Where to start making my own shirts?

[hexsnidgett]

I sew a bit, but usually bags, crafty things, curtains, hemming.
The most advanced things I have made are pyjama bottoms and shorts.
I am frustrated with shirts in shops rarely fitting me right and would love to make my own.
Does anyone have a simple pattern? Or should I get more practise with simpler things first?

Do you mean shirts as in woven fabric, with a collar and cuffs etc? Or like t-shirts, from a stretchy material?

Both doable, if you know your way around a sewing machine, but there are a lot of processes involved in making a shirt - collars and cuffs are fiddly, lots of buttonholes etc. But it's very satisfying to do!

I'd use a pattern from one of the independent designers rather than a 'big 4' (Simplicity, McCalls etc), as the indi instructions are generally much clearer and more visual. Something like the TATB Rosa shirt will have great instructions (it's a very fitted shirt though, which may not be what you're looking for). Grainline Archer is another great shirt. Or the Closet Core Kalle (might not be fitted enough for you) Or the Deer & Doe Melilot.

This blog post covers lots of shirt patterns (probably including the ones I've mentioned!) and might be useful.

But to answer your question - definitely doable, but I'd start with a couple of simple garments first - maybe the Closet Core Celio top, or Friday Pattern Co Sagebrush, or TATB Stevie - very little fitting involved in those, but would help you get to grips with construction.

Yes, woven shirts with collars and cuffs.
I will have a look at the patterns you mention.
I have some cheap sheeting and a collarless top pattern that came free with a magazine, maybe I will start there...

They are not the easiest thing to make, but that doesn't mean it's not possible. I always think making something you actually want/need is the best way forward.

If your fit problem is due to bust size you could try this https://www.cashmerette.com/products/harrison-shirt-pdf-pattern. Cashmerette patterns are very well explained.

Make a test run first, an old sheet should be fine for this.

It's less about the bust and more to do with length. Most shirts are too long in the body and sleeves or about 4 sizes too small!

Cashmerette are wonderful - I never need to shorten their sleeves and I always have to shorten sleeves, otherwise. I'd recommend the Vernon shirt, rather than the Harrison shirt, for a first timer as the Vernon is darted but the Harrison has princess seams.

I'd also recommend the Liesl & Co classic shirt if it wasn't for horrible method she gives for attaching the collar.

There is a lot of work in a shirt, as a PP mentioned so it's good to be comfortable with dressmaking, especially the basics of fitting, beforehand. The collar can be fiddly, if you're not used to easing odd curves together and buttonholes are always a heart in mouth moment, even for experienced Sewists with ££££ machines.

I've just made two men's shirts (short sleeves with collar) from a New Look pattern. I didn't realise when I bought it, but there are a few youtube guides, including one in three parts that is quite detailed. Just searching the pattern number on youtube came up with quite few results. It was really useful when doing the collar. I didn't find it easy. Everything else very straightforward. When I made the second one, I whizzed through the buttonholes. I also added a yoke facing and learned the burrito method.

I used to sew years ago, and I've recently come back to it, starting with PJ bottoms and then some pull on trousers from a Tilly & Buttons pattern. Then these shirts - I think with the videos, it's not too difficult.

Craftsy is really good and it has lots of videos about all kinds of crafts and all levels of ability. There are some which will take you step by step through the process of making a shirt.
https://www.craftsy.com/sew/sewclasses/

Anything is possible if you have good instructions, but you’ll probably find things easier if you build up your skills a bit. Learn to set in a sleeve, how to make basic adjustments etc.

I say this as someone whose first project was a shirt! I only managed to pull that off by following one of the Craftsy classes (Pam Howard - classic shirt) and by being a bit naive about just how difficult it was going to be! I learnt so much from that first shirt though, so definitely give it a go.

The easiest pattern I’ve found is the Deer & Doe Mėlilot (short sleeve version) It’s easier than most because there’s no set in sleeve, no cuffs & plackets and the button band is concealed, which means messy buttonholes are hidden! In general though, I’d recommend picking a pattern that has good instructions and preferably something with a sew along/ YouTube videos/ blog posts.