It was love at first sight!
Everything about this fabric—the colors, the gritty, industrial-like texture, the energetic, painterly design—came together gloriously in a digitally printed cotton, called Off the Grid. I just had to get a piece of this fabric!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXYqnHkxkdfjwduHGDABo9Zdbb22feP_LFWUuLZX8P-kT9NGUgqWbvwsjga3tv15BctcMBtJS8qcFwbn721qjOf8HHk3UBwKUK1klZ8o6NFCgZXqRv3s_6fbIAf3Sgpzwbftmvfx8wBZU/s400/OfftheGrid_Siena2.jpg) |
My new Siena Shirt [from The Sewing Workshop] made with Off the Grid from P&B Textiles. |
Actually, I got two pieces from the
Off the Grid collection by
P&B Textiles—because I couldn't decide which colorway I liked best.
(It's always a dilemma... so just get them both, I say.)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnzznereLnmtHXoX2mlt-AT6aKpFj7vu4p6qAa6aeT9upFldB2xZd5v-P9aaKcpsA5-5N2N2tysXujOMxEf_-AGXwfwj6Q4U0HYoyHcDgdprXNPmeNfUmC1Jq1kRpaw6Xbtc7pm1K8fWw/s400/OfftheGrid_2fabrics.jpg) |
Off the Grid from P&B Textiles: GR45 109GL (left) and GR45 109DB (right). |
Siena Shirt pattern
I considered a few pattern options, but in the end, went with my tried-and-true (already fitted to me)
Siena Shirt pattern from
The Sewing Workshop. This is my 5th make from this pattern.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLP7epsd_DZom9W1FWO-_WpE2ai29nUAaHh9-kElvgVDwtWYRxwa0NdNCKVp5zkKtGdQhufUoL6TamOdAdGJ2Npwsu3nf3ZtWQTvX1IHTzAz01ivIpS7nT7XShNxtejST_D4n6juH1Mz4/s400/OfftheGrid_3-4view+%25281%2529.jpg) |
The Siena shirt in Off the Grid (dark blue colorway). |
Process of [button] Elimination
The only perplexing part of this make was auditioning and making the choice of buttons. I dumped out the green and the blue ones from my inventory.
(Don't giggle, I'm not the only one with an extensive button collection.)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0AixEKdMfq6MKG5hh_AnDDTAI6P-GAUYHgu24vcJRlU42oufaml7kMnEYiwygkTNUATboP9-LDR6WhqYAfJK9_7Q-IexzkX6QWSiBE2F1f60HJewtJ1p7bKz7NvssunREdaPjp7A80XY/s400/Grid_buttonAudition.jpg) |
Auditioning the buttons for the shirt. |
Dismissed the ones that were:
- too big or too small for a shirt (the pattern suggests 1/2" buttons)
- obviously not the right color
- less than the quantity needed (the pattern suggests 8)
- inappropriate for the look (stars, anchors, the ones with gold, etc.)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiePExgDsyPhOvD9Q8xpDJ0QOsD2jlHC2BgSsdie5DFQ8DAWDkOfWGqAAmXLaEe62sVm6_DSSiximvYQ4d6UW7ieuQtLyamoxZs1xuFRhE_0Xjv2QFjVEKXg-epW_I9gpOc6e0cvbJ0Mv0/s400/Grid_buttons.jpg) |
Dismissing the buttons that don't meet the criteria. |
Narrowed the choice to four...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKocqSUJYHGDJZy7t9ofkqlQHBt7NcLJCOOmWQ7FSWQ6qcOb-nEAT4CDTzzICrqAF5P6mNs7dP3vQUVVPPGQEQE-NVTRqoIfcWY3c9-D8u99Z4itgNOl4LNw4-Uj9DW95dk3o0gD1SE5c/s400/Grid_buttonAudition2.jpg) |
Auditioning buttons. |
and ultimately chose the hexagon shaped buttons. They were a complimentary color with a slight iridescence property... and there were eight.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMXV0BPvm_ZwN2toqh46Fkbet5sFurBOLw4RQF7qowA0m5vNQ-IjWePqihbmb6-YhfW4aZeSdVA6jQwX7K3JwhDUu1zXBWfH5VrU9GApt5yXvzbJHnXkALTD9UcU5K5TUNg80pbCeqOEw/s400/Grid_testButtonHoles.jpg) |
Set-up for a practice buttonhole. |
I always make a test buttonhole or two on a fabric scrap. The thread—a variegated 40 wt cotton from YLI—was a perfect match. The color combination included navy, turquoise, medium blue and even a touch of lavender.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKzazESWQ6597Rc6_iyqaNvRfyw0toWuzjdYpDcql0He66calN4DQXZGBOY33lPkKay4w_Qd5EFrlz2IqIoMsH5iQ6-FxlfZj1zPYvt4NpQ0p3d6jDj6bEmM792GP7FKWDiwaSCJIpah8/s400/Grid_Thread.jpg) |
A YLI variegated cotton thread for the buttonholes. |
After the handwork finishing processes (hand sewing the inside neck band, sewing on the buttons, burying thread tails) my new
Off the Grid Siena shirt was complete!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLcApBCLCJfB1WmZyNowcSWjNHlVFIAzP8XU8Nog2YXzo3RFtqIYElzkHBwMuE-bh3CbMzYjYSj0KBLmxRyWWoiaFlC3jezNZedWhn4Q7dsSZffP2U92qpjILWxVH4B6SSQHkgdAfWeNk/s400/OfftheGrid_Back.jpg) |
Back view: Siena shirt [The Sewing Workshop] with Off the Grid [P&B Textiles]. |
The detail I added to this garment was a side vent at the lower hem... just something to make it a little different.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdsuJaatSRhfxO3M7akm0trxK7Xycv1HLqTdcKNaWB33kuW6zBsmTFFpQMxzG9EDDjHV6Shln03HLKQ4sa5zjsg2b9Xf-Ol2aZxpMGQZlTgtxEKAdl865DOmFJoqVxaz7tD_6Y_XoSNgA/s320/OfftheGrid_vent.jpg) |
Siena shirt side vent. |
Quilting cottons and digital prints for garment sewing and quilting
If you're a sewer or garment maker, don't be hesitant about using quilting cottons or a digitally printed fabric in your next garment or sewing project. This
Off the Grid cotton print machine washed, machine dried and sewed very nicely.
If you're a quilter and know the
wonderful advantages of wide backings,
Off the Grid also comes in
a 108" wide back. Ask YLQS [your local quilt shop] or independent sewing center that carries fabric for
Off the Grid. Remember, if you can't decide which colorway you like best, get them all (there are five)!
Like a newly painted canvas, I'm looking forward to wearing and showing off my
Off the Grid Siena. I think it's an illustration of a symbiotic relationship between digital printing technology, street art and wearables.
What's not to love?!