The surprising truth about sewing shirts

Hey there! I’ve just had a major breakthrough after sewing my first button-down shirt, and I’ve got to share it with you. You know what? I’ve been lying to myself this whole time – sewing shirts isn’t hard at all! In fact, it’s actually fun!

I decided to try the Cool shirt pattern by Frocks and Frolics because it looked super cute, and, honestly, my son kept pointing out that I make way too many things for his sisters and barely anything for him.

He’s not wrong! It’s so much quicker for me to whip up a gathered skirt or a headband. But when it comes to making something my son will actually like and wear, I tend to hesitate.

To be honest, I was a bit nervous about the whole shirt-making process. Buttonholes? All those curves? And don’t even get me started on the tiny pieces! But I decided to take the plunge, because, well, that’s what we do, right?

Here’s the secret that helped me: I stuck with the pattern instructions and followed a handy Youtube tutorial every step of the way. Plus, I kept one of my son’s store-bought shirts nearby, just to help me understand how things should look as I went along.

And guess what? I did it! This is the first shirt I’ve ever made, and I’m absolutely thrilled.

New skill unlocked!

Related: The quickest way to add knee patches to jeans

It was an amazing experience! Why didn’t I try sewing shirts sooner?

Let me tell you, sewing shirts has been an incredible experience. I honestly feel like I should’ve given it a try ages ago!

The pattern I used, paired with a super helpful video, was so easy to follow – even though I had never sewn a shirt before. And guess what? My first completed shirt looks so professional, I can hardly believe it!

And now, I’ve just finished my second shirt! I’m beyond thrilled with how it turned out.

Is sewing shirts hard?

Short answer: Nope! I’ve just finished my first two shirts ever, and I can say with confidence that sewing shirts isn’t hard. The key is choosing a good pattern and knowing the basic functions of your sewing machine. If you’ve got that covered, you’re ready to swing into action!

At the end of the day, you might just find yourself swooning over a beautifully professional-looking button-down shirt that you made!

The real truth about sewing shirts

Here’s the deal – the hardest part is just getting started. You might feel a little unsure with your first shirt, but by the time you’re on your second, you’ll be sewing like a pro! Making button-down shirts isn’t difficult. Like anything else, it just takes practice and a little patience.

Another great thing? Most shirts are made from woven cotton fabrics, which are some of the easiest fabrics to sew, especially for beginners.

What you need to know before sewing your first shirt

Ready to sew your first shirt? Here’s a quick rundown of the key techniques you should be comfortable with before diving in:

• Sewing straight lines: This is a must for every sewing project, including shirts.
• Applying fusible interfacing: You’ll need this to give certain parts of the shirt, like the collar or cuffs, extra structure.
• Sewing around curves: Shirts have curved edges, especially in areas like armholes and necklines.
• Topstitching: This is what gives your shirt that clean, professional finish.
• Making a basting stitch: Helpful for temporary stitching, especially when you need to gather fabric or hold things in place.
• Sewing buttons and buttonholes: A button-down shirt wouldn’t be complete without these!

If none of these skills sound too tricky, then guess what? You’re all set and just waiting to make your first shirt!

How much fabric do you need to make a shirt?

The amount of fabric you’ll need for a shirt depends on a few things:

• Sleeve type: Long or short sleeves will make a difference.
• Size of the shirt: Larger sizes will naturally need more fabric.
• Contrasting fabric: Are you using a different fabric for the yoke or cuffs?
• Fabric width: The wider the fabric, the less you might need.

As a general rule, for a men’s or women’s shirt, you’ll need about 1.5 to 2.5 yards of fabric. For kids’ shirts, you can usually get by with less—somewhere between 1 and 1.5 yards.

How long does it take to sew a shirt?

From my (limited) experience, sewing a shirt doesn’t take as long as you might think! For the boys’ shirts I made (size 6/7 years), I cut and sewed 14 pieces total:

• 2 front pieces
• 1 back (on the fold)
• 2 yokes (on the fold)
• 2 collar pieces
• 2 collar stands
• 1 pocket
• 2 sleeves
• 2 facings for the short sleeves

When I looked at my husband’s classic office shirts, I noticed that they’re made up of the exact same pieces – nothing more, nothing less. So, if you were to make a men’s shirt, it would be pretty much the same process, just with longer seams, so it might take a little more time.

For my first shirt, it took me about 3-4 hours to sew (not counting the time to prep the pattern pieces). If you take your time, take breaks, and double-check your work, you’re probably looking at around 8 hours to finish your first shirt – roughly a day’s work!

By the way, the solid-colored shirt was the first one I finished. I made a few silly mistakes along the way, but I’m not fixing them. I’m too proud of this cute little shirt with car-shaped buttons!

The second shirt I made (using gingham fabric – check out the photo below!) was so much smoother and faster. I finished it in less than 2 hours!

My best tips for sewing a shirt (in a relatively short time)

Want to make a shirt quickly without sacrificing quality? Here are my best tips to speed things up:

• Choose a good pattern (this is essential): A well-designed sewing pattern will set you up for success and make the whole process smoother.
• Read and understand the instructions: Don’t rush through this – taking the time to fully understand each step will save you from mistakes later on.
• Keep a similar store-bought shirt nearby: This is a great visual guide to help you understand how things should come together.
• Follow the instructions exactly: Don’t try to outsmart the patternmaker! Stick to the seam allowances, press your seams, pin and trim where needed, and use interfacing as recommended.
• Use plenty of pins and sew carefully around curves: Taking your time here makes a big difference in how professional your shirt will look.
• Keep your iron and ironing board ready: You’ll be pressing a lot, so keep everything set up for quick and easy access.

Is sewing shirts worth it?

Absolutely, yes! Learning to sew a button-down shirt from scratch is incredibly rewarding.

There’s something so satisfying about taking a simple piece of fabric and turning it into a stylish, 3D item with your own hands – and, of course, your trusty sewing machine. You can make high-quality shirts that will last for years, especially for adults.

While sewing your own shirts isn’t necessarily cheaper than buying fast fashion, it’s definitely more affordable than buying designer or tailor-made pieces. Plus, the personal touch makes it totally worth it!

About the pattern I used

I can’t say enough good things about this shirt pattern by Frocks and Frolics! For starters, it’s unisex and comes in multiple sizes for kids aged 1 to 14, which is perfect for me since I’ve got a son and two daughters, ages 5 to 13. I’ll be using this pattern a lot – more shirts are definitely on the way!

One thing I really love is that each size comes as a separate PDF file, making it super convenient to print and use. The instructions are clear and easy to follow, and the video tutorial walks you through every step in detail. All the pattern pieces fit together perfectly, like a puzzle – making the whole process a breeze.

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