline used because the front of the collar (the round part) really does poorly with any bulk.

Stitch it all up and it’s done!

For a limited time (until someone else buys it), you can purchase this dress and donate to Japan Relief and Rebuild in the process! Fits around a medium.

This dress features diagonal pleating with the map of Tokyo printed in Japan’s flag motif and semi-hidden ruffles in the back.The draping was a labor of love, so if you own it, you actually own hours of my life.

Photographs by Terence Lee. Modeled by Erica Fagin.

For the low low price of $65.00! But wait, there’s more!

There actually isn’t more.

Billy Mays, where are you when we need you?