Tops, blouses and shirts

Pink Parrots and Ugly Pelicans

Holy Moly! What a weekend!

I’m aching all over but I am busy typing up a summary of the awesome Minerva Crafts meet up event, ready for you later this week.

Now for something quite different.

almond rock berthe republique du chiffon parrots

This is the Berthe shirt from Republique du Chiffon. It’s my third version of the shirt but my first blogged one.

Here are three favourites from other bloggers: Blousette Coquette, Nette, and last but not least Jolies Bobines

almond rock berthe republique du chiffon un ete couture

This pattern is from the book Un été couture and is a boxy sleeveless collared shirt with hi-low hem. I’ve almost nailed the fit now. Just those pesky armholes are still a little tight. I’ve left off the hi-low hem in all my versions.

I used an awesome cotton lawn from Ebay (sold out now but Marie found another colourway in her local fabric shop). I’m not sure if you’ll recognise the print? It’s used on Modcloth’s Tropic the Charts Dress. It’s probably a bit pale for me, but it made me smile!

almond rock berthe republique du chiffon parrots

The body of the shirt does look a bit better in viscose (which my first two versions were made in) but I love how good my collar turned out thanks to the cotton.

almond rock berthe republique du chiffon parrots

The Prym point turner I got from John Lewis was an amazing help to getting a crisp point and a nice round corner on my stand. It’s amazing how you can make do with a chopstick for years and suddenly a bit of carefully shaped plastic can make your sewing so much nicer and stress free!!

almond rock berthe republique du chiffon parrots modcloth

So why the ugly pelicans. This fabric has awesome birds BUT in the midst of them there is one ugly as sin pelican.

almond rock berthe republique du chiffon parrots

He makes my skin crawl and makes me think of this Shoebill video clip from Attenborough’s Africa. *SHUDDER!*

Anyway… Along with my beautifully neat collar, this shirt has some of my best topstitching work. It also has hot pink bias binding around the armholes and hem, plus hot pink buttons which both match the lovely pink parrots.

almond rock berthe republique du chiffon parrots

All this makes me very happy.

PS. I’m fairly certain this will be the first and last time you’ll see me in braids hahaha.

(37) Comments

  1. In awe of your super sharp collar, I’ve been using a pair of embroidery scissors for over 20 years after my sewing teacher showed me for my GCSE project! A worthy investment to order in this week. Thanks for the share lady!
    SS x

    1. almondrock says:

      Embroidery scissors eh! Very interesting 🙂

  2. Aw, cute! You’ve got a really good finish on that collar, the point turner is obviously the way to go. Totally agree about the scary pelican.

    1. almondrock says:

      Phew glad I’m not the only one freaked out by it. Thanks for the nice comments 🙂

  3. Birds! I love birds. Even ugly ones! This is a lovely shirt. Please blog your others so we can see!

    1. almondrock says:

      Haha so you’re on the ugly bird’s side eh? More shirt posts soon I promise

  4. Love the birdies! Even poor pelican. So bright and colourful. One thing I really miss about long hair is being able to do braids like these.

    1. almondrock says:

      Ooh another pelican fan. Maybe he’s not so bad. I gave the braids a go but I’m not sure they’re for me. Got to try new things though!

  5. beebeesvintagedress says:

    Oh Amy that is so cute!!!!

    1. almondrock says:

      Heehee thank you!

  6. Wow! Such neat work. I can only aspire to something as good as this.

    1. almondrock says:

      Nooo you can totally do this 🙂 just takes patience

  7. nx44 says:

    Wow, the point turner looks awesome. I use knitting needles and have definitely poked a hole through more than once! I totally know what you mean about all the pink accents making you happy 🙂

    1. almondrock says:

      Eek unwanted air holes eh? Well this bit of plastic helps avoid that 🙂

  8. That shirt is lovely! It really suits you.

    1. almondrock says:

      Well thank you very much!

  9. Looks amazing. I love the colorway & the pink buttons. Your hair looks very cute in braids too:)

    1. almondrock says:

      Aww thanks! Think I’ll retire from the braids though, they don’t feel very me

  10. Super cool shirt, he’s a brute of a pelli but blends in – loving the pink detailing 🙂

    1. almondrock says:

      Thank you! Haha he IS such a brute, love it.

  11. Oh I remember that Africa episode – horrid! But your shirt is def not! Really like it, and you don’t need to worry about the colour, it suits you. Plus love the hair – very Heidi! ps can’t wait to see your MC post – the photos of your dress look bloody amazing on Instagram!

  12. Oh my days, I love this pattern. Ugly birds win every time. You look great in it!

  13. Looks lovely – and I like the braids!

    1. almondrock says:

      Aww thanks! I just don’t think they’re very me :-/

  14. shanniloves says:

    what a fun make!

    1. almondrock says:

      Thank you! It’s fun to wear

  15. This is awesome! I really, really love it! And damn, I really need to find this book! 🙂

    1. almondrock says:

      Heehee thank you! I really think you’ll like the book so definitely recommend getting a copy!!! 🙂

  16. That pelican looks like a crazy Tucan! Great fabric…and your braids are really cute!

    1. almondrock says:

      Thanks! He definitely looks crazy. Like he’s a smiling sinister albino toucan! Shudder

  17. I love this, the print, the shape that fab collar. I agree with the others we need to see your other two versions. Go crazy birds.

    1. almondrock says:

      Hehe thank you! I promise to blog the others very soon! 🙂

  18. Despite the scary bird, this print is great! Lovely shirt. I’ve now added a point turner to my wish list, as well as the book!

    1. almondrock says:

      Thank you! Hurrah for sewing shopping. It helps perk up the post delivery

  19. Wowee! I love the fabric (not that the pelican though – he is scary!) and the style is really lovely on you! And, wow, those points on your collar are SHARP! Amazing!

    1. almondrock says:

      heehee thanks so much! Glad you agree about the pelican

  20. […] out I could make a shirt. Wahey! It’s not perfect though. My Birdy version turned out much better but I like the print and the black buttons on this version so it still gets […]

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