Super Mario Shirt: OOP and Vintage Butterick 2122

This boy's shirt, made with vintage and out-of-print (OOP) Butterick 2122, is for a little guy who is into all things.  Super Mario™ is a fictional character created by Nintendo for a series of video games dating back to nineteen eighty-five.  Since then it has grown into one of best selling video game franchises.  That's about all I know about Super Mario™ other than it's big enough to have its own fabric design printed and available to make a little boy, hopefully, very happy.  

The print on the fabric is a one-way design and it has a narrow width and ate up most of the 1.6 metres I picked up for this project.  It was pre-treated with a tumble through the washing machine and dryer followed by a steam pressing before hitting the cutting table.  

The pattern is an old one.  There is no date to be found on the envelope but by the illustrations it does scream 1950's with the plaid cuffed denim pants and pleated cuffed long sleeve shirt.  It certainly doesn't look like it's from a later decade.  Even the pattern instructions read of an older vintage.  As far as the pattern design, it's adorable.  I went with the short sleeve shirt and the mock cuff is too cute.  I did have some trouble fitting at the armscye.  There was some trimming down the sides to make it fit.  Otherwise, everything was peachy.  

Sew Sustainable

Keeping in mind that "sew sustainable" is the theme for National Sewing Month here are a few ways that this is a sustainable project.  

First, it is made with a natural fibre fabric, 100% cotton.  A 100% cotton fabric is completely biodegradable.  This fabric is a strong and durable fabric choice.  Cotton is comfortable, breathable and hypoallergenic, a perfect choice for a little boy to run around in.  It's a low maintenance fabric that is easy to clean and can be machine washable which makes it a perfect choice for the family budget.  

The buttons were from the recycled buttons stash.  There is a big stash collected over decades.  Mom often rescued buttons off clothing that reached the end of their life cycle and became cleaning clothes.  Rescued and recycled buttons are my go-to source before even thinking about shopping for new buttons.

Search the thread stash.  Instead of picking out new thread to match this particular shade of green, this project was sewn and serged with whatever shades of green thread were found in the thread stash.  It wasn't a perfect match but it worked.  

Vintage patterns are often as good as the new ones currently for sale at the fabric store.  And often I stumble across a gem at the second hand store that hasn't even been open.  Most of the second hand patterns I come across are for kids clothes.  This particular pattern was a freebie, a gift from another Etsy seller, that has been in the pattern stash for years, unused until now.  I never thought at the time I received it that I would need a size six little boy's shirt pattern.  Right now with global inflation and rising costs of everything, it's a welcome gift.  

Project details

Seams:  2.6 -- 2.8 straight stitch

Seam finish:  Serged

Fabric:  1.6 metres (narrow width)

Interfacing:  0.1 metre fusible

Buttons:  5 

Pattern:  Vintage Butterick 

Additional Tools and Supplies:  Cutting table, iron, ironing board, pins, pin cushion, tailor's chalk, fabric scissors, Janome sewing machine, regular presser foot, buttonhole foot, cutting board, buttonhole cutter, measuring tape, measuring gauge, hand sewing needle, threads, tailor's wax, Janome serger, thread clippers, screwdriver, tea and several breaks along the way.  

Happy Sewing and National Sewing Month!