Easy pattern for boy's shirt?

[KyMama]

I would like to use my new machine to make my youngest son some clothes.   I've bought two different patterns to try and make him a button-down shirt and I'm just not getting how to attach the collar.  The first pattern I read and reread the collar instructions a hundred times and it didn't make any sense to me at all.  With the second pattern, I thought I understood the directions but the execution was flawed.   I've watched some youtube videos and I think I understand it until I actually have to do it.  lol   Can anyone recommend an easy, beginner pattern for making him a button-down shirt?    Thanks.

[Deleted]

KyMama, most men and boy's shirt patterns have a two piece collar, a band that attaches to the shirt and the collar portion that sits on top of the band. The top part of the collar is sewn together right sides together, trimmed, turned and top stitched.  Then it is sandwiched between the pieces of the band, right sides together, sewn, trimmed, turned and attached to the body of the shirt. This is rather difficult for a novice sewer. Look for a pattern that has a one piece collar, send me a picture and I'll try to talk you through it. My dd would not try to sew at home at all, after she left home I bought her a sewing machine, taught her how to thread it, gave her some scraps and left. She would call if she ran into a problem. The first thing she made was a very simple rod pocket curtain. She makes her own clothes now and occasionally sells things she has made. The moral to this little story is that if you have the desire, you can learn through u-tube, asking others, and any number of ways. You Can Do This!

[KyMama]

I used to sew clothes and costumes for my oldest son, who is now 18 years old, so I understand the basic construction of the shirt. I've just never made a button-down with a collar which is what my little man prefers.

My pattern does not have a band so I guess it's a one piece. Strangely enough the two piece sounds easier to me, at least your description makes sense in my mind. I think I had everything put together correctly, but when it came to hand sewing the edge of the collar it wasn't lined up right. I matched all my notches and circles, but obviously I messed up somewhere. It will probably just take more practice. I'm going to start over in the morning and if I run into the same problem I'll take you up on the offer of help.

Thank you.

[mollymckee]

Because of the way a shirt is cut out, you can stretch the edge of the collar or the shirt when you are trying to fit them together.  You may have to stay stitch both the shirt and the collar if they are stretching too much.

[Deleted]

Have you trimmed the seams of the collar and shirt in layers and cut tiny little slits from the outside edge not quite up to the seam? Don't do this in the layer that you are folding under to hand stitch. The tiny little cuts will help spread the seam to ease it around curves.

I thought of something else that might be making the folding under and matching difficult.  Did you make the seam 5/8"?  If the seam is smaller or larger, it can mess up the way everything matches up.

[KyMama]

I haven't had a chance to try again, hopefully I will get the time and quiet this weekend. I graded and trimmed where it told me to, it's been awhile since I used a pattern so I made sure to read and follow everything, including the 5/8" seam allowance because that's what the pattern called for. Obviously, I messed up somewhere and I really hope when I try again that is was something easy that I messed up.

I also went to Hancock Fabrics last Saturday and bought some more patterns, including one for a shirt with a two-piece collar. Hopefully I can figure out one of these because I'm not giving up until I make him at least one complete shirt.