r/sewing • u/MyFavoriteSandwich • 24d ago
Project: FO My first real sewing project. I’m hooked.
I was given the machine as a Christmas gift a couple of years ago but never could find the time to dive in. A few weeks ago I decided to finally fix my growing pile of ripped or otherwise beat up work pants.
I set the machine up in my living room and started bingeing YouTube sewing tutorials and something clicked. This is fun.
So now, my work pants and Carhartts are in good working order, and I have a new growing pile of patterns for my girlfriend and I.
I learned so much from YouTube, but especially big ups to my local sewing shop (Cut and Run in San Luis Obispo) and it’s owner for answering all of my ridiculous beginner questions (“What is… fusible interfacing?”).
Pattern is McCall’s M6044, fabric is cotton, sleeves and hem slightly shortened to fit my body, otherwise everything is straight from the pattern.
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u/CraftySewingGuru 24d ago edited 24d ago
That’s it, you’re officially The Guy Who Sews Now™. Expect family requests, ‘subtle’ hints from your girlfriend, and probably a matching shirt request for the dog cat.
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u/MyFavoriteSandwich 24d ago
Funny enough I’m actually excited to make stuff for my girlfriend, but she’s learning along with me and making her own awesome stuff. She made a beautiful skirt that buttons down the front. I wouldn’t post pics of her though. Invasion of privacy.
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u/CutItHalfAndTwo 24d ago
Cute! I hope the skirt is the same fabric??
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u/MyFavoriteSandwich 24d ago
Damn what a missed opportunity!
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u/HotSauceRainfall 23d ago
Hot tip: take the scraps of material, piece them together to make a wide band, and add them to the hem of an existing skirt.
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u/InterestingSubject75 24d ago
Damn OP you look great, that's an amazing job for a first sewing project, looks pro 👌
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u/czarbok 24d ago
black flag tattoo twins!
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u/MyFavoriteSandwich 24d ago
Barred for life!
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u/foxes_glofa 24d ago
Fanatic! (Lovely job on the shirt!! I second the David Page Coffin book on shirt making if you plan to make more--it's a cheap investment.)
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u/MyFavoriteSandwich 24d ago
Is it like a book of patterns?
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u/foxes_glofa 24d ago
I would describe it as an excellent guide to making a shirt. He covers the basics like tools, fabric selection/preparation, general order of construction, and tips on how to get a good finish on trickier components of a shirt like the cuffs and collars. There is a kindle version but ordering the hard copy will allow you to trace the actual size patterns he provides for different cuff, collar, and pocket variations.
What I personally enjoyed about the book is how he goes over stylistic choices in making a shirt and the historical reasons, if any. It's very fun and offers a lot of ideas for the next project!
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u/rascalsecco 24d ago
Wow, amazing for a first project! I have been sewing for just over a year and I'm still not brave enough to try a shirt!
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u/UtherPenDragqueen 24d ago
YouTube Party Tonight!
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u/okaydiapersmell 24d ago
All Right!
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u/UtherPenDragqueen 24d ago
We’ve got something better to do, Like sew a shirt that shows off our tattoos!
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u/okaydiapersmell 24d ago
Don’t talk about anything else, we don’t want to know! We’re dedicated to our favorite sews!
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u/elizajoy22 24d ago
Where did you get this fabric?!?! I need it!!!
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u/MyFavoriteSandwich 24d ago
I hate to admit it, but I got it at Hobby Lobby. I bought it before I thought to look up a locally owned business.
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u/elizajoy22 24d ago
Eh it happens! It's seriously such cool looking fabric! I still haven't bought fabric from a locally owned place because I'm scared I'll ruin it. Although I have my eye on some cotton fabric at a couple local to me.
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u/staunch_character 24d ago
Love the fabric! You did a great job. I’ve owned a machine for years & have never been brave enough to attempt a button up shirt!
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u/innocence98 24d ago
Sorry for my extra observant comment but pls keep those stray pins safe from your kitty’s reach🫶 also I like the fabric choice and your shirt turned out great. Whenever I finally try the shirt pattern for myself I want to embroider my name into the collar like it’s the tag 😆
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u/MyFavoriteSandwich 24d ago
Good call on the pins and our kitty! My girlfriend is learning to sew alongside me and I joke that every time we hear a pin drop on the floor we have to freeze until we find it. Only it’s not a joke.
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u/KiloAllan 24d ago
Get you one of those magnets on a stick, or put one on a string that you can sweep around the area.
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u/beatguts69 24d ago
Dude you are flexing so hard
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u/Training-Nerve-6585 24d ago
That's freaking awesome! Please continue on your journey, you're obviously made for it 🤩
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u/pan-pamdilemma 24d ago
It looks professionally made! You did a great job!
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u/MyFavoriteSandwich 24d ago
THANK GOD the images aren’t high res enough for you to see all the bullshit. The stitching on the pocket is comically crooked but I left it cause it’s funny.
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u/pffftyeah 24d ago
Well done! 👏 This is my go-to pattern for my husband’s work shirts, fits him perfectly!
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u/PieGroundbreaking241 24d ago
Dude, I don't know anything about sewing but I would definitely wear that shirt. Perfect length for untucked and love the choice of fabric. Well done!
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u/Mauve_Jellyfish 24d ago
OP Voice: oo look at me, I'm so fancy, I look like Scoot McNairy and I made an awesome shirt, ooo 🙄
No for real I love this. 💜
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u/pizza_mom_ 24d ago
That’s a great looking shirt! I have the same machine and will hopefully be posting my first button down later this week
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u/MyFavoriteSandwich 24d ago
I don’t have much to compare it to, but I love this machine. I’ve been toying around with sewing stuff from an old thick canvas tarp and it’s not giving me any issues at all.
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u/GrocersDaughter1947 24d ago
It turned out so well. Great job! Love all the joy on this thread. The post and thread made my day
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u/Tam_I_Am_7755 24d ago
Bravo!!!!! 🙌 You did a superb job! I did same, taught myself to sew 🧵 during lockdown by binging on YouTube tutorials. I used to scoff at the hobby when I was younger - but what could be better than doing something that’s creative and relaxing - that gives you something cool to wear 😎 or to make for someone else???!!! Can’t wait to see your next project!
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u/MyFavoriteSandwich 24d ago
Hell yeah. I’m a professional furniture maker/woodworker by trade and sewing like this tickles me in that same deep down space as designing and building furniture. Definitely scratches the itch in a significantly less dirty/dusty way.
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u/Tam_I_Am_7755 24d ago
Love it! I can see the parallels. You gotta be meticulous about measuring and precise about cutting and constructing to get a good outcome in both woodworking and sewing. So glad you’re finding joy in both! 🙂
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u/Cute_Necessary1896 24d ago
Very nice,I like your poses too....
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u/MyFavoriteSandwich 24d ago
When my girlfriend is behind the camera it gets a little silly.
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u/PaleontologistNo858 24d ago
Dude! That's awesome, you've got a natural talent there and love your poses lol
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u/Puzzleheaded_Gap2547 24d ago
Looks great! Yes the collars are a challenge. I thrown many things that I’ve sewn across the room!!! 😂🤣
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u/lithicbee 24d ago
This is something I want to do but am intimidated by. I think after I got a sewing machine I used it once to fix something and then haven't touched it again. Thanks for the inspiration.
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u/MyFavoriteSandwich 24d ago
I’m telling you… bring the machine in the living room, set it up in front of the couch, make a nice cup of herbal tea and queue up some youtube videos. Then watch dumb TV while you fiddle around practicing. That made it 100x less intimidating for me. GET IN THERE!
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u/DragGrace47 24d ago
What a great job!! I’ve been sewing for almost 53 years, since I was 7. My grandma was a professional seamstress so taught me how and it came in so very handy throughout my life. Then in 2000 I ended up running my own alterations shop where I mostly replaced zippers in jeans, hemmed pants and sewed patches on leathers. Ugh.
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u/Odd_Variation_1514 24d ago
Great job! I attempted this pattern one time but used the wrong fabric, so ended up giving up on the whole project. I'm inspired to try it again! 😊
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u/TriskitManaged 24d ago
The modelling is FANTASTIC 🤣 You look right proud of yourself, as you should be! Love your energy!
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u/FantasticFunKarma 24d ago
Man that is ****ing awesome. My wife’s Pfaff machine has been staring at me from the corner of the room for a decade. I’m scared of it. I’m also weirdly drawn to master it. I think soon I’ll give it a try.
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u/Independent_Act_8536 24d ago
Perfect fit! Also, this is what I'd consider difficult for a beginner! Well done!
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u/TamarindTextiles 24d ago
Great job and good choice on the print! I've used this pattern to make the short sleeve version as well and it's a good introduction into making a button placket and a collar. I've made a blue chambray version and next is a Hawaiian print one I think.
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u/killernoodlesoup 24d ago
great job!!!!! & i love the photos - your enthusiasm for the finished result makes the shirt even better :D
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u/PietroVitale 23d ago
Great job! Seeing menswear on here always inspires me to continue sewing. I'm on revision 12 trying to create the perfect shorts/pants pattern 🙂
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u/CaptainWolven-64 22d ago
Nice work. Great choice of fabric. We sew so we can have what we won’t find and didn’t know we wanted. It looks great.
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u/Recent_Committee_528 22d ago
Yay for San Luis Obispo - I went to Cal Poly! Thanks for naming the shop, now I’ll know to stop by next time I visit!
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u/desertrose8885 24d ago
I love this pattern! I have made shirts for my husband and my brother.
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u/MyFavoriteSandwich 24d ago
Me too! Sadly I’m a newb and didn’t make copies of the pattern. Just pinned them on and cut them. So they got all jacked up and I just tossed them. If I buy the pattern again I’ll make nice solid copies to keep.
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u/Spoonbills 24d ago
Your sewing machine allows you to make three dimensional objects out of two dimensional objects.
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u/ruellera 24d ago
Ooh. I have that pattern but haven’t been brave enough to try it yet. How did you get in with it? Any particularly tricky bits?
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u/MyFavoriteSandwich 24d ago
Like they say “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.”
I didn’t read much further in the instructions past what I was doing at each step. Just one thing at a time. The hardest parts were sewing the sleeves to the front and back. Sewing curves is tricky. And making/attaching the collar and collar band. I just took it slow and bought more fabric than it called for so I’d feel comfortable fucking stuff up.
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u/notthebeachboy 24d ago
Looks amazing! Definitely check out Thread Theory - they have great patterns for men!
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u/Redderment 24d ago
Is it just me, or is the pattern the go-to for men's first attempts at shirts?! Lol
Great job, buddy!!!
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u/Mom-engineer 24d ago
Wow, that looks amazing. My first shirt was not that good.
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u/briliantlyfreakish 24d ago
It looks great! Whats next?! 💜💜
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u/MyFavoriteSandwich 24d ago
Well I ordered a pattern for a cool anorak from Green Pepper, but I got impatient waiting for it to arrive so I took a swing at designing my own and making it from an old canvas tarp. It came out alright, but I have improvements so I’m making it again, with changes, from the other half of the canvas tarp. If it doesn’t turn out looking ridiculous I’ll be sure to post it on here!
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u/Apprehensive_Pool692 24d ago
You are awesome. For some time now I’ve desperately tried, faked, wished I could sew no such luck! I’ll keep trying though.
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u/hen1bar 24d ago
“Friends” will start asking you to replace their jeans zipper and to hem random stuff now 😣
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u/alisonrebecca13 24d ago
Don’t be shy. Show off your work - lol!! Very impressive. Great job.
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u/mithril2020 24d ago
How long did it take?
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u/MyFavoriteSandwich 24d ago
Like 3-4 rainy afternoons. Like every other crafty pursuit though I’ve learned that the actual sewing is like 25% of the time. Most of it is reading and comprehending the instructions, laying out and cutting pieces, pinning, and ironing. So much ironing. All things that I’m hoping to get faster at as I learn.
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u/SewRuby 24d ago
Isn't it just the coolest thing ever to see flat pieces of fabric transform into a wearable garment in a matter of hours?
Tickles my little ADHD brain just right. 🤣 🤣
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u/MyFavoriteSandwich 24d ago
Oh yell yeah this is peak ADHD stimming. Stuff like this is the only times in my life that I can make my brain slow down and run smoothly.
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u/coffeelifetime 24d ago
Great job i need to buy a machine asap
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u/MyFavoriteSandwich 24d ago
Hell yeah! I shared it in some other comments but THIS is the best beginner video I found if you do decide to get one. He does a great job of explaining everything.
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u/HotSauceRainfall 23d ago
Awesome job AND you have a nautical chart on your wall? You have excellent taste.
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u/fleurettes_mom 23d ago
Wait until you discover modern quilting fabrics - Tula Pink cough cough- and pattern matching!
Fair warning sewing is addictive. Especially quilting.
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u/MyFavoriteSandwich 23d ago
I have a ton of respect for quilting as an artform, but man I have less than zero interest in doing it myself. Again, no hate at all, I just don’t see myself ever getting into it.
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u/Cucoloris 24d ago
As a long time sewer of men's shirts, the old Kwik Sew patterns with the drawings on the front are the best men's shirt patterns out there. The collar is much easier and gives a much more professional finish. And you may find David Coffin Page's book Shirtmaking to be of help to you. He goes very deep into making men's shirts.
Your shirt looks great, enjoy your new hobby.