Calgary Stampede Gear 🤠
The Calgary Stampede is powered by volunteers and this year, I joined the ranks. I’m on the Art Show committee, specifically working on the Creative Arts and Crafts competition. (I entered garments in the competition in 2023 and 2024 but didn’t win anything.) As a volunteer, there is an expectation that you will “dress Western”. I already have all of the other gear (boots, jeans, and too many hats) and wanted to make a new shirt.
The Calgary Stampede is often called “The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth” and about 1.4 million people come through the Stampede Park gates for 10-days each July. Think county fair on steroids – one of the world’s largest rodeos, agricultural events, concerts & live music, midway rides, exhibitions, parties, dancing, and food. The whole city participates! I would guess that the majority of Calgarians have at least one outfit for Stampede – boots, hat, jeans, and probably a western shirt.
In the past few years I have sewn a couple of tops to wear to Stampede events. Neither were western shirts, both were simply tops sewn in western-themed quilting cotton. This year, I wanted something a bit more traditional.
The timing was perfect when Love Notions released a western shirt pattern in May – the Love Notions’ Bluegrass Shirt and Dress
The Bluegrass Shirt is a buttondown shirt with princess seams, a stand and collar, button plackets, cuffs and sleeve plackets, and optional yokes (a basic version, and one that is a bit curvier). Like many Love Notions patterns, it has a full bust option. The princess seams and full bust option sold me on this pattern.
I decided to make a sleeveless version as a wearable toile, and a full-on Stampede shirt with my pink cowboy fabric.
Sleeveless Version
July is often warm in Calgary and when the temperature ticks up, the Stampede Grounds can be brutal with huge crowds. Version one was sewn in crinkle cotton purchased at Fabricland here in Calgary. The fabric is lightweight and more than slightly translucent. 😬
I cut an 2XL with the full bust option. I had to make some adjustments, and of course it’s easier to get a good fit with Princess seams! I found that there was excess fabric under the arms at the size of the bust and that’s where I made most of the adjustments. In retrospect, I should have cut either a L or XL and done an FBA.
To finish the armscye, I enclosed the edges with self-bias tape. This looks tidy, and with a slight bit of gathering, it minimizes gaping.
While the fabric is perfect for a summer top, it’s too sheer. I wear it layered over a white tank top. In the photos below I didn’t wear a tank top and yeah, it’s too translucent.
Full-on Cowgirl Version
This version was made with lovely western-themed fabric from the UK. Fabric Godmother has a line called “Rodeo” and that’s where I found this cotton lawn in a fun pink cowgirl print. It has long sleeves with cuffs. I worked on this project while on a sewing day with a group of sewing friends, and one said that it definitely needed some fringe. So I went on a hunt and found some at Marshall Fabrics (new in Calgary) and added it to the bottom of the front and back yoke. (I used 3″ fringe on the back yoke, and a double layer of 2″ fringe on the front yoke.)
The only real challenge was the snaps. I had a bit of misadventure when I used the wrong tool to affix the snaps. Fortunately, I didn’t damage the fabric but I did go through about $12 worth of snaps before getting it right.
I wore the shirt to the first day of the Stampede and when I saw some pictures, I was not entirely happy. It was too big on the front which made the shirt completely shapeless. If you’re going to sew a Princess seamed shirt, you want it to have shape! (➡️ before modifications)
Shortly thereafter, I made a few modifications. I skimmed the princess seams at the top of the bust because my shape is now flatter on top (oh, age!) and took in the princess seams on the front from the waist down. I wound up removing about 1″ from the top of the bust, and 2″ from the lower hip at the front. There are pictures of the modified version down below.
There are a few little personalisations in the form of labels. On the left breast pocket, there’s a Canadian flag and on the inside yoke I included a label given to me by a dear sewing friend. She gave me two different tags so I guess I’m obligated to make another shirt for 2026!
Sheriff, what’s the verdict?
I wore the yellow shirt once and pink shirt twice during the Stampede. They will both definitely be in rotation again next year, and the yellow shirt will be worn in warm weather/places. Both fabrics are lovely and cool for hot days. And the pink print is unique and perfect for Stampede.
I tend to have really good results with Love Notions patterns and this one is no exception. It’s well drafted and gives enough options to make it a versatile shirt pattern. You don’t have to make a “Western Shirt” with this pattern! The yoke is optional, and the princess seams make a nicely shaped button down shirt (with full bust option!).
My favourite part of the shirt is the pearl snaps. Once I got the hang of them, they were easy to affix. Although they did take extra time. I like having the option to use snaps or regular buttons.
One design feature that I would change is the front yokes. They are quite short and don’t extend far down over the shoulders. Next time I will attempt to make the front yokes at least a few inches longer.
Thank you for reading along. I hope to see YOU at the Calgary Stampede next year! Yeehaw!
Want to see more? Here’s a link to the video on my YouTube channel.
Janine Sews 