I set myself a sewing challenge to start the year off right 😂! 

As you saw in last week's article, my year 2025 was very busy.

I had a little regret... not having had time to sew for pleasure and especially for to do pleasure. For several years, I have sewn my entire wardrobe but I also really enjoy sewing for my boyfriend's wardrobe: jeans, sweatshirts, and especially beautiful shirts!

In 2025, the poor thing was completely neglected 🥲! Even though he is very kind and told me "it's okay, you have a lot of work," I had a little pang in my heart. I really wanted to make him happy and sew him a beautiful shirt for his birthday on January 2nd.

Even though I had this project in mind since October...

Problem: Monday 29/12 the shirt was still in pieces, the pattern pieces still pinned on the fabric in my workshop. Without hesitation, I rolled up my sleeves and I'll tell you about my first sewing challenge of the year and I'll take the opportunity to give you some advice on shirts 😉

Let's go!

The shirts and the different models

After making shirts for my boyfriend for several years, I created a shirt pattern adapted to his body shape and especially to his desires.

The gentleman knows what he wants 🤣. I'll explain to you below.

For people who would like to sew a beautiful men's shirt, I recommend the following models:
- The handsome guys: the elegant one and the surfer
- Iam Patterns : Aimé moreover it is unisex
- CaPaCha : Silex which goes up to 6XL
- Lamericana : Réglisse which goes from 32 to 52
- Lot of things : Parker (which is also unisex), Ricard and Salazar

For women's shirts, I recommend:
- Coralie Bijasson: Adeline, Narcisse and Effigie
- Clématisse pattern: Jane and Albane
- Iam patterns: Irma, Barbara, Hermès, Lucienne (perfect for absolute beginners)...
- ...

The fabric for shirts

Once the models are selected, the fabrics must be selected! 

The classics are oxfords, and we have several from Atelier Brunette of very good quality. Men's shirts can also be made in cotton poplin, often striped, checked patterns and for the more daring, patterned! 

I prefer to make them in Japanese fabrics: a guarantee of quality but also originality.

Fortunately Gaetan dares to wear patterns, so I don't hesitate to offer him more original shirts. For those less daring, I suggest starting with small touches like a collar and cuffs; it always has its little effect! 

The only point to watch out for when using Japanese fabrics is the width, which is generally 110cm. So you need to increase the yardage, otherwise you won't be able to "fit" all your pieces!For reference, for Gaetan I need 2.3m of Japanese fabric.For a shirt for me, I take 2m.

My sewing challenge

As I said earlier, the idea of the shirt had been in my mind since October but as you know, the end of the year was quite busy! 

Early December, I cut the shirt from the fabric that had been catching my eye for a while... I really like the little cherry blossom petals on the dark blue fabric. 

And then, the fabric waited... until I was 72 hours from the birthday 😱! 

I'll tell you about the sewing on purpose. 

Tuesday 12/30 between 9am and 10:30am: I mark my reference points, sew the back yokes, interline the collar, collar stand, button placket and cuffs, and sew the button plackets.

Wednesday 12/31 between 8am and 9am: I sew the collar, attach the backs and fronts at the shoulders. I close the sides of the shirt with English seams. Between 10am and 10:30am: I attach the collar to the shirt, assemble the cuffs.

Thursday 2/1 between 9am and 12pm: I make the sleeve slits and pleats. I close the sleeves with English seams and attach the cuffs. I set the sleeves into the shirt.

I finish with a hem. 

I select 3 types of buttons compatible with the shirt that I slip into the envelope with the birthday card. I really like letting Gaetan choose the buttons for his shirt. I also ask him where he wants to place the first button because he is quite "picky" about that 🤣

I wrap the shirt in a nice gift paper...

Friday 1/2: I give him his shirt 

Phew, he likes the fabric and chooses his buttons. 

I make the buttonholes on the button placket and cuffs in the evening after work; it takes an hour to finish. I sew the buttons in the evening on the couch. 

Ta-da, it's ready! 

Shirt challenge: 45 minutes of cutting and 7 hours of express sewing and 30 minutes of hand sewing the buttons

Clearly, I couldn’t have gone faster and it was really at a sprint 🤣 but I’m very proud to have been able to finish the gift on time. 

How to save time?

"I don’t have time" is often the phrase I hear most in the workshop and shop. Me, I’m more the type to say that we choose the quality of our time. 

I could have spent time doing something else. By the way, and unfortunately, I don’t have little elves who do the cleaning, laundry, supplier orders at night, ... but I can also be a few hours late on these tasks 😏... it’s not a big deal! 

And then, I have a few tips and tricks to share with you to save time. 

1. Cut your project by step and task

Instead of trying to do everything at once, break the tasks into small pieces...

I only have 20 minutes? I interface all the pieces or overlock all my pieces

I have 45 minutes? I sew part of the garment and it’s okay if it’s not finished...

I always try to do the same tasks by grouping them (interfacing, overlocking, topstitching, ironing...)

I also always try to work symmetrically = make the two same pieces at the same time

For example, I pin the right and left button plackets and then sew both at the same time to avoid unnecessary back and forth between different workstations. 

2. Prepare your equipment in advance

Prepare your bobbin well filled with thread of the right color, especially when starting buttonholes! 

Prepare the threading of the serger with cones of the right color.

Have all the necessary equipment on hand for the sewing project you want to do. 

By the way, a good tip, buy all the equipment you need when you go to the haberdashery. There is nothing more annoying than wanting to sew and not having the right fusible interfacing on hand, an invisible zipper, or nice buttons, especially when you actually had time! 

3. Tools that save time

You can never say it enough but good equipment saves time!

The pair of good scissors that cuts like butter (even thick wool), a pair of embroidery or thread-cutting scissors well sharpened, a good seam ripper, good quality thread (that doesn't break)... It changes sewing! 

What also helps me a lot since I got it is the buttonhole ruler.
Honestly for shirts it saves a ton of time!
No more need to calculate and mark the spaces between buttonholes. 

I love it! 

4. Don't feel guilty or compare yourself but move forward at your own pace

A small step is better than no progress at all! Everyone moves forward at their own pace depending on their experience and abilities. 

Don't take example from others, or from sewing influencers ... like me 🤣 7h to sew a shirt is fast but it's normal when you are on your fifteenth or twentieth shirt; I've lost count. 

Also know that:
- some sewing influencers work part-time (or even have no other job on the side) and therefore have more time to devote to sewing

- more and more sewing influencers complain about having to "do more and more" to be on social media and have good stats...

It's honestly against the current of what sewing should be... a moment of pleasure for yourself, useful and to consume better with full awareness. 

So, we move forward as we want without pressure, and with a smile like Gaetan with his new shirt! 

Here is my first sewing episode of the year! 

This is a little sewing project for Gaetan and I'm really happy to have spent a few hours sewing for him. 

I hope you enjoyed this "behind the scenes" format because I have other article ideas on this theme for 2026. If you want to know a little more about the sewing and organizational behind the scenes of C'est du Joly, don't hesitate to tell me 😁

See you next week for more adventures! 

Until then, get your needles ready!