Sew Miss Oz

I thought it was way past time to write a review for this pattern, I realized I have made this pattern for my dh 5 times prior to making it this time.

Pattern Picture:

Project Photo:

This is the most recent shirt finished from the pattern. This shirt I finished within the last few days.

Pattern Rating:

This pattern is not easy, but produces good results. As I have increased my sewing knowledge, I realize this is not the really a tailored shirt, and have not decided which pattern to try next. I do recommend this as a great stepping-stone for learning to make men’s shirts. The one thing about Kwik Sew is their fabulous directions that enable one to learn!

Pattern Description:

Men’s dress shirts have a left front tab, double yoke, a collar with a collar stand, patch pocket and a shirt-tail hemline. View A has long sleeves with cuffs and sleeve plackets. View B has short hemmed sleeves.

Pattern Sizing/Sizing Used:

Men’s S-M-L-XL-XXL ; Neck 14 1/2 to 18 1/2 ; I used an XL with a 17 1/2 neck size.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?

I think it usually does, much depends on the fabric choices.

Were the instructions easy to follow?

One of the most wonderful things about Kwik Sew patterns is their instructions. Some items seam confusing, but as I just followed the directions I was able to understand what I was accomplishing.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?

I like the pattern, if I did not I wouldn’t have made it so many times. After making the pattern several times though I now would like something a little better fitted. As you notice in the picture the yoke falls off the shoulder instead on the shoulder.

Fabric & Notions Used:

This time I used a cotton shirting fabric I believe I purchased a couple of years ago from Ressy’s Coop. I have used cotton shirting, cotton poplin, and good old-fashioned flannel in prior adaptations of this shirt pattern. Here is a quick picture of the other shirts I have made with this pattern.

Pattern Alterations or any design changes you made:

So far, the only alteration I have made to this pattern was to length the sleeves for my dh’s long arms.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?

I would recommend this to anyone interested in trying the sewing techniques into men’s apparel. This is a great starting point for men’s dress shirts. As far as sewing this pattern again, well you can see how many times I’ve made it!

Tips:

The biggest tip I can say is to take plenty of time on this. With all the details, all the topstitching, this shirt takes several hours to complete. The good thing is after you have made it once or twice it goes together much faster!

Conclusion

This is a decent pattern for a man’s’ dress shirt with excellent directions! My dh actually loves all these shirts I made him, by just giving him the extra length in the sleeves he needed made him feel it was tailored. I have another shirt cut out for him now; I have also bought a Simplicity dress shirt pattern I would like to compare this too.