Awesome New Men's Patterns!

Readers, I can't talk about lace and taffeta for one more day without puking wedding invitations.  Instead, I want to talk about guy stuff. 

I was shopping online for patterns last night when I came across these incredible new men's pattern lines.  I can't wait to make the cute plaid shirt up top and the pea coat below center.  And how about that great messenger bag!



Then, from a different pattern company, I found this classic chambray shirt with shorts:



And these colorful summer pants, vests, and jackets:





Wait -- did I mention I was dreaming?  I'd dozed off right there on Etsy!

I woke up and was reminded of the grim reality:

His and her fleece.



Boxy jackets to wear over said fleece.  (Note how this is categorized: "Sleepwear, Unisex, and...Men.")



Scrubs -- they're not just for orthopedic surgeons and dental hygienists!





Unisex pajama bottoms in novelty flannel from Jo-Ann Fabrics.



Roomy shirts perfect for the all-you-can-eat shrimp buffet at Shoney's.



Elastic waistbands for same.





And people wonder why more men don't sew.

Let's give credit where credit is due: German Burda is ahead of the game.  This jacket is cute-ish.



Then again, Burda is also responsible for this.  I shudder.



Friends, how difficult would it be for a pattern company to come up with some cool patterns?  We're not reinventing the wheel here: we're talking pants, shirts, a vest, a jacket.  Style it to look hip, hire a model.  Don't make him pose next to a six-year-old mini-me.  Can you see the difference?





Seriously.  I can't speak for every guy or woman who sews for guys, but I would be thrilled to have patterns for some of the outfits posted here which, by the way, are from J. Crew and Woolrich Woolen Mills -- nothing avant-garde, no men in corsets or Pee Wee Herman suits.  Explore any fashion magazine or men's style blog and this is the kind of thing you see.

Both Land's End and LL Bean both have "hip" fashion lines using the same fabrics and styles their main brand uses but cutting them and styling them in a more contemporary (read slimmer) way.  Why can't pattern companies do this?

I'm not one for rants and I do understand the economics involved.  But there's a potential market out there of young men who care about how they look and they can't all draft for themselves or bother tinkering with vintage patterns.  Are we investing in the future or aren't we?

Readers, what are your thoughts about this?

How can we make this happen?

Jump in!

MPB Jeans Sew-Along -- Save the date!

Guys, it's official: the MPB Jeans Sew-Along is scheduled to begin Monday, May 2, 2011.  It's for both men and women and I hope you'll participate.

I know for some of you May seems too far away to even think about, for others too soon, but I'm counting on there being enough Goldilocks for whom this sounds just right.  You?

Part of the challenge for the men is finding an in-print jeans pattern.  My staff informs me that there is one -- yes, one in-print men's jeans pattern, Kwik Sew 3504.   Is this correct?

Kwik Sew 3504 is currently for sale at Fabric.com where, when last I checked, they had 4 in stock.  They've told me they will reorder when they're down to 2, and that it takes 3-4 weeks for them to receive another shipment.

Friends, does that seem like a long time in these days of overnight delivery and online downloads?

The jeans pattern I've used most recently, no longer in print, is Kwik Sew 2123 which, admittedly, has a somewhat Eighties look to it. 



I've also used Simplicity 5048, a vintage pattern from 1972 that includes a Western shirt and vest.  While it does show up often on sites like Etsy, and eBay, I don't think it's practical for a group sew-along to use a 40-year-old pattern.  It's also not multi-sized, nor does it include back pockets.



Believe me that the difference between a Seventies jeans pattern, an Eighties jeans pattern, and a 2011 jeans pattern is so slight, and the adjustments needed so minor, that I'm tempted to just say go out and get whatever jeans pattern you can find.

If you want to, you can pick up Kwik Sew 3504 from Fabric.com now.  That might force them to re-stock before May.  If you can find it elsewhere, that's fine too.

As for the ladies, as usual you have many more pattern options.  I'd love to know what your favorite jeans pattern is and what makes it so special to you.  I've heard good things about Canadian pattern company Jalie.  Ever made their jeans?

I know a few of us have experience drafting our own jeans.  For men, who generally have fewer curves below the waist, this is not particularly difficult, though it helps to have a commercial pattern on hand just for comparison. 

If you have any questions or comments about the Sew-Along, please ask.  We'll do it the same way as the Men's Shirt Sew-Along, with a separate Flickr group for posting and group discussion.

I'm also excited to announce that I have a piece up about sewing menswear on the BurdaStyle site, so if you'd like to take a look and/or leave a comment, that would be great.

Also, if you haven't thrown your hat in for the groovy vintage Seventies pattern I'm giving away, you still have till midnight tonight.

I'll be talking more about the Jeans Sew-Along in the weeks ahead, naturally.  I'm excited!

Any mens and/or womens jeans pattern recommendations out there? 

Have a great day, everybody!

NOTE: Blogger does not seem to be accepting live links at this time.  If you'd like to leave a link in your comment that we can cut and paste, please do.

Last Sunday before Sew-Along stream of consciousness

Friends, have you ever seen the original version of The Thomas Crown Affair from 1968?  I bought a used copy of the DVD at the flea market yesterday, having heard about what a stylish movie it is, and it is indeed quite glamorous.  Faye Dunaway is fetching in styles familiar to any fan of vintage Sixties Vogue Paris Originals.

Lovers of taupe nail polish, this is the movie for you.

Otherwise it is something of a snoozefest, though not unwatchable, especially if you're a Steven McQueen or Michel Legrand fan (The Windmills of my Mind won the Oscar for Best Song that year). I read that the Persol sunglasses McQueen sports in the film were auctioned off recently for something like $60,000, which is a lot of money for a pair of sunglasses even today.

Anyway...

Other fun flea market finds include three yards of this vintage cotton fabric for $2.



I was originally attracted to it because it had a very distinct right and wrong side and I thought it would be perfect to use for my Sew-Along Negroni muslin.



It was a little stiff originally but after laundering and ironing it has softened up a lot. Does it look too much like something you'd pull out of a Dixie cup dispenser?  Should I save it for something better?

I also found some wonderful old patterns for just $1 each.  I picked up three but I may go back for more today.  A vendor had an entire boxful of largely Seventies patterns that had likely belonged to the costume designer for Eight is Enough.  

Have you ever in your life?  The last time I saw this kind of foreshortening was in a Mannerist painting.  And just think what a shirt in that vintage-airplane-and-hot-air-balloon pattern would cost today -- if you could find it.





Words fail me.



And then there's this.



If there was ever a Junior pattern that tacitly acknowledged the reality of teen pregnancy, I think this is it.  You'll be relieved to know that this pattern includes matching "bikini pants."







I know more than a few of my readers were dressing this way back then, and probably well into the Eighties.  At first I thought that girl was holding a yarmulke, but on closer inspection I think it's a 45 rpm record, no doubt Gypsies, Tramps, and Thieves or Paper Roses.

Speaking of Marie Osmond, did you know she has her own Marie-branded Janome sewing machine?  Apparently she's been sewing her whole life, quilting in particular.  Who knew?

I have a soft spot in my heart for Marie Osmond I won't lie.  Any Marie fans out there?

Oh, before I forget! -- If you have a few minutes: remember that video I posted yesterday of an Eighties-era commercial for the Nevele hotel in the Catskills?  Well if you really want to laugh -- or cry -- read some of the feedback left by some of the Nevele's last guests on Trip Advisor (12 pages of them). 

The titles of the reviews are a bit of a giveaway, from "Pathetic and Disgusting," "The Worst," and "Remember the Shining?" to the more nuanced, "No!!!!!!!!"  Honestly, I nearly peed my pants reading them, so go now just to be safe.

Friends, it's time to get moving -- much planning in the works.

There is still time to join our Sew-Along Flickr group if you haven't already and I am delighted to see that you're getting to know one another there.  Frankly I wouldn't be surprised if some real and lasting relationships came out of all this or at least a hook-up or two, given the amount of activity under some of the discussion topics.  Fortunately I'm a very laissez-faire moderator.

Does everybody have their fabric and pattern(s) at the ready?  Hope so!

NOTE: You have only one more day (January 31) to get the 20% discount on the Negroni pattern offered at the Colette website if you're just joining us.  More details here.

Happy Sunday, everybody!

MPB Men's Shirt Sew-Along!

Friends, we're all set!  The MPB Men's Shirt Sew-Along officially begins on Tuesday, February 1 at 9 am EST.   You have 25 days, which sounds like a lot of time, but you know what the boy scouts say.  Those of you ordering fabric and notions can use the extra lead time.

I am thrilled to announce that, for those of us choosing to sew the same pattern, we'll be using Colette's new retro-chic Negroni men's shirt pattern.

Love it.

I have never sewn the Negroni pattern and I cannot wait to receive it.  I really wanted to choose something that was contemporary and a little hip and I think this pattern fits the bill perfectly.  Plus I'm a sucker for a vintage 10-speed.  I'll be making both the printed one-piece camp collar version and will also provide instructions on making a two piece collar with collar stand.

BONUS!  Sarai is offering a 20% discount on the pattern for Sew-Along participants during the month of January.  Please use the promo code MPBNEGRONI  (It MUST be entered in all caps) to enjoy the discount.

You can read more about Negroni and place an order for it here.

Sarai asked me to remind readers overseas that international shipping can take 2-3 weeks.  Please give yourself plenty of time!

NOTE: No one is required to purchase this pattern to participate in the Sew-Along.  If you already have a pattern and/or prefer to sew along with a different one, you are welcome to do so.  

Over the next few weeks I'll be discussing fabric (you'll need roughly 3 yards) and other recommended supplies for making a men's shirt.

I've created a cute button link up top that you can add to your blog if you have one.  I know it will be prominently displayed over at Pleasing My Palate -- or else.  And I could have sworn I saw it over at Stitches and Seams and Pin Queen already.  Thanks, guys! 

In other non-Sew-Along-related news, I've been fabric shopping in anticipation of today's snowstorm.  Here's my take.





The white fabric is three yards of white cotton denim-weight twill.  I've been wanting white jeans for ages, even though I'm a bit of a slob.  There's something about winter white I love.  It lights up my life and whatever happened to Debbie Boone?

I also found this gorgeous gray cotton flannel that may have a little rayon in it.  It has a real retro feel and would be perfect for Negroni, don't you think?  I picked up dark gray topstitching thread too.





I also love this cotton plaid shirting -- a color combination I don't often see.



Nice, no?  Everything was $3/yd., which is a world of $348 dresses, feels like home.

Friends, that's it.  We're not going to be All-Shirts, All-the-Time here at MPB, but I will be posting more about the Sew-Along over the next week so that participants can get the supplies they need and be ready to roll at 9 am EST, Tuesday, February 1.

Pace yourselves, kids -- we have a long and fun road ahead.   

Happy Friday, everybody!

UPDATE: We now have a Flickr group (called MPB Men's Shirt Sew-Along) to share our project pics!  To join, please email me at peterlappinnyc at gmail dot com.  

The Wacky World of Men's Shirt Patterns

Readers, I am stoked about our upcoming MPB Men's Shirt Sew-Along -- so much so in fact that I am using words like stoked, which I hate.

Tomorrow I should have some exciting news about starting dates, pattern choices, and perhaps even a special discount available to MPB readers.   (NOTE: Pleasing My Palate readers may be subject to a small surcharge.)  Stay tuned!

I spent more time than I care to admit researching men's shirt patterns last night, and what a wild and wonderful world it is!

I said in passing yesterday that men's shirt patterns are more the same than they are different and this is true.  I did uncover quite a broad range of shirt styles, however, some of which I actually remember as the fashion of the day, others from old Bing Crosby movies, and others from recurrent nightmares involving dude ranches and Spin and Marty.

And speaking of nightmares, was there ever a more ill-conceived concept than unisex?  The very word conjures up memories of scary counterculture types, Haight-Ashbury, and The Big Cube (see video below).

When unisex invaded the pattern companies, well, is it any surprise the results were unfortunate?

From bad... (Togetherness? Who needs it?)



To worse.



To rock-bottom hatey-Eighties (yes, his-and-hers shirt, pants, and blazer).



But I digress.

The heyday of the men's shirt pattern is the immediate postwar period when all of a sudden a generation of men had leisure and needed something to wear to it.  (Luckily those days are rapidly drawing to a close.)

Adult men could now dress up like their favorite Western heroes.





Play golf.



Go on vacation (sometimes together).



And smoke pipes.



The peak of invention was also the beginning the end...





...as styles quickly spun out of control.





(Please rest assured there will be no Apache shirts in our sew-along and anyone wishing to make one is on their own.)

Since then, most men shirt patterns have become.... well you decide.

Oh my, how time flies!

I bought this 1939 pattern yesterday on Etsy.  I'm very curious about that removable collar in the upper right corner.  Cool or what?



In closing, friends, did your fathers, brothers, uncles, maiden aunts, etc., wear any of these shirt patterns?  What do you think happened to the shirt pattern over the last sixty-five years and why?

Are you getting stoked about our upcoming adventures in flat-felling, topstitching, and placket pressing?  Hope so!

Have a great day, everybody!