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I don’t care how talented you are. Some patterns are just duds! Take this one for example:

About 2 years ago, my smart-mouthed hubby said, (and this is a direct quote, I could never forget these words) “It’s too bad you can’t make men’s shirts, but they are probably much tougher than women’s stuff.”

WHAT?!?!?!? Has he failed to notice that we women have waaay more curves than men do? What is he talking about-tougher?

So, taking that dare for what it was, I marched right down to Hancocks and picked up 2 men’s patterns and 2 pieces of fabric just for him!

Fast forward 2 years…(babies, kindergarten, and wardrobe contests got in my way.)

I pulled out Simplicity 5581 and the beige and blue seersucker fabric I’d originally selected for him. I guessed on measurements, based on the shirts in his closet. (No way, I’m gonna tell him I’m working on this until I’m done!) I cut the pattern in an XL and set to work.

I’d assumed that the pattern would include flat-felled seams, like most men’s shirts I’ve seen. It didn’t, but since I know how to do them, I figured I’d just finish my side seams like that. Well, that led me to wondering if the shoulder seams needed to be finished in the same manner. So, off to his closet I go–only to discover that every single shirt hanging in there had a back yoke and a collar stand (in addition to the collar)! Even the beachy, Hawaiian ones!

Well, this pattern doesn’t! It doesn’t have flat-felled seams. It doesn’t have a back yoke! It doesn’t have a collar stand! But being the frugal-minded (Ha!) person I am, I’m determined to finished it, even if it does look cheap and homemade. And tomorrow, when he opens it as his Father’s Day gift, I’ll snap a picture to prove that it does look cheap and homemade.

So, yes, Simplicity 5581, Views A and B, are destined to be a complete loss. Why waste your time even drafting a pattern that will look cheap and homemade when finished? And–note to self–always, always, always look at the line drawings on the back of the pattern envelope first!!!!

Thankfully, Hancocks had a sale on McCalls patterns this week. I picked up 4518. It doesn’t have a collar stand, but it has a yoke. (And done in a tacky Hawaiian print, I don’t think it will look quite so corny.) I think I’ll try this one next:

Then I may give this one a go. I have a nice piece of french blue linen that would look nice on him. It was suggested by Kristine who is making a dress shirt for her hubby.