﻿How To Tailor Short Sleeve Button Down (To Actually Look Good)
[0:00:00] It’s hot outside,
but you want to look cool. James Bond looks cool, especially in the short sleeve button up.
So, you buy a short sleeve button up, but the result is disappointing.
The waist is too baggy, the sleeves are too wide, and you
just don’t look near as cool as James Bond. Don’t worry, gents, Thomas, with Real Men
Real Style here. I’m going to show you how to make a short sleeve button up look amazing.
You can do all these from home. Here’s what you’re going to need to get started - a sewing machine,
thread that closely matches your fabric, sewing pins, safety pins, a fabric pencil,
or a chalk, a seam ripper, scissors, and an iron. Step number one. Measure and pin. There are two
ways you can get the right measurements for how much fabric we need to take in.
The first and easiest method is to take a perfect fitting shirt you already own
and use it as a template. Turn your shirt inside out, button it up, and lay it on a flat surface.
Now, take your perfect fitting shirt and lay it on top. Line up the shoulders and top edge
of the sleeves. Now, take your fabric pencil and trace a line along the edge of the template shirt,
going from the bottom of the hem all the way to the armpit.
If you’re only slimming the waist, then you need to taper the line gradually
into the armpit. If you cut in sharply, you will create a nasty looking dimple.
If you’re slimming both the body and the sleeves, then you can just continue the
line through the armpit without tapering. If you’re only slimming the sleeves, then taper
from the bottom of the sleeve into the armpit. Put on sewing pins, so the fabric stays in place.
Make sure the pins are oriented in the direction you’ll be sewing, so they can be easy to remove
as you go. Remember that the bulk of the fabric will go on the left side of the sewing machine.
So, what do you do if you don’t have the perfect fitting shirt to use as a template?
In that case, you’ll need to figure out the measurement for yourself.
Turn the shirt inside out and put it on. It’s tricky to do, but you’ll need to
fasten the buttons. Pinch the fabric at your sides until it fits as snugly as you want.
Then, secure it in place with the safety pin. Continue to do this from the bottom of the hem
up to the armpit. You want it to fit close, but the front button should not be pulling open.
If they are, then it is too tight. Now, we’ll do the same with the sleeves,
pinching the fabric until it fits as closely as you like. Then, use a safety pin
to hold it in place. Make sure you’ve taken equal amount from both sides,
then take off the shirt and lay it down flat. Trace a line along the safety pins with your
fabric pencil, then replace the safety pins with sewing pins.
Step number two. Let’s sew. Install your matching thread and prepare your bobbin. Let’s do this.
You’ll be sewing with a straight stitch. Go with the 2.5mm stitch length. Lay down
your first few stitches, then make a couple of back stitches. This locks in the thread
and prevents the stitch from coming undone. Carefully stitch on the line you drew with your
fabric pencil, removing the pins as you go. Be sure to sew in a straight even line. You don’t
want to zigzag back and forth. Once you reach the end, finish off with a couple more back stitches.
Repeat the process on the other side and you’re set.
Enjoying the video, gents? Be sure to hit that like button and let me know down in the comments
what you would like to see us tailor next. Now, try on the shirt to see if you’re happy
with the fit. If it’s still too loose, just repeat the process again, making a little bit tighter.
But, if it turned out too tight, you’re going to take your thread ripper, open up the seam
and start over. If you’re happy with the fit, then we’re ready to move on to the next step.
Step number three. Cleanup. Take your scissors and trim off the excess fabric inside the shirt. Leave
a quarter of an inch of seam allowance. You don’t want the fabric to fray, so use a zigzag or an
overlock stitch to create a clean finished edge. Now, take your clothing iron and set it to
the correct temperature for your fabric. Press the seam flat against the inside of the shirt,
so you’ll have a nice smooth drape. Now, you look like a James Bond badass,
instead of a sad dad at a barbecue. So now, your short sleeve button up looks amazing.
But, what do you do if you can’t find t-shirts that fit you properly? Not to worry. In this video
right here, gents, I’m going to show you to easily tailor your t-shirts, so they look awesome.
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