In the Queue Wednesday

My grandfather used to wear flannel shirts all the time. After he passed away, my grandmother started wearing his shirts to feel close to him. Eventually his shirts started wearing out, but by then she had grown used to always putting on a flannel shirt over her top. So, flannel shirts became the perfect gift for her.


Of course, I started sewing them for her. She grew up with people who sewed clothes without patterns, so she didn't think twice about telling me all the alterations she wanted to the fit. At the time, I hadn't ever ventured far from a pattern, and this is the first project that I ever attempted significant (to me at the time) modifications.


I merged a "small" at the shoulders with a "medium" at the waist and shortened the sleeves.


Okay, now those don't seem like such major modifications, but at the time I felt like I was teetering on the brink of an unknown abyss! ;)


Anyways, I'm still kind of proud of the fact that my hand made shirts fit her perfectly, and she has all store-bought ones sent out for alterations.


Over the years I've made her at least half a dozen of these shirts, and she told me recently that they are all wearing out and she needs a new one.


Her feelings on color are as highly specified as her feelings on fit - she wants red in her shirts and she wears them over navy blue pants. I've long ago run through all of the appropriate offerings at my local Joann's and have started perusing online fabric shops.


I recently found the "flannel" pictured above and promptly ordered some. The colors are perfect! Unfortunately, the fabric itself is thinner than I would have liked... Oh well, it can be a summer top for her...


I'm going to try to visit her in January (because there is no place on earth more inviting in January than central Missouri!) and want to have this ready to take with me. Of course, I'm not sure when I'll get to it, but, don't worry, I will! It's in the queue... :)