Ottobre 03/2011-21

When I was in labor with Duncan, I bought this awesome piece of Echino helicopter fabric for Logan. Isn't technology amazing? Between my iPhone and my epidural, I was fabric shopping between contractions. I only got a yard, since it is a bit pricey and was planning a sport shirt out of it, but when the summer issue of Ottobre came, I knew it needed to be the "Art Camp" shirt.

How awesome is that?! It is design #21 from the 03/2011 issue of Ottobre. It is very economical of fabric, since you don't have any facings and only a short placket at the neckline. I think it is a great design to showcase a fun, large scale print like this one, since the front is not broken up. For further fabric conservation, and to place the print to best effect, I cut this out in a single layer, rather than on the fold. I also cut the plackets and pocket flap on grain rather than on the bias. I didn't want my helicopters flying in different directions.

Here is a closer view of the pocket and front placket. The pocket is pleated on the sides to give a bellows effect. Plenty of room for "stuff" in there. The buttonholes are worked at an angle, although it is a bit hard to tell. I matched the thread to the helicopters so the buttonholes blend in.

Here is a better look at the placket and inside the neckline. This was actually a really easy placket to do, much simpler than a sleeve placket. There is also a very helpful photo of the placket construction here in the Ottobre Flickr pool. The neckline is finished on the inside with a bias strip. I used a piece of linen the same color as the wrong side of the fabric. I also added a little piece of the fabric selvage as a tag. For some reason the word "helicopter" on the selvage tickled me and I had to put it in there.

The pattern also includes a hip vent and has a back yoke. I only did a single layer yoke for this one, which is what the pattern called for, as I had limited fabric, but would generally do an enclosed double layer yoke. I really like this pattern and how well it went together. Logan was excited about it throughout the process. Of course, now that it is done, he won't try it on for me. He says it is a Sunday shirt, so I guess I'll just have to let you know how it fits after church.