It's a Celebration 1M1P #9 {Simplicity 1693}

S1693 shirt; S4044 skirt

Pattern:  Simplicity 1693
Version:  View D without sleeve elastic
Sizing:  12
Fabric:  .75 yrds crepe; sequin mesh
Notion:  snap; button; ribbon
Assembly time:  5 hrs
Instructions:  same as the last 9 times, GRRRRREEEET
Modification:  added .5 inch to bodice sides; self made bias tape at 1.5 inches; .5 inch allowance for French seams; narrow waist hem; no elastic on sleeves; no sleeve hem; no collar finish; .25 inch neckline seam; no collar interfacing or underlining; neckline snap
Recommend:  sweet lord yes

As my series One Month, One Pattern draws to an end, I thought I would finish it off with a little sparkly bang and more animal print---both are appropriate for a celebration right? Well, a celebration is in order because I completed my goal of adding summer shirts to my every day wardrobe. And while it might seem a little much for an every day outfit (with the sequins and all), obviously, I had a need for such a creation because the latest shirt matches my Sparklen' Skirt {Simplicity 4044}. Plus, if I really wanted I can pair the shirt with jeans, right? I am pretty happy with how the outfit came together too. And while the shirt took a bit of time, five long hours, it was worth the outcome.


Sequins slow me down. I want my seams to lay flat; I would prefer to have no sequins sewn through; and I only want whole sequins on my garments. Painstakingly, I remove, by carefully cutting, the sequins prior to sewing out of the seam allowance. Inevitably though, sequins move into the stitching path and I feel the need to cut those nasty sequins off the project as well. I like the results all this effort leads to, and mixing fabric presented no problems.

1) stitched sequin; 2) finished inside with French or bound seam; 3) cut sequin

The body of the shirt is made with a light-weight crepe. All seams, besides the neck, are sewn the French way, including the sleeves. Setting the seems with a French seam worked wonderfully for using a heavier fabric, the mesh, with a lighter one because it gives the armhole support. Plus it wraps the otherwise prickly sequin seam from the underarm.



The collar construction was simplified for this variation. I used a single layer with no interfacing but left the seam allowance in tacked. The width of the original pattern was not reduced even though a seam allowance was not needed for the outer portion of the collar. A .25-inch seam allowance was used to stitch the collar onto the bodice and bound with 1.5-inch bias, that was hand stitched to lay flat against the shirt. The neck gap was finished with a snap and decorative button. The shirt hem was finished with a very small blind-stitch via machine.  



Simplicity 1693 is a great pattern with so may possibilities. While this shirt (It's a Celebration 1M1P #9) may not be worn excessively, it is one of my favorite outcomes. I honestly hope you have enjoyed following the One Month, One Pattern series this May. Nine shirts in one month was certainly a fun challenge, and I have a ton of ideas for more iterations. Sadly though, I think it really is time to put this pattern to rest and will save those idea for other projects.

More One Month, One Pattern articles:
Introduction: One Month, One Pattern {Simplicity 1693}
Cotton Ruffles 1M1P #1: One Month, One Pattern Simplicity 1693 {patternreview.com}
Simply Exposure 1M1P #2 {Simplicity 1693}
Flutter Sleeves 1M1P #3 {Simplicity 1693}
From B5997 to S1693 1M1P #4 {Simplicity 1693}
Bishop Sleeves 1M1P #5 {Simplicity 1693}
Turned to a Dress 1M1P #6 {Simplicity 1693}
Fabric Matters 1M1P #7 {Simplicity 1693}
Blue Bird Flutter 1M1P #8 {Simplicity 1693}
It's a Celebration 1M1P #9 {Simplicity 1693}
One Month, One Pattern 2014 Recap {Simplicity 1693}