First, we can identify that Yuzuru’s shirt is a basic shirt pattern with a turtleneck and sheer sleeves. The sheer fabric is on top of the solid fabric.
I chose to go with chiffon because I quite fond of its airy-ness and texture, and I chose rayon for its softness. But you can also achieve this look with cotton and organza if you want to save some money.
I drafted my own pattern because I know what works on me. But if you can’t do that, a simple shirt pattern works too. You would just have to manipulate the pattern to resemble Yuzuru’s shirt.
In the past, sewing delicate fabrics on machines always gives me heavy anxiety; there’s always a good chance that the machine could rip apart my chiffon or organza. Luckily, my Janome Skyline S9 doesn’t do that; I can go at any speed I want without any issues. With the Skyline S9, you can opt for any variation of stitches, but I went for a basic straight stitch because it works really well with the chiffon. If you choose organza, this is a great option as well.
If you don’t have a serger for raw edges, here’s a trick that works really well until you can get your hands on one: heavy satin stitch on the edges.
In layman’s terms, use the zig-zag pattern, with minimal length/distance, desired width (I go wide as I can), and high tension.
I opted for puff sleeves, which means I have to find a way to gather all of that fabric to fit into the armhole. Luckily, I have my Janome Ruffle Foot - which is compatible with all Janome sewing machines. This foot is a life saver and can quickly turn all of your fabric width smaller, depending on the adjustable ruffle size you desire.
This foot is also friendly to the soft delicate sheer fabrics.
Once you’ve sewn your shirt together, it’s time for the dye. Follow the instructions of your chosen dye.
To create the gradient dye, mark the points of your shirt with a pin.
Start with the lightest tone. Every time you go towards the end of the shirt, make sure you raise your shirt out of the water and then add more dye for more saturation.
The fun part: bedazzle your shirt to your heart’s content. Yuzuru’s shirt is a blend of a variety of gold and blue shades, and sizes - so go nuts. This is also the most time-consuming part, so remember to take breaks and drink some water.
And here’s the final result of my interpretation of Yuzuru Hanyu’s Chopin shirt
