Thursday 15 October 2015

Strathcona Henley - after the sewalong

Back in late September when I was on an absolute sewing high and making all. the. things. there was a sewalong for the Thread Theory Strathcona Henley. I just had to join in.


Well, I say I joined in, but really I just made my own Strathcona Henley with no real reference to the sew along and then never got around to sharing it until now.

Anyway, I knew this pattern would likely run a bit hipster narrow for my bloke, so rather than measure him I got him to nominate a favourite long sleeved tee and I worked off the finished garment measurements.

That saw me making the largest size, XL. Even then it's about an inch around smaller than his preferred size. Still, at least it didn't end up muscle man tight. That would never get worn. The body length I didn't change at all and I'm pleasantly surprised it is such a good length. This man has a particularly long torso. One of those tall blokes that are even taller sitting down! :)

The sleeve length I kind of made up as I didn't want to use the cuffs included with the long sleeved version of the pattern. I think I worked out the cuff width minus seam allowances and added that, so the sleeves are probably the intended length. But I could be wrong on that.... Really need to blog straight away or make notes. Anyway, they're perhaps a tad too long, but that's always better than too short.


Then I really strayed into "choose your own adventure" territory with the placket. I've sewn similar plackets before and was being a bit careless. I'd already sewn and attached the placket and cut the fabric before I realised it was attached to the opposite face of the fabric than intended. That wasn't a problem, but it means the little square at the bottom of the placket is on the inside of my version rather than the outside. Minus one point for failing to straighten his top button before photographing too, hey.

I guess the whole point of a sewalong is to get the tips to get it right! Ah well. I felt like I was part of something bigger while sewing.

And now that summer seems to have hit with an early ferocity, Flipper has a long sleeved tee that probably won't get worn beyond these pictures for some months. :)


11 comments:

  1. Good to know on the narrowness of the pattern - I've been eyeing this for my husband and would not have realized that. It looks good, even with the placket bottom on the inside.

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    1. Thanks Masha, this Parkland collection are described as "athletic fit", so yep, they're fairly slim fitting. I had to add some gut room to the Newcastle cardigan when I made that for both my dad and his friend Roger.
      The Liesl & Co Metro T-shirt is probably an easier one to fit, but this pattern is worth having for the placket instructiions alone (so long as you actually read them ;) )

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  2. Shelley, this is so awesome! It looks great on him, too! I think the fit is perfect! I'm having some trouble with a knits pattern and you obviously have knits nailed. I should probably send you an email and see if you can rescue me! :) Essentially the neckline got way, way stretched out. I'm washing it and then drying it and hoping it will regain its elasticity.

    Great top! Truly impressive!

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    1. Thanks Rachel. I wish we were neighbours as I think your neckline looks more like a binding than a neckband and I've got a bit of a method going for neckbindings that seems to be bringing me undeserved good luck too.
      Persevere for a bit, but know that you can always blame the fabric! :)

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  3. It looks good on him. Definitely wouldn't work on my man with that narrow fit.

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    1. Cheers Sarah. I'll have trouble trying to fit pants on this guy but t-shirts are easy enough, that I haven't dared stray from there yet.

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  4. I am working on this pattern too! But my first version ended up with the neckline cut too low (the 5/8" seam allowance had me confused and I cut off too much) and it kind of looks like a girls' shirt? Yeah, pretty much a wadder. I need to do another version. I'd love to do the Henley someday.

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    1. Don't chuck it Inder, you never know when your man may need to dress up as Freddie Mercury! :)

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  5. I made five of these for my Mr 14, in April. I chose the S size based on his chest measurement. I lengthened the sleeves to account for the lad's excessively long arms, a bit of growth and that he didn't want ribbed cuffs. I found the pattern really well drafted and best of all, the lad loves them.

    Now that it is October and my lad is still growing and I'm expecting that I'll have to add cuffs for next year. Sigh

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    1. Ha! If my son's arms keep growing like they are I can't imagine what they'll be like by age 14!! Good thing we can sew, right?!

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  6. Great looking Henley and the placket has worked really well, giving a different look.

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