...since, I came round these parts and showed you something I made MINUS a huge, big growing belly full of baby. But, it's no illusion, Mama and Elvis are back in town!
It's been almost 4 months since River was born and within that roller-coaster of newborn chaos and two operations to remove my stubborn placenta (thank you for all your well wishes) I found the time to make a shirt. Not just some quick and easy top, but a SHIRT. Excuse the self-promotion, but I am pretty chuffed with myself and wanted to show other sewers on the verge of motherhood that the sewing machine doesn't have to collect dust when that baby pops out. Snippets of time may just be snippets but they can mount up to a glorious wad of time when added altogether, albeit slowly but surely.
So, here it is - McCalls 6436 in a sleeveless version.
I wanted a shirt for the summer that would be easy for nursing and just the right shape to remain fitted yet hide some lumps and bumps I'm not prepared to flaunt just yet!
As you know, I am a huge McCalls fan-girl so 6436 was the perfect option for me. You can make a sleeved version but I opted for this light and breezy sleeveless shirt complete with fancy epaulets and mandarin-style collar.
Based on my new post-partum bewbies I cut a pattern size 12 (usually I cut a straight 10 from McCalls) but I opted to go a size up for a looser fit. I'm pretty pleased with the finished result.
I first started making this shirt during a lovely stay at my parents. My Mum gave me the much-needed push to get started and while River cooed and googled on the floor, I cut out the pattern. Unfortunately, tracing is a new casualty of motherhood. I will pretty much rely on measuring the flat pattern pieces now and a rough tissue fit as my snippets of time have no time for tracing patterns on my hands and knees again. Also, I've been sewing long enough now to know my body and the changes I need to make to achieve a relatively good fit.
Once the pattern was cut I raided my stash for a suitable cloth. Again, no time or inclination to trek to fabric shops, but instead a welcome push to finally start using up my stash. I dug out this lovely cotton that I purchased in Mood last year on my trip to New York. It's sheer but opaque enough to not need anything underneath.
When I got back to London from my folks, it was then merely a case of whenever there was a window, sew something! Be it, pinning a couple of darts, sewing a seam, basting, pressing a seam allowance. And, hey, suddenly you begin to see the shell of a shirt. I also didn't cut corners and french-seamed side and shoulder seams as well as hand sewing the finish of the button placket and collar band.
As a new Mum with limited time, I actually really welcomed the chance to apply nicer finishes to this shirt. In a new world where a messy house, baby puke and delightful nappies are now standard, it's nice to have something where you can regain aesthetic control. Doing the final press on the french seam or the last hand stitch were like taking a sip of a margarita...ahhhhhhh.
The epaulets are a sweet little addition and super easy to do. The armholes, shown above, were finished with a poly satin bias binding I had in my stash. Buttons were purchased, begrudgingly, from Rolls and Rems in Lewisham - I see their customer service has not improved since I've been off radar having a baby. Sort it out RnR!
I am so proud of getting back on the sewing saddle and making something that I not only enjoy wearing but also a type of garment missing from my wardrobe. My sewjo is definitely re-ignited and I can't wait to start on my next project.
Yes, having a bubba is tough and means your time is at the whim of a tiny little boss, but it's nowhere near impossible. Instead it means you actually have more motivation, more inclination and less time to worry about imperfections. Go on fellow mamas, go sew!