I’m first up on the Sewspirational Summer Blog Tour 2018!

The purpose of the tour is to highlight summer makes and inspire our readers’ own future projects. There are also TWO giveaways below!

My choice for summer makes is one I’ve actually spent a LOT of time on this summer. Way back in April, my dad asked me to make him (among a few things) a shirt out of McCall’s 7206. You might recall that I made this for my husband as an anniversary gift, since it’s on his #menswearmakenine. When I agreed to this, I didn’t know that a) he wanted multiples, b) in silk (!!!), and c) he is a size smaller than the pattern I already had.

To prepare, I first had to resize down from the size 42 I had made for my husband to a size 40 for my dad. I did this by comparing the nested patterns along each edge, and measuring down the exact amount from 42 to 40. For example, if the shoulder seams were 1/4″ apart, I measured down 1/4″ from the size 42 line to create the shoulder seam for size 40. Curved seams (of which there are many!) were a little trickier, but I got through it in the end.

Then I had to take dad shopping. Like my husband, my father would rather spend his time NOT fabric shopping, but I wasn’t about to decide on colors or textures in silk for him so off we went to the Fashion District.

He was interested in a solid color, either lavender, maroon, or brown. The big problem with all of the vendors downtown is that all their silk is either chiffon (and sheer) or charmeuse and doesn’t come in solid colors. It’s all very feminine, but not exactly what we were looking for. And I was super nervous about working with silk so when I found a lavender linen, I convinced him that this is the fabric he needed in his wardrobe.

Linen is great because it breathes in the summer heat, and is super easy to sew given it’s stable woven structure. And if I hadn’t been sick with bronchitis for most of July, I probably could have finished this off in 2 days max, even with all the French seams and hand finishing, but instead it took nearly 2 weeks.

It was finally down to just buttons and buttonholes and this necessitated a trip to Mood (where I could have found solid colored silk, but also lost an arm AND a leg…). Given the massive size of their store, the button selection takes up but one mere corner, but it is stuffed full with an overwhelming number of options.

We searched for a good 45 minutes for just the right buttons and came away with beautiful purple shank buttons.

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A post shared by Paulette Font-Erato (@pfont) on Jul 27, 2018 at 7:37am PDT

This meant more hand sewing. The facing and collar are slipstitched in place, which can be very time consuming. In fact the facing does NOT need to be hand stitched, but it’s a very nice look if it is! And what better way to finish the very first garment I’ve ever made for my dad than with some hand sewn love?

As I mentioned above, I sewed the entire thing in French seams, even the armhole! And it is truly the most beautiful garment I have ever made.

Here’s a peek at the inside.

Interior French seams of lavender linen McCalls 7206

And here’s my dad in his finished shirt. He loves it. And the brown silk one is still sitting on my sewing table, waiting for its buttons—but that’s a post for another time.

McCall's 7206 in lavender linen on male model

To celebrate the finished make, there are two giveaways. The first is mine on Rafflecopter. The prize is a one paper copy of McCall’s 7206 in size range 34-40. All you have to do is become a fan of my Facebook page, via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Already a Facebook fan? Then you’re already entered to win! Entries must be end by 11:59 pm PT on Saturday, August 18. I’ll tag the winner on the Facebook page on Sunday morning and they will have until Wednesday, August 22nd to reply or a new winner will be chosen.

(This giveaway is not endorsed or sponsored by The McCall Pattern Company, Inc. It is open worldwide, provided you can receive mail at your location. 1 entry per person. Void where prohibited by law.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway
The second giveaway is hosted by the blog tour and requires you to comment below to be entered to win 6 patterns and 1 store credit! The sponsors are offering to ONE lucky winner:

1 pattern of your choice from Apple Tree Sewing Patterns
2 patterns of your choice from 5 out of 4 Patterns
3 patterns of your choice from Gracious Threads
$10 store credit to Little Kiwi Closet

Be sure to visit everyone else on the tour! They might be hosting separate giveaways, too. Comments must be made by 6 pm ET on Sunday, August 19.

To be clear, anyone can enter one or both contests but entering one does NOT enter you into both. Each has separate entry requirements, so please be mindful of that.