Date: 10/13/09 11:54 AM

My son has always owned a dinner jacket- or tuxedo, in common parlance. When he's really lucky he's had tails, and once he even had a French cuff shirt. Currently he has a nice pin tucked shirt with tab collar - but regular cuffs. He's 8- so yes, I know he's unique- but hey- girls dress up all the time in "ball gowns" and he likes looking good as much as the next person.

I've searched for a pattern for a shirt with French cuffs- ideally I'd like to find a pattern with a selection of collar styles as well as a pin tuck option- but so far I haven't found an option for French Cuffs. Yes, I can modify the pattern but I'd rather have someone else do the work for me and find a good quality pattern ready to use!

I'd even accept help finding a pattern for a dinner jacket or one with tails. Sewing some nice pants would be good too- currently he has plain black pants without embellishment on the side seams. Most of the time the fabric is polyester- I suspect they're usually purchased for weddings for a "ring bearer" or junior ushers/groomsmen so most people would not be willing to spend a lot on them. I like tailoring and would happily make a real tailored one- after he grows out of the size 10 he has queued up for wearing next. Yes, I buy them in advance since I'm pretty sure he'll wear them....

thanks for any suggestions!

kate

Reply to Pheline
Date: 10/13/09 6:00 PM

You probably are going to have to get a mens' dress shirt pattern and borrow the cuffs. It's a really easy change, as the rest of the shirt is exactly the same. The cuff pieces for a French cuff are a perfect rectangle.

As for the pants, you need pleated fronts and no cuffs. The decorative braid along the outseam is applied first to the pant front (before any pockets).

For a 1in. wide braid, cut a 2 1/4in. wide rectangle the length of the pants piece. Thread trace a line 1in. from the outseam edge. This won't show, so you can use a machine and leave it in if you like. Place the braid on the pants front, RS together, outer edge along the thread tracing, and stitch with a 5/8in. SA. Press it to the outside, and baste the braid to the outseam edge of the front at 3/8 or 1/2. That's it. Just construct the pants according to the pattern from there on.

You may want a narrower braid for a smaller leg. To reduce the width by 1/4in. for example, reduce the braid piece width by 1/4in and thread trace 1/4 in. closer to the edge.

Reply to Tom P
Date: 10/13/09 9:07 PM

Quote: Tom P

You probably are going to have to get a mens' dress shirt pattern and borrow the cuffs. It's a really easy change, as the rest of the shirt is exactly the same. The cuff pieces for a French cuff are a perfect rectangle. As for the pants, you need pleated fronts and no cuffs. The decorative braid along the outseam is applied first to the pant front (before any pockets).

Pleated or not is a matter of personal preference. Non-pleated is considered dressier.