Make Australian Bush Shirts

(Part of our National Folk Costume)

Here's a way to make money with a simple to sew craft item.  These stylish shirts are suitable for all ages, from boys and girls through teens to adults.  The style is a reliable  favourite that has been in fashion for centuries.

Almost any fabric can be used - denim, cotton drill, linen or homespun.  With practise, each shirt takes about an hour to make.  They are ideal as Work - shirts,  school uniforms,  cowboy or western wear, white dress shirts,  and military shirts.  These shirts have stood the test of time.  The style always returns, and they are found everywhere.

Closed front, or half placket, shirts are part of our Australian Folk Costume.

A tough work-shirt for country wear, a favourite of farmers and cattlemen, everywhere that hard work is done.  These shirts are still used in Australia, where they are very popular.   Presenters on television often wear them to give an 'Australian' feel to their segment, especially if the scene takes place in the outback.  The television series "The Man from Snowy River" featured these shirts as important parts of the period costume.

Traditional placket design

This shirt in stone-washed cotton is a real man's shirt for a boy.  Soft and easy fitting, it is a firm favourite with a soft comfortable feel - just right for adventures and rough wear. Craft sewers new to making these shirts will often start off with smaller sizes. With practice, these shirts can be cut out and sewn within an hour. They are very easy to make.

A downloadable .PDF file  which gives complete instructions on making these shirts.

This can take a while to download as it's a big file.

So, how does the making of these shirts help the economy?  First of all, they represent a style which currently is not being produced in large numbers.  The style has no competition.  Therefore, the more popular they are, the more they will be sold.  The style is old, but keeps coming back.  It has stood the test of time.  When we make goods or provide services, we are actually making money.  We could sell T-shirts, or jeans, but these already exist in the millions.  Mostly, we'd only be using up old stockpiles.  This doesn't actually create money.  It does help to circulate money that is already in existence.

Why choose this shirt.  Well, it is regarded as being a part of our national folk costume.  Wearing it on Australia day, or on any special day - along with waistcoats, elastic sided boots, and Akubra hats, helps us get into the atmosphere of being 'Australian'.