Sunday 9 January 2011

Sunday Fun + Men's Shirt Pattern GIVEAWAY!



Readers, a confession: on occasion I like to dress up and take funny pictures of myself.  Can you accept that about me?  I hope so.  (These indoor shots are self-pics, btw.  Just my camera, my tripod, and me.  No involvement from that cooking guy.)

Today, let's take a break from All-Sew-Along, All-the-Time, shall we?  First though, let me say how delighted I am that so many of you have embedded my little Sew-Along button on your blogs.  You are all going to be amply rewarded -- if not in this life, then the next.  Or the one after that.

Seriously, I'm not used to seeing my mug in so many places and I could grow to like it.  We must do a pants-sew-along next.

What fun I had at the Chelsea flea market yesterday!   For less than $10 I got all these fun men's accessories:



And here's what they inspired.





Have I gone too far with the Pattern Boldness thing?  What do you think?  And a little vintage beefcake...



And look at this:





I don't know how many vintage buttons are in this jar but I'd settle with a lot.   They're unused and I just love 'em.  Now who wants to help me sort them?  I won't have to buy shirt buttons for years!

And speaking of shirts, today we have a GIVEAWAY!

Is there someone out there who is on the fence about the Men's Shirt Sew-Along or simply refuses to buy a pattern?  Well you're in luck!



I found this vintage Nineties Quik Sew shirt pattern, 2160, in my stash, sealed and like-new, and honestly I don't think I'll ever get to it with the number of shirt patterns I already own.  What's great about it is that it is S-M-L-XL, which means you can make it to fit any size.  Except XXXL of course!

This GIVEAWAY CONTEST is open to all MPB Followers and all you have to do is leave a comment below.  Oh, and one more thing -- the comment must rhyme.  Nothing fancy -- an "I'm making a shirt / For my Great Uncle Kurt" will do.  Those who are up to sonnet form are welcome to indulge their whim.  NOTE: The winner will be chosen at random, not based on poetic skill!

This contest is open till Monday, midnight (EST), which gives people plenty of time, and everyone across the planet is eligible.   I will mail the pattern to the winner early next week.

And in Sew-Along news....

I know many of you are shopping for shirt fabric and I've been asked to recommend a few NYC stores with good selections.

On the high end, there's Beckenstein's Men's Fabric Czar at 257 W 39th St.  This place is legendary and you'll find the best of the best (and pay for it).  More affordable and right next door is A K Fabrics Inc.   I got my plaid cotton flannel there for $7/yd.  Beautiful things and some lovely flannel.  Cheaper still (and a bit chaotic) with a lot of shirting for $3/yd. is H&M Fabric at 257 West 39th St.   Kashi at Metro Textiles, 265 West 37th, Suite 908, also sells quality shirting at excellent prices.  

There are many others, of course, and if you've had a positive experience somewhere you'd like to recommend, please do so below.

Many of these stores are open Sunday too (though not Metro).

Friends, I hope you're enjoying your weekend and visualizing beautifully-crafted men's shirts.  I know I am!  In the meantime, I may just bundle up and return to the flea market in search of more vintage goodies, decluttering be damned.

OK, poets -- Ready, Set, Go-ets!

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