Making your own dress shirts

[randallr]

I want to try and make some dress shirts for myself. I have heard that the book "Shirtmaking" is very helpful. What are some tools I will need besides a sewing machine and where can I get some good cotton fabric with nice patterns?

 

[Shirtmaven]

http://books.google.com/books?id=xp4...m=11&ct=result

 

[oscarthewild]

Originally Posted by randallr

I want to try and make some dress shirts for myself. I have heard that the book "Shirtmaking" is very helpful. What are some tools I will need besides a sewing machine and where can I get some good cotton fabric with nice patterns?



Please post pics of your shirts as they go through iterative refinements. It will be most educational. Suggest starting with cheaper fabrics.

 

[randallr]

Where should I buy this fabric Oscar? Just a local fabric store?

 

[oscarthewild]

Shirtmaven may have a tad bit more insight into this, but making shirts may be more difficult than it first appears. I would go buy the cheapest 100% cotton at Joanne fabric type store. Probably a few bucks. Practice till you feel it is right. Then move to the better fabrics.

-

 

[JamesT]

For the first few shirts, I would just buy some fabric (100% cotton) from a local fabric store. Or, I suppose, you could just buy some muslin. When you make the first shirt, don't finish the seams the same way they are normally finished - since this will be a try on. Instead, just sew each seam with one row of stitching and leave about .5 - .75 inch outlet (so it can be let out). From there, just play around with the dimensions until you are happy. Then mark where the final seams are (in pencil or pen), take it apart and use the pieces to make a pattern.

-At least that is what I would do.

 

[ozonemania]

I've been thinking about this as well. Unfortunately I don't know how to sew but I've got as far as obtaining a sewing machine and reading a book on how to sew. I'm still learning how to use a sewing machine.

I should probably take a community college sort of basic course on sewing.

My main motive for doing this is to duplicate some of my shirts. These shirts are either hard to come by or very expensive. It's fairly easy to make a pattern from an existing shirt.

BTW- I am in no way trivializing the skill and craftsmanship involved in making a good quality shirt. I fully expect any first attempts would fail miserably. And that my best would probably not be good enough, but might be fun to try.

 

[TintinATL]

Interesting... How many yards of fabric does one need for a shirt (with french cuffs)?

 

[Shirtmaven]

60" 2 yards
45" 2.5
buy extra in case you screw up.

 

[Golf_Nerd]

Originally Posted by Shirtmaven

http://books.google.com/books?id=xp4...m=11&ct=result

Thanks for the link. The book is ordered and will arrive in two or three weeks.

 

[ppllzz]

where can i buy good quality fabric?

 

[Freddy Vandecasteele]

Your Not the only one.
http://www.styleforum.net/showthread.php?t=68426
It can be done but it is not easy.
Anybody can come and watch me,not kidding.
Freddy Vandecasteele

 

[Tomasso]

I'd just as soon make my own shoes, wristwatch, auto, etc.......

 

[Golf_Nerd]

Originally Posted by Tomasso

I'd just as soon make my own shoes, wristwatch, auto, etc.......

Puh, so you are a freshman. Me is recreating the world!