Is there a crowd to source?

[kendiefox]

I think I know the steps in the process, but I want to run it by folks who have done this more recently than ~20 years ago.

How to sew a shirt:

*Buy the pattern
*Buy the appropriate amount of fabric for the pattern if it does not already exist in stash (it does not, i purchased muslin so that i am expecting this to be a trial run before i make one to actually wear)
*Cut out the paper pattern
*Cut out the fabric based on the paper pattern
*Sew the fabric together (rip out seams while swearing fit to strip wallpaper, resew the fabric together, repeat until either Done or completed)
*Sew the buttons on the shirt
*Wash the finished item

I mean, it sounds right? And I am moderately confident in my ability to heck this right up, but I think I can do this.

Comments

[ducened]

Yup, that's about right.

There may be an interim step of "adjust pattern to the particular measurements of the person who will wear the shirt" (either by altering the pattern or altering the muslin) depending on your skills and desires, but those are pretty much the steps in the order.

[kendiefox]

Awesome! Thank you!

Yeah, I was strongly encouraged to think of this first draft as a first draft. It's expected to need improvement before the final draft. And I'm making it for myself, so I definitely can take measurements as often as I need them.

[james]

Also, don't forget you should NOT have any wine until after the cutting and sewing is done. ;-)

[kendiefox]

Solid advice. I feel that I learned that lesson the hard way by knitting and imbibing.

While I do not currently keep alcohol in the house, it's still good to remember for in the future. :)

[james]

I do have some real advice - if you are wanting to dive back into the sewing of clothes, then maybe practise with a skirt or pair of shorts/pajama pants. I find those pieces are so much easier to make than a shirt, because they often don't require much fitting or darts, etc. It's a good way to find out if you're forgetting something easy, because they do require most basic steps, but it can take about one hour from start to finish to make skirt or shorts.

When I was a kid, I made a sundress for myself, start to finish, with interfacing and everything and it fit wonderfully. Now I'm like, I can sew up a piece of fabric into a tube and hem it and call it a skirt. (I make bags and quilts now, mostly.)

[kendiefox]

While I agree with that advice in general, I know myself well enough that if I try to do a project I am uninterested in I will not complete it or I'll half-ass it and be dissatisfied with the result. These are skills I want to learn, this is an item I want to make, and I know bits of it will be fiddly and/or frustrating, but I'm willing to accept the level of difficulty and challenge right now.

I did sew a flannel quilt to get a feel for the machine and I am willing to fail several times on this project.

[james]

It's good you know that about yourself! Me, I'm the opposite - I'd rather do something super easy the first time, to help ensure (at least mostly) success, otherwise I get frustrated and quit.

[weaverbird]

It's recommended to wash and dry the fabric (in the same way you intend to launder the finished garment) *before* you cut. Gets any shrinking out of the way before you sew.

Also: remember to press the fabric before you cut, and press each seam *as you go*. Don't wait until the end to do them all at once. Construction pressing makes a world of difference in the look of your finished garment.

Generally, the method is to press the seam flat first, and then open, but the pattern directions will often specify if something else is to be done.

Have fun and good luck! Will you post pictures?

[kendiefox]

Yes! I knew I'd forgotten some steps. Thanks!

I will try to post pics? I'm not great at making dreamwidth do as I ask, but I will be posting them on instagram and then linking that around.

[hyperbole]

Personally I also trace out the pattern rather than cutting the pattern tissue, since I don't know if I've got the right size/might want to make it for someone else later (/just can't bear to ruin a thing :P). It takes a bit/a lot of extra time but for all of my makes that have turned out okay I've wanted to go back to the pattern and trace something differently (grading between sizes or alternative necklines, sleeve lengths, what-have-yous) and then make another version.

Second the recommendation to pre-wash and to press constantly. Oh and looking up tutorials if any step is confusing! There are tonnes, both written/blogs and videos.

Good luck and have fun!! :D

[kendiefox]

That is something to think about, yeah. Maybe not this time since it's my first time making a garment since I was in middle school and I know if I complicate the process too much I am unlikely to make progress. But for next time, to get a better fit, tracing versions 1, 2, etc. instead of cutting does sound like a good idea.

Thanks! I'm excited to see what happens!

[gatheringrivers]

Before you do the initial sewing, pin the muslin together and have the wearer (whether that's you or some other person) try it on first - make sure shoulders and such fit - and make adjustments accordingly. It's MUCH easier to do a fitting when things are pinned, because if they're sewn, you have to rip and re-stitch, and not all fabrics tolerate multiple rounds of seam ripping.

My mother used to make most of my fun clothes growing up, so I'm aware that this is A Thing that needs to BE done, but I'm not aware of HOW to do it *properly*.

(I've made a few clothing items, but more "medieval styling" than modern, so a much looser fit, deliberately.)

[kendiefox]

Good call! It might be a bit tricky since I live alone, but I can probably manage some terrible bathroom selfies to check the fit and run it by a more experienced sewist.

[lilacsigil]

Sewing pattern sizes and retail clothing sizes don't necessarily match, so know the basic measurements you want before buying a pattern and definitely before cutting it!

[kendiefox]

For sure! I've knit a sweater and other items that don't follow off the rack sizing, so I'm comfortable with working in measurements instead of sizes. And knitting that sweater was a learning experience in how ease works. :)

[gatheringrivers]

Forgot to mention before:

If you have an odd body shape that doesn't properly fit entirely within a set of pattern measurements, I would say get a pattern BIGGER than you need. Things can always be trimmed down.

There's ways to size up a pattern (and when I had a ton less stress, I actually did that with one I made for a friend) but they require some calculations and understanding of where things will drape on the body, plus *possibly* some small widgets you may not have on hand.