Almost two years ago (look how small and scraggly Wooster is!!) I made Alex a pair of short shorts using the Thread Theory Jedediah pattern. It was such a challenge–my first fly front, which I totally messed up, and some creative pattern hacking. I\’ve also made him a Negroni (which has a camp, not stand collar and is therefore not a favorite) and another shirt that has the buttons on it backward, for a grand total of three. items. Y\’all. Do you know how much sewing I do?
Alex basically wears five types of garment (tee shirts and jeans, button down shirts and chinos, and elastic-waist shorts) so it would be easy enough to get a little capsule wardrobe going for him, if I can ever tear myself away from party dresses and other selfish sews! I have a few new men\’s shirt pattern to try out (the Thread Theory Fairfield shirt, pictured above, and M6044, a recommendation from Madeline) and I want to make another pair of hacked Jedediah shorts, with a better fly zip this time.
In the meantime, I also included a cheeky round up of items that say \”I\’m sorry I spend all my free time barricaded in my sewing room and yes, that is the third Mood package to arrive this month\”. Given that I\’ve put the buttons on the wrong side of Alex\’s handmade shirts and improperly installed the fly on his shorts, sticking to store bought might be my safest option going forward… and I have a little giveaway today! Maybe your man would accept a very nice razor set with fancy (yet inexpensive!) blades while he\’s waiting for his long-overdue handmade present? Alex loves his Harry\’s razor, and you can\’t put buttons on the wrong side… enter below to win your own razor set!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Do you sew for the men in your life? Do you have any favorite patterns? I\’m on the hunt! Part of my reluctance comes from the fact that Alex loves plaid… could he pick a more challenging sew than a plaid shirt? Yikes!
xoxo,
My poor boyfriend is still waiting for his birthday shirt (M6044)… from FEBRUARY 2016. Oops!
My poor husband. I have never made him a garment, but I do mend his clothing and add a belt loop to hold his tape measure for work. I know he'd love a t-shirt; anything! I just never get around to making him things.
I am going to sew him a portside duffel, I just haven't gotten around to it ๐
I really like the idea of a shirt.
I sewed a tie for the guy I was dating once — it was Blackhawks fabric and I don't think he ever wore it (a combination of soon after wearing fewer ties, and also the back loop \”falling off…\”). I've made a barbecue apron and toiletries bag for my dad. He uses the bag to bring props when he does presentations on his company for businesses! But I really don't like sewing for other people, so do note that all those projects were quick ones ๐
I sewed my boyfriend a bow tie (a real one) out of the same silk I used for my prom dress when we went together back in high school. It was super hard to get the two sides perfectly symmetrical, and also very hard to turn. But it came out great. Last year I made him a Thread Theory Fairfield shirt for Christmas. I used some amazing Robert Kaufman plaid flannel. It was only my second button up shirt, but I put much more work into it than I did into my wearable muslin Archer. It came out very well, but slightly tight, so I put in gussets at the hips. It's definitely a slim fitting shirt and I modeled it after a shirt that I didn't realize was a little small on him. He wears it nearly every day in the winter, though! I would definitely make that pattern again a little bit bigger.
I just made my SO a beautiful shirt of blue and yellow Souleiado fabric. I used bright yellow to line the collar stand and the cuffs. I could not find shirt buttons to match the yellow so, sadly, used dark blue buttons instead. He loves that shirt.
If you want to sew a t-shirt for his wardrobe, I love the fit of Liesl + Co. Metro T
Your sewing-for-partner adventures sound a lot like mine…but yours sound more successful believe it or not! I started with the Negroni shirt, but the fit was awful. I tried to correct it but overcompensated and he ended up with the dreaded armpit wedgie. Then, I made two pairs of khaki shorts using the Thread Theory Jutland pattern. Neither of those fit, but fortunately they fit my little brother. Next I tried the Thread Theory Finlayson hoodie. That didn't fit right either. At this point, I haven't given up on making him something, but he certainly has given up on me!
He keeps wanting me to make him something, but I just want to sew for me.
I've sewed a dopp kit for my dad and a guy friend! I also once made my dad PJ pants and shorts, and I'd just asked my stepmom what size to sew and she said \”medium\” and they ended up being huge on him! But, at least they were PJs. (Thinking back, I did not put in a fly at all, I just did pull-on shorts…sorry Dad!)
Pretty much all of my unselfish sewing happens by accident… I make something ill-fitting for myself so it gets passed along to one of my friends! But I've promised my SO a shirt for at least a year now, and I know he's so excited for it, but doesn't bug me too much about it. A few days ago (before I left him in Germany again for three months), he *very casually* mentioned… \”I guess we never got around to making me a shirt this visit, huh?\” And suggested we maybe take his measurements before I left. Ugh. Some serious heart-string pulling there.While I don't feel comfortable making him a fitted shirt when I don't have access to his body, I've taken all his measurements and plan on at least one knit t-shirt or Henley while I'm back in Portland.All that to say, yeah, I think you're way ahead of the curve as far as sewing for SO's go ๐
I made my boyfriend the Fairfield shirt recently and he said it fits him better than all his rtw shirts, aka the best compliment he has ever given me. I tried the Negroni first and abandoned halfway through for the same reason as you.. camp collar was not for him. I have made him the Seamwork Harrington swim shorts (lenghtened a bit) and Paxson sweatshirt, which are both favorites.
Love Harry's!
Thread Theory Finlayson sweater is an excellent make..it orked well with Art Gallery knit fabrics for cool weather wear…t-shirt comfort but high style. So you can start now and be finished for fall!
I've made simplicity 1286, just slimmed down over torso and sleeves. It's really cute!
I have only made a muslin camp shirt for class, which is now \”for\” my husband as it was his exact size- win!! ๏ฟฝ๏ฟฝ But seriously I have never made any menswear before this and now have visions of making one for like every guy in the family for Christmas. It's June so maybe that's not too crazy (yeah right). My brother in law always makes amazing gifts -last year he made me antler buttons!?!?- so I'd like to make something cool for once.
I've made my husband a few pairs of Thread Theory's Jutland Pants and their Strathcona Henley. Mostly I just make him pajama pants from an old (McCall's?) pattern. I have the same feelings you do. It's so hard to tear myself away from the fun of sewing my own clothes!
My husband is the most particular man I've ever met. I'd love to tailor clothes to fit him just right, and have his new favorite shirts be from me and not Brooks Brothers! ๐
ooh some great ideas, i am such a selfish sewer it's about time i made something for my boyfriend! thank you for the giveaway as well ๐
I've made my OH jeans and a kilt shirt. I have fabric for a jacket, more jeans and a plaid shirt but I'm not sure when I'll get around to them! I've made a shirt for one grandson and a padded gilet for the other.
I started making my SO a shirt last year… Still haven't finished it!
I also sew for my Husband, although admittedly not as often as I should. I found the custom men's patterns from Lekala great for my Husband, as he is very tall and broad, so difficult to find patterns that fit him.
I haven't sewn anything for men yet but my husband asks me to make him something at least once a week!
I just starting to sew for men but still working on it.
I just starting to sew for men but still working on it.
I'd recommend the Fairfield shirt too. It's a proper shirt with a collar stand, tower placket and flat-felled seams, but you can also make it more casual by choosing the pleated version or the short-sleeve option. Morgan's fitting guide is really useful and my husband loved it. Although I'll confess I vetoed any fabric that would have needed pattern matching!
I haven't done any sewing for my husband – yet!!
The only items I've sewn for men are making quilts! I made one for my son for last Christmas and this year I have plans to make one for my husband in a bear theme for his \”den\”.
I don't sew for men yet but I would love to learn! My email is traciemcooper0515@gmail.com
I LOVE the Thread Theory shirt and Jeds! My one problem with the Fairfield shirt is a super swoopy armsyce curve that I think is really hard to flat-fell, so I'm in the process of combining its PERFECT body (for my slim guy) with the Negroni sleeves. I haven't sewn any Big 4 for him though!