Today I’m excited to share with you another of my favourite sews for Spring and it’s for boys!

Who else is a bit neglectful when it comes to sewing for the little men in our lives? I find it so easy to whip up a pretty skirt or dress for my easy to please daughter but my fussy 9 year old is a whole other kettle of fish.

But I finally found a shirt pattern that met his picky criteria (and mine), the Tadah Kids Troop Shirt.

Tadah Kids Troop Shirt with short sleeves

 

I can’t fully express how much I love this pattern and it’s classic style. It is a timeless, military inspired unisex shirt pattern that can be made with either short sleeves, simple long sleeves or long sleeves with a cuff and a sleeve tab for leaving them rolled up. You have the choice of sewing either an easy, relaxed fit or a slim fit shirt with optional waist shaping. The slim fit with optional waist shaping makes an especially flattering shirt choice for girls.

I think this shirt looks amazing sewn up in a cool character print or a fashionable geometric design but could be equally feminine in a beautiful floral fabric. And if you’ve ever searched unsuccessfully for a simple, white boys shirt for a formal occasion like I have, then this pattern could be a true lifesaver!

Shoulder epaulettes are a fun place to add a little detail

 

The Tadah instructions are very clear and thorough, particularly the collar and collar stand instructions. I like all the extra touches you can choose to add such as epaulettes (shoulder straps), breast pocket and sleeve adjustors to roll up the long sleeve version for a trendy three quarter sleeve look. You can get really creative and use contrasting fabric for the inside collar stand and back yoke, it will make you look super talented!

The instructions also walk you through getting a smart, crisp collar and teach you how to sew a fully lined back yoke with the burrito method. It might all sound a bit complicated but don’t be intimidated, this pattern can easily be attempted by a confidant beginner. The instructions are really that good.

Back view of the easy-fit style with contrasting back yolk

 

I also like that the sleeves are asymmetrical, meaning that the back of the sleeve is shaped slightly different than the front of the sleeve.  This means a more comfortable fit which is very important when making a closely fitted woven shirt or top.

Collar detail with contrasting inside collar band

 

I had my eye on this pattern for some time but delayed purchasing it for far too long for fear that my skills weren’t advanced enough but you will be surprised at what you can achieve with this well written pattern.

I would love to see this pattern include printing layers so you only have to print the size you need. However, this is a very small gripe on an otherwise excellent pattern.

Pattern – Tadah Kids Troop Shirt
Seam allowance – 3/8″ (1cm)
Layers – no
Asymmetrical sleeves – yes
Size range – 2 to 9 (there is also stand alone patterns for a baby troop shirt/romper and a teens troop shirt)

Happy sewing 🙂

– Melissa F