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I started sewing about 4 months ago because I was sick of the current men’s fashions (being a man). Unfortunately the trend of blah men’s fashion seems to carry over to sewing as well. I’ve looked through all the pattern books carried by Jo Anne’s and the men’s patterns just don’t do anything for me.
I’ve been getting more an more depressed as I began to realize there are really no resources for men who want to make they’re own clothing. I’ve got some great ideas and I’ve started trying to make my own patters (with limited success), but I really don’t have much experience yet. All the Pattern making books and computer programs seem to only have templates for women.
Does anyone have any insight or recommendations? Should I continue with my brown paper patterns traced and modified from my own shirts. I don’t really mind, but boy is it time consuming. Especially when you’re still not 100% sure of how to put it together when you’re done 🙂
Thanks
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Have you come across Wild Ginger's Tailor Made? http://www.wildginger.com/patmast/tmade.htm I am thinking of trying it for my husband.
Ghillie
*this site has a list of resources that cater to men's patterns:http://sewing.about.com/hobbies/sewing/msubmen.htm
*Aaron this link may help, lots of free instruction for drafting patterns... BIG "plus" written by a man!:http://www.panix.com/~an/tailoring2/
*Aaron, if the web page does not work by clicking on it, cut and paste the web address and it will than link for you!
*WOW. Thank you for all your quick replies! They were all very helpful.Ghillie C - I'm definately going to download the demo of this software and see what it's like. I've been looking at pattern software, but somehow that one never came up in my searches. Thanks!lizbeth - It never occured to me that about.com would have what I was looking for. What a good site. I wasn't all that happy with the men's patterns but I found a lot of other information that will be very useful. I also found another pattern (women's) that I may build use as a base for a chinese style Jacket I'm working on. The other link, for pattern drafting instructions, unfortunately didn't work, either the site's down, or the URL changed. I'm hoping it comes back because it sounded like just what I was looking for. I wish Jalie (http://www.jalie.com) made more men's patterns. Their women's patterns are very contemporary without being overdone. I really like them. Maybe I'll start my own line when I get the hang of it :).Thanks again!
*Aaron, This could be rather timely for you: Pattern Showcase (www.patternshowcase.com) has just started a men's section this week. It is going to include reviews of men's patterns from the independent pattern companies and could be worth checking out.
*Well on the plus side at least you won't have bust fitting problems and dart alterations to worry about!Books I would recommend for you are b Shirtmaking by David Page Coffin available from Taunton and bookstores. This is specifically aimed at making men's shirts and has an accompanying video which might be very helpful. It does not include beginner "how to" sewing but does have construction methods.Drafting is very time consuming to do in the beginning but once you have a basic block, styling is quicker. For pattern drafting, I love b Metric Pattern Cutting for menswear : including unisex casual clothes by Winifred Aldrich. Published by Blackwell Scientific : ISBN 0632041137 . These books are readily available in libraries in Canada so check your libraries. Don't be put off by drafting in metric - the numbers are easier to divide, and once your block is drafted you can revert to imperial measurements for styling if you wish. Drafting books typically do not give any info on garment construction and makeup so you may have to use women's blouse and pant references for this.
*A great site for mens patterns in Vogue, Butterick, Simplicity and McCalls, New Look and Style patterns is at http://www.monsterpatterns.com. Hope this helps.
*Hi All,I just found an old, obscure book on pattern drafting. Written by J.Kumpan, published in 1920, this system looks so precise and accurate, I can't wait to try it. Have you heard of the Kumpan "Durchmesser System?"I've used the Mitchell System of Design with very good results.A.J.
*I draft my own patterns by hand and am currently looking for standard measurement charts for men. Measurements should include neck-shoulder, sleeve length, chest, armscye front and back, cross shoulder back (across the shoulder blades), back neck - waist, front neck - waist...etc. Can anyone point me in a direction to find this information?
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