In Praise of the One-Day Sewing Project -- McCall's 8536

Remember this vintage McCall's Williwear pattern from 1983? Well today I made the top. (You know this is basically a unisex pattern when a men's shirt is referred to in the instructions as a top.)

Anyway, it's basically done and it only took one day!

Don't think I don't envy all you women sewers out there who whip up your Monetas, Concettas and Bernadettas, your Tiramisus, Sorbets and Gelatos in the wink of an eye. Patterns like those don't exist for men. I can sew a long sleeve men's shirt in a minimum of two days; it's just too much work otherwise. Even this Williwear pattern was surprisingly labor-intensive.

The top (which henceforth I will call a shirt) has some unusual features that drew me to it originally, particularly the front pockets concealed in the front yoke seams.

My fabric is a striped linen I found at the flea market a few months ago for $2. It may have a little poly in it judging by the way it smells when I iron it (and the results of a subsequent burn test). I had just enough fabric for this shirt -- I was really cutting it close, no pun intended.

I'm not crazy about shirts with facings but it's the only way to have a finished neckline if you're not going to have a collar (unless you're going to use bias tape or something). One nice touch is the covered button placket.

OK, so here's the shirt. I like it well enough. It looks like something I'd have worn as a guest star on Fantasy Island circa 1984. As you can see, the stripes run in two directions.

There is a strong Eighties vibe to this shirt, especially the fit. And while I like pastels, this may be just a wee bit too pastel for me. I'm like a walking ad for Necco wafers.

Anyway, it feels nice to whip something up in just one day. A suit, it ain't.

And that's it.

Have a great day, everybody!