*** The official and awesome DIY thread ***

[krudsma]

At the beginning of the pandemic, I decided I would use the additional spare time to teach myself how to make shirts, something I'd been wanting to do and reading up on for awhile. After a lots and lots of trial and error (and wasted fabric) I've finally arrived at a point where I can make something I consider wearable. This is my third successful shirt, in a vintage seersucker fabric I found on etsy. This is based on a pattern I drafted myself (which was far and away the most difficult and time consuming part) to fit my freakish body.



Currently in the to-do fabric pile is a vintage patchwork madras, striped cotton broadcloth, vintage flannel that looked way nicer in the photos and is likely 100% acrylic, and another thick vintage flannel arriving this weekend, which is hopefully either wool or cotton.
If anyone ever needs advice on making your own clothing, I have a wealth of PDFs I'd be happy to share. Hoping to tackle trousers at some point, and maybe even an overcoat if I get brave enough.

 

[d4nimal]

At the beginning of the pandemic, I decided I would use the additional spare time to teach myself how to make shirts, something I'd been wanting to do and reading up on for awhile. After a lots and lots of trial and error (and wasted fabric) I've finally arrived at a point where I can make something I consider wearable. This is my third successful shirt, in a vintage seersucker fabric I found on etsy. This is based on a pattern I drafted myself (which was far and away the most difficult and time consuming part) to fit my freakish body.

View attachment 1665893

Currently in the to-do fabric pile is a vintage patchwork madras, striped cotton broadcloth, vintage flannel that looked way nicer in the photos and is likely 100% acrylic, and another thick vintage flannel arriving this weekend, which is hopefully either wool or cotton.
If anyone ever needs advice on making your own clothing, I have a wealth of PDFs I'd be happy to share. Hoping to tackle trousers at some point, and maybe even an overcoat if I get brave enough.

Awesome job! I'd love whatever PDFs you have, through whatever channel you'd be willing to share them. Keep up the great work!

 

[krudsma]

Awesome job! I'd love whatever PDFs you have, through whatever channel you'd be willing to share them. Keep up the great work!

Thanks! I threw a bunch of the pattern drafting and construction stuff I referenced here. I also highly, highly recommend David Page Coffin's book Shirtmaking - it's rather old and some of the styles in it are a little dated, but the information and techniques in there are invaluable. I was very saddened to learn that he passed away earlier this year, as I relied on his book heavily. I rewatched the companion DVD so many times it felt like I knew him, in the same way you come to know your favorite podcast hosts.

This YouTube channel was also incredibly helpful and I wound up using a bunch of their techniques as well. They don't really explain what they're doing as they're doing it, but once you've got a basic understanding of the different pieces it's easy to follow along.

Lastly, I recommend checking out the Bespoke Cutter and Tailor Forum - lots of friendly and patient people there with a ton of knowledge. I got lots of advice on fitting from them. Lots of German folks there, who have a knack for perfectionism.

Best of luck and feel free to PM me if there's anything I can help with!

 

[d4nimal]

Thanks! I threw a bunch of the pattern drafting and construction stuff I referenced here. I also highly, highly recommend David Page Coffin's book Shirtmaking - it's rather old and some of the styles in it are a little dated, but the information and techniques in there are invaluable. I was very saddened to learn that he passed away earlier this year, as I relied on his book heavily. I rewatched the companion DVD so many times it felt like I knew him, in the same way you come to know your favorite podcast hosts.

This YouTube channel was also incredibly helpful and I wound up using a bunch of their techniques as well. They don't really explain what they're doing as they're doing it, but once you've got a basic understanding of the different pieces it's easy to follow along.

Lastly, I recommend checking out the Bespoke Cutter and Tailor Forum - lots of friendly and patient people there with a ton of knowledge. I got lots of advice on fitting from them. Lots of German folks there, who have a knack for perfectionism.

Best of luck and feel free to PM me if there's anything I can help with!

Thank you so much. Can’t say when I’ll start but this should help a lot!

 

[krudsma]

Not the best photo, but here's one of the other ones I made - another vintage seersucker fabric, this time in green and white. I initially planned to do a button down collar, but upon trying it on I liked the floppiness of the unlined collar on it's own. I may still make it a button down one day.



One innovation of which I'm particularly proud is a little glasses-arm-keeper that I've hidden in the pocket. Now I can tie my shoes or pick up a lucky penny without dropping my shades on the ground:

Spoiler: Detail

 

[andy b.]

Not the best photo, but here's one of the other ones I made - another vintage seersucker fabric, this time in green and white. I initially planned to do a button down collar, but upon trying it on I liked the floppiness of the unlined collar on it's own. I may still make it a button down one day.

View attachment 1667070

One innovation of which I'm particularly proud is a little glasses-arm-keeper that I've hidden in the pocket. Now I can tie my shoes or pick up a lucky penny without dropping my shades on the ground:

Excellent posts! Believe it or not, I was also working on shirt making over the pandemic. I'm a similar slender build such as yourself, and off the rack shirts rarely fit right. And, I was also going to do button down collars (I even bought the smaller buttons) but decided against it for the same reasons you did. Weird.

After going through the process, I have much respect for the bespoke shirtmakers who can have a shirt whipped up in a few days.

I like the eyeglass holder idea!

 

[krudsma]

Excellent posts! Believe it or not, I was also working on shirt making over the pandemic. I'm a similar slender build such as yourself, and off the rack shirts rarely fit right. And, I was also going to do button down collars (I even bought the smaller buttons) but decided against it for the same reasons you did. Weird.

After going through the process, I have much respect for the bespoke shirtmakers who can have a shirt whipped up in a few days.

I like the eyeglass holder idea!

Funny! We should swap shirts sometime.

 

[zissou]

Thanks! I threw a bunch of the pattern drafting and construction stuff I referenced here. I also highly, highly recommend David Page Coffin's book Shirtmaking - it's rather old and some of the styles in it are a little dated, but the information and techniques in there are invaluable. I was very saddened to learn that he passed away earlier this year, as I relied on his book heavily. I rewatched the companion DVD so many times it felt like I knew him, in the same way you come to know your favorite podcast hosts.

This YouTube channel was also incredibly helpful and I wound up using a bunch of their techniques as well. They don't really explain what they're doing as they're doing it, but once you've got a basic understanding of the different pieces it's easy to follow along.

Lastly, I recommend checking out the Bespoke Cutter and Tailor Forum - lots of friendly and patient people there with a ton of knowledge. I got lots of advice on fitting from them. Lots of German folks there, who have a knack for perfectionism.

Best of luck and feel free to PM me if there's anything I can help with!

Excellent work! Shirts are particularly challenging to pattern and sew. I’ve taken some Patternmaking courses at part of my degree program, and the knowledge is invaluable. I’ve done trousers and jackets, but not shirts yet. That’s next on my list. Thanks for the resources!

 

[krudsma]

Excellent work! Shirts are particularly challenging to pattern and sew. I’ve taken some Patternmaking courses at part of my degree program, and the knowledge is invaluable. I’ve done trousers and jackets, but not shirts yet. That’s next on my list. Thanks for the resources!

Thank you! Trousers are my next goal, I just finished a video series on the bespoke trouser process and I'm excited to take a swing. If you've got any trouser drafting/making resources I'd love to see them.

 

[stendec]

At the beginning of the pandemic, I decided I would use the additional spare time to teach myself how to make shirts, something I'd been wanting to do and reading up on for awhile. After a lots and lots of trial and error (and wasted fabric) I've finally arrived at a point where I can make something I consider wearable. This is my third successful shirt, in a vintage seersucker fabric I found on etsy. This is based on a pattern I drafted myself (which was far and away the most difficult and time consuming part) to fit my freakish body.

View attachment 1665893

Currently in the to-do fabric pile is a vintage patchwork madras, striped cotton broadcloth, vintage flannel that looked way nicer in the photos and is likely 100% acrylic, and another thick vintage flannel arriving this weekend, which is hopefully either wool or cotton.
If anyone ever needs advice on making your own clothing, I have a wealth of PDFs I'd be happy to share. Hoping to tackle trousers at some point, and maybe even an overcoat if I get brave enough.

Your designs look great! I especially love the glasses holder hidden in the pocket. Very clever!

I've also started sewing my own clothing over the past two years. I'm tall and slender, so my initial goal was just to modify my existing clothes to make them fit a bit better. (Off-the-rack shirts rarely fit me well.) However, one thing led to another, and then I started making my own shirts from patterns, then reverse-engineering some of my existing shirts I liked best.

I've mostly been making casual shirts since that's what I wear most (for dress shirts I still get those custom tailored---so much work to make a good dress shirt). I just made a turtleneck and now I'm onto making baseball caps. Next I'd like to try making an overcoat and trousers. (I once went to tailor and he quoted me $6000 for an overcoat---I think I'll make my own!) It feels very empowering to know how to modify clothing or make new garments from scratch.

I tip my hat to you on taking the leap to make your own clothing!

 

[stendec]

I couldn't find a classic menswear style baseball cap that I was excited to wear, so I tried sewing my own.

My first two attempts didn't go so well (I broke my sewing machine trying to sew through the bill on the first hat), but on my third attempt I finally ended up with a result I'm happy with. I used a wool coating fabric with a polyester lining. It's a warm hat, good for winter wear. I guess I'll have to sew a linen hat in time for spring

Next I want to try sewing additional caps using some other suiting fabrics. I also want to experiment with an interior bemberg cupro lining.

 

[krudsma]

Your designs look great! I especially love the glasses holder hidden in the pocket. Very clever!

I've also started sewing my own clothing over the past two years. I'm tall and slender, so my initial goal was just to modify my existing clothes to make them fit a bit better. (Off-the-rack shirts rarely fit me well.) However, one thing led to another, and then I started making my own shirts from patterns, then reverse-engineering some of my existing shirts I liked best.

I've mostly been making casual shirts since that's what I wear most (for dress shirts I still get those custom tailored---so much work to make a good dress shirt). I just made a turtleneck and now I'm onto making baseball caps. Next I'd like to try making an overcoat and trousers. (I once went to tailor and he quoted me $6000 for an overcoat---I think I'll make my own!) It feels very empowering to know how to modify clothing or make new garments from scratch.

I tip my hat to you on taking the leap to make your own clothing!

Funny! I feel like I could have written that exact same post myself. I wonder if a disproportionate amount of DIY shirtmakers are tall and skinny. Excellent work on the cap, it looks great. I look forward to seeing the other stuff you make!

As for overcoats, I'm just about done altering a vintage cashmere balmacaan and it's much easier than I expected, mainly because of the raglan sleeve. So if you don't want to spend $6000, take a trip down to your local thrift or vintage store and see if you can find something that's long enough and you can likely take in the body and the shoulders. Even if it doesn't turn out right, I find it helpful to explore the innards of garments like that to get a feel for how they're constructed.

Best of luck!

 

[stendec]

I made another baseball cap. This one with a paisley silk lining. What do you think? ??

 

[zissou]

Quite possibly the nicest fly I’ve ever sewn. It’s always satisfying to see skills progress over time.

 

[krudsma]

Quite possibly the nicest fly I’ve ever sewn. It’s always satisfying to see skills progress over time.
View attachment 1777810

Nicely done! I'm gearing up to make my first stab at trousers, any tips?