pirate shirt pattern

[jackrocks]

I made my husband a pirate shirt from an online pattern site...dawns, I think. But, it just wasnt right for his shape. He does have a bit of a belly, and the shirt came out baggy across his chest and shoulders, and too tight across the belly. It looked too ridiculous to even wear. I was very discouraged.

So I think I will just need to buy a pattern and try again. Whats a good pattern for this body type?

thanks.

[DonaCatalina]

Randwulf's Pirate shirt pattern.
These are dozens of sites that sell it. Warning:
The pattern is a basic one and the length of the shirt and sleeves might need to be altered before you cut any fabric.

[isabelladangelo]

Mock up, mock up, mock up.  Make the basic body of the shirt (aka, minus sleeves) from any pattern you choose out of muslin and try it on him.   You'll be able to see where to take it in (ie, the chest area) and where to add some more material (the belly area) without it looking odd.  No matter what pattern you get, you'll need to do some edits simply because every *body* is different. Sometimes you just need to length or shorten something; and sometimes you need to fiddle with the bust/waist measurements.   

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

http://butterick.mccall.com/b4486-products-5567.php?page_id=385 from Butterick #4486 and http://www.simplicity.com/p-2198-men-costumes.aspx #4923 from SIMPLICITY are good pattrns for Pirate shirts.

I have used both patterns with great success.

[Orphena]

I just do a basic T tunic - in fact, I hold up the fabric to my hubby, and say - "how wide would you like it?"  I add a collar, make the cuff end of the sleeve into a ruffle, and he is good to go.  With your hubby's dimensions, you may want to try an angled side seam so there is plenty of roon in the tummy area, and not so much at the chest.

[Lady L]

I have to agree with Simplicity's pirate pattern. It's a good one!

[operafantomet]

I can't help but hearing Seinfeld's high-pitched "But I don't wanna be a pirate" each time I read "pirate shirt". 

[Kate XXXXXX]

Su is the Shirt Fairy, and uses Garsault: http://www.marquise.de/en/1700/howto/maenner/18hemd.shtml  You just adjust the width to suit.  And shirts then WERE baggy round the chest and shoulders.

[jackrocks]

yeah, i know they are supposed to be baggy, but if its baggy at the top and too tight in the belly, it just looks....odd. wrong.

[Kate XXXXXX]

Put some gores up the sides, like a 17th C shirt or chemise.  Armpit to hem won't add much to the chest but will accommodate the bow window effect.

[Rowan MacD]

I just do a basic T tunic - in fact, I hold up the fabric to my hubby, and say - "how wide would you like it?"  I add a collar, make the cuff end of the sleeve into a ruffle, and he is good to go.  With your hubby's dimensions, you may want to try an angled side seam so there is plenty of room in the tummy area, and not so much at the chest.

I do the same for hubby.  I make a keyhole neck T-tunic with a button and hole at the collar.  The wide, loose sleeves are gathered with elastic to make a ruffle, then we disguise the elastic with a fabric tie that wraps around the wrist, over the gathered elastic.  I make the tie long enough to accommodate pushing the sleeves above the elbow. A nice basic rustic shirt that takes about 3 hours to make.  I use muslin or 100% cotton so that when I stain them with some old tea leaves for that yellowed, sweaty look, the tea dye does not wash out.
 If your hubby has a generous 'bay window' like mine does, cut the body of the T-tunic in an 'A' shape and make it a bit longer than a normal shirt, in case he wishes to belt it under his belly.

 Looks very much like this.   (I have a few pieces by T'ger, I just love the pants)
http://www.tgertoggs.com/pages/tunics.shtml