A classic shirt never goes out of style, and there are some great ones on our hashtag right now! Here are just a few ~ keep an eye on our stories for more 🤗 We would love to see yours, so make sure to tag #SewOver50 AND #SewOver50October24 so we can see and share your wonderful work 😊 1. Anna @Sew.Spanner ‘s #ButanoButtonUp from the @FridayPatternCompany was made with a lovely Liberty poplin. 2. Sheila @SheilaLovesFabric used an ivory lace panel from Tessuti fabrics to make this exquisite #SAArchieWovenShirt 3. Judy @JudyHenwood1956 created a beautiful shirt for her partner using #Burda7525 4. Donna @O2BBellaDonna ‘s stripe play combined with the #BLPLeoShirt pattern made for a striking shirt 5. Jane @Jane_Stani also used stripes to great effect with the #FibreMoodOdyna shirt pattern 6. Jen @JenLegg_TeesCreatives made her LeggyLad a lovely linen #FairFieldButtonUp by @ThreadTheoryDesigns 7. Sam @Frugalisama ‘s classic white cotton shirt features some fabulous pockets. 8. Fiona @SewingByOsmosis created a perfect shirt for the season using the #GilbertShirt pattern by @Helens__Closet and adorable @DashwoodStudio fabric 9. Amanda @Amanda._Sews created a holiday worthy shirt using #McCalls6044 10. Sue @Modelled_By_Madge used lace with #SAClaytonWovenShirtPack for this lovely shirt Do you have a favorite shirt pattern? Let us know in the comments! SMF🌸 #SO50Shirts #SewOver50 #SewOverAgeism #SewInclusive #SewingCommunity #So50Visible #DontTellMeWhatToWear #WearWhatIWant #WearWhatYouLove #IWearWhatIWant #StyleAtAnyAge

LEO SHIRT The first thing I made since last summer and I loved getting into a new shirt pattern. I got gifted this gorgeous striped shirting from a former college and thought it was perfect for this. I really like the design details on this one: the curved hem with the bias binding, the wide cuff, the slightly-but-not-too-much-oversized fit. The arm length hits perfectly for me. I will say though that I did grade to a bigger size around the hips and it’s still a bit too tight there. Otherwise it’s perfect. The process also was quite fun and I enjoyed the order of making: finishing the hem as one of the first steps, attaching the sleeves flat so I could finish the seam nicely etc. I chose to make the first buttonhole under the collar and the ones I added at the sleeve plackets in a contrasting red - I was inspired by Hetty @modern_sewing_co who has made numerous lovely shirts with beautiful little details like this. Unfortunately I made all of my buttonholes slightly too small so it’s a bit of a pain to open and close them. I might have to replace the buttons with smaller ones at some point. Details: Pattern: #blpleoshirt by @bellalovespatterns Fabric: Hugo Boss deadstock shirting, interfaced with Vliseline 725 and 700 because I ran out of the former. Sizing and changes: My current measurements are FB 103/40,5“, W 87/84,2“, H 115,5/45,4“. I made size 16, graded to size 18 at the hips and size 6 at the collar for a snug fit there. I used size group 1 (I‘m 163cm/5‘3“ tall and lengthwise it’s great for me). French seamed the armholes and side seams. #shirtmaking #stripes #bellalovespatterns #blpleo #sewistsofinstagram #modernsewing #sewingaddict #sewingcommunity #instasew #sewcialists #milennialsewing #slowfashion #stillsewingstories #indiesewing #indiepatterns #sewing #sewhappy #isew #imadethis #memadewardrobe #handmadewardrobe #memadeclothes #wearhandmade #imakemyownclothes #memade #nähen #näheniestmeinyoga

Big ol crisp white button down, pattern courtesy @bellalovespatterns , fabric via @emmaonesock (if I recall correctly it was the Giza cotton. It’s v light but also v densely woven.) I stood at my desk all morning so I could take a pic during my lunch walk without wrinkles. BLP makes her patterns for two height batches— I’m 5’3” and this is how the pattern fits without any modifications for length. It’s good, love her instructions always, and the hem finishes on it are beautiful. Some slides show the shirt in motion on a lovely spring day, one shows a giant peony in the Smithsonian castle’s side garden, plus hand for scale lol. #blpleo #blpleoshirt #dcsews #jeoortecequejecouds

There’s something totally endearing about @bellalovespatterns and her patterns get rave reviews. So I bought a couple recently and this is the first one I’ve made up - the #blpleoshirt. I mean, I already have a few shirt patterns and don’t need any more, but I was seduced by the pockets and the back with no pleat / gathers. OMG I LOVE THIS SHIRT. This is a wearable toile made up in lovely yarn dyed cotton that I got on sale from @wearthefabricstore. I’ll definitely be making it up in one of my precious Merchant and Mills linens. I reckon it’s a solid repeater like the Olya. - There is a bias binding hemline, which I thought I couldn’t be bothered doing, but ended up giving a go. I like it and it wasn’t as fiddly as I feared. Pre-made bias binding is also from the Fabric Store. - I used my trusted collar technique as always. - I will go back to another sleeve placket technique too as this one seemed extra challenging for some reason and the insides didn’t work out as they’re meant to. - I made a size 16 and took some length off the bottom of the back, as hi-lo isn’t my thing. - I’ll be using more of my glass button stash from Oakleaf Antiques in Taupo. Looking forward to finishing this and getting some in action shots. #bellalovespatterns #bellalovespatternsleo #leoshirt #iboughtmypattern #sewingnz #wellingtonsews #sewwellington #sewover50 #sewistsofnz #imakemyclothes #slowfashion #memadeeveryday #memadeeveryday #sewformyself #sewnz #Sewcialists #sewmuchfun #isewmyownclothes #Handmadewardrobe

I couldn’t resist making a bias skirt with this amazing striped fabric from @wearethefabricstore I used to wear a lot of matchy-matchy pants sets but sadly I’ve outgrown all the pants and am in no mood to make more. Elasticated waist skirts will give me more flexibility while my body ebbs and flows at this stage in life. I love everything @soften_studio does so decided to give the #clobiasskirt a go. I’ve always been afraid of bias skirts because they seem so figure-hugging but this actually works really well for me (no pics yet as it’s temporarily winter again here....) My measurements put me at a 16 but I took a gamble and cut out a size 14 - I’m very glad I did, as it fits perfectly - I didn’t want any extra bulk over the hips. I was really grateful to read the top tip from @sheila.okelly to cut the waistband bigger than the pattern size calls for, as, even with immediate staystitching and very gentle handling, the waist stretched, and I needed the size 16 waistband. It was a straightforward make, super easy and quick. I didn’t French seam as I wanted my pattern matching to be precise. The hardest part was the cutting out, as the diagonal pattern ended up going over the edges of any configuration of my cutting mats! I reckon I’ll be living in Clo skirts from now on, although I will never stop reaching for pockets that don’t exist.... Some shots of my @bellalovespatterns #blpleoshirt out and about before I made the matching skirt. It’s too tight across the hips sadly - see paragraph one above. #bellalovespatterns #sewover50september24 #bellalovespatternsleo #leoshirt #softenstudio #wearethefabricstore #iboughtmypattern #sewingnz #wellingtonsews #sewwellington #sewover50 #sewistsofnz #imakemyclothes #slowfashion #memadeeveryday #memadeeveryday #sewformyself #sewnz #Sewcialists #sewmuchfun #isewmyownclothes #Handmadewardrobe

*repeat trippy stripe fabric alert* When John was taking these photos he said “Actually. How much of this fabric do you have?!! This is going to do peoples heads in.” He has a point and the bad-good news is I still have several metres left. I love it and it was so cheap on sale from @wearethefabricstore that it may be my toile fabric for many makes to come. I am still on the hunt for non-shirt top patterns that work for me. This is the @ninaleelondon #parklaneblouse and I’m pretty happy with it. I made a 16 graded out to an 18, took 2cm off the sleeves (which I won’t do next time) and a few cm off the shoulder (I’ll take even more off next time). Plus I added another bigger frill for a bit of added detail. I’m really happy with this wearable toile and look forward to making another one up, with a few more changes. Then I’ll risk taking on the dress version! I ended up having to crop my lovely @bellalovespatterns #blpleoshirt because it was too tight over the hips. I covered the exposed bottom buttonhole with an it has pockets label. I love this pattern and will make another one, graded to a bigger size. I also plan to extend it to a dress shirt, as I really love the fit of this up top. Both worn with the fabulous @soften_studio #clobiasskirt #bellalovespatterns #sewover50November24 #bellalovespatternsleo #leoshirt #softenstudio #wearethefabricstore #ninaleelondon #iboughtmypattern #sewingnz #wellingtonsews #sewwellington #sewover50 #sewistsofnz #imakemyclothes #slowfashion #memadeeveryday #memadeeveryday #sewformyself #sewnz #Sewcialists #sewmuchfun #isewmyownclothes #Handmadewardrobe

There’s something totally endearing about @bellalovespatterns and her patterns get rave reviews. So I bought a couple recently and this is the first one I’ve made up - the #blpleoshirt. I mean, I already have a few shirt patterns and don’t need any more, but I was seduced by the pockets and the back with no pleat / gathers. OMG I LOVE THIS SHIRT. This is a wearable toile made up in lovely yarn dyed cotton that I got on sale from @wearthefabricstore. I’ll definitely be making it up in one of my precious Merchant and Mills linens. I reckon it’s a solid repeater like the Olya. - There is a bias binding hemline, which I thought I couldn’t be bothered doing, but ended up giving a go. I like it and it wasn’t as fiddly as I feared. Pre-made bias binding is also from the Fabric Store. - I used my trusted collar technique as always. - I will go back to another sleeve placket technique too as this one seemed extra challenging for some reason and the insides didn’t work out as they’re meant to. - I made a size 16 and took some length off the bottom of the back, as hi-lo isn’t my thing. - I’ll be using more of my glass button stash from Oakleaf Antiques in Taupo. Looking forward to finishing this and getting some in action shots. #bellalovespatterns #bellalovespatternsleo #leoshirt #iboughtmypattern #sewingnz #wellingtonsews #sewwellington #sewover50 #sewistsofnz #imakemyclothes #slowfashion #memadeeveryday #memadeeveryday #sewformyself #sewnz #Sewcialists #sewmuchfun #isewmyownclothes #Handmadewardrobe

*repeat trippy stripe fabric alert* When John was taking these photos he said “Actually. How much of this fabric do you have?!! This is going to do peoples heads in.” He has a point and the bad-good news is I still have several metres left. I love it and it was so cheap on sale from @wearethefabricstore that it may be my toile fabric for many makes to come. I am still on the hunt for non-shirt top patterns that work for me. This is the @ninaleelondon #parklaneblouse and I’m pretty happy with it. I made a 16 graded out to an 18, took 2cm off the sleeves (which I won’t do next time) and a few cm off the shoulder (I’ll take even more off next time). Plus I added another bigger frill for a bit of added detail. I’m really happy with this wearable toile and look forward to making another one up, with a few more changes. Then I’ll risk taking on the dress version! I ended up having to crop my lovely @bellalovespatterns #blpleoshirt because it was too tight over the hips. I covered the exposed bottom buttonhole with an it has pockets label. I love this pattern and will make another one, graded to a bigger size. I also plan to extend it to a dress shirt, as I really love the fit of this up top. Both worn with the fabulous @soften_studio #clobiasskirt #bellalovespatterns #sewover50November24 #bellalovespatternsleo #leoshirt #softenstudio #wearethefabricstore #ninaleelondon #iboughtmypattern #sewingnz #wellingtonsews #sewwellington #sewover50 #sewistsofnz #imakemyclothes #slowfashion #memadeeveryday #memadeeveryday #sewformyself #sewnz #Sewcialists #sewmuchfun #isewmyownclothes #Handmadewardrobe

I couldn’t resist making a bias skirt with this amazing striped fabric from @wearethefabricstore I used to wear a lot of matchy-matchy pants sets but sadly I’ve outgrown all the pants and am in no mood to make more. Elasticated waist skirts will give me more flexibility while my body ebbs and flows at this stage in life. I love everything @soften_studio does so decided to give the #clobiasskirt a go. I’ve always been afraid of bias skirts because they seem so figure-hugging but this actually works really well for me (no pics yet as it’s temporarily winter again here....) My measurements put me at a 16 but I took a gamble and cut out a size 14 - I’m very glad I did, as it fits perfectly - I didn’t want any extra bulk over the hips. I was really grateful to read the top tip from @sheila.okelly to cut the waistband bigger than the pattern size calls for, as, even with immediate staystitching and very gentle handling, the waist stretched, and I needed the size 16 waistband. It was a straightforward make, super easy and quick. I didn’t French seam as I wanted my pattern matching to be precise. The hardest part was the cutting out, as the diagonal pattern ended up going over the edges of any configuration of my cutting mats! I reckon I’ll be living in Clo skirts from now on, although I will never stop reaching for pockets that don’t exist.... Some shots of my @bellalovespatterns #blpleoshirt out and about before I made the matching skirt. It’s too tight across the hips sadly - see paragraph one above. #bellalovespatterns #sewover50september24 #bellalovespatternsleo #leoshirt #softenstudio #wearethefabricstore #iboughtmypattern #sewingnz #wellingtonsews #sewwellington #sewover50 #sewistsofnz #imakemyclothes #slowfashion #memadeeveryday #memadeeveryday #sewformyself #sewnz #Sewcialists #sewmuchfun #isewmyownclothes #Handmadewardrobe