I can’t explain why, but my husband James really likes to dress over the top for the 4th of July each year. I mean, I’m the one who’s American, yet he’s the one wearing stars & stripes sneakers, jeans, and now a shirt, too.
We visited a Mennonite fabric store when we were visiting friends in Pennsylvania in April, and they had a staggering array of quilting cottons (as you’d expect, really). James had lots of patriotic designs to choose from, but settled on this one with repeated American flags with an off-white, almost textured look to it.
I told him I’d make him his TNT button-down shirt – Simplicity 5273 (now OOP but Simplicity 8180 looks similar and has boxers & a tie pattern too). I’ve been sewing this pattern for him for at least ten years now – I remember the first version was in a blue quilting cotton covered in hot rods, but then I’ve also made him versions in “dogs playing poker” fabric, “girls on scooters”, another hot rods fabric in sage green, and then again in John Deere fabric for his friend.
It’s a pretty basic shirt pattern for men and boys – straight side seams, no yoke, short sleeves, but it does have a proper collar and collar stand, chest pocket, and a nice curved hem. It’s super quick to sew up and it generally fits him without alterations, though it looks a bit big on him through the body here (probably down to a combo of him losing weight recently and quilting cottons shrinking in the first few washes).
I didn’t make any changes here as I was really just trying to meet the deadline of today so I wouldn’t have to look at the fabric in my stash for another year! I had a busy, active weekend yet still managed to squeeze it in, sewing the buttons on Sunday evening up on deck.
The buttons are also little American flags (of course!), also bought from Verna’s Fabrics in Mifflinburg, PA.
We took these photos this morning before heading for work – he disappointingly didn’t get any honks from drivers as he cycled in (boo!) but he’s had a lot of attention at work today!
Anyone else outside America celebrating today?