Sophisticated Simplicity

I often look for sewing patterns that will enable me to replace my well-loved and well-worn fast fashion pieces with me-made versions; this shirt pattern is one of them.  I have a linen shirt, bright yellow and oversized, which I live in for most of the summer.  It’s perfect slung over a vest top and shorts, with jeans or as a coverup at the beach.  

The Cynthia shirt pattern delivers it all!  It’s a simple shirt with beautiful details, like the volume at the cuff, made with 3 large pleats, the two-button cuff, and the inverted pleat in the back.  Simplicity wins the day, but I couldn’t help playing with stripes to give the shirt a subtle style edge.  I cut the cuffs, the sleeve placket and the back yoke on the cross grain so the stripes were horizontal on those pieces, which contrasted beautifully with the horizontal stripes of the bodice and sleeves. 

The construction was straightforward, and the instructions were clear.  I found the sleeve placket instructions challenging to understand, but that might have more to do with it being a new process; even though I’ve made a few shirts now, this is the first proper sleeve placket and cuff I’ve constructed.  I didn’t make any adjustments; I’m 5′ 9″ and cut size 38 in height 3.

The only issue was with the pictures, where it was difficult to distinguish the right side of the fabric or what had been interfaced. I guess that can be the downside to using pictures instead of diagrams.

Made with an Indian block print cotton lawn, it gives a great shape to the shirt details. I’m looking forward to returning to this pattern again for a linen version and maybe a cropped version for next summer

Happy stitching🪡 from Long Lane