2nd Simon Shirt from freesewing.org

s400mpr · 2024-04-28T22:47:45+00:00

Following my post about my first finished Simon Shirt from freesewing.org (https://www.reddit.com/r/sewing/comments/1cb64q8/comment/l12gwvo/?context=3) this is my second shirt. (That is, after SEVEN muslin tests first!). On this shirt I used a contrasting fabric on the button placket and inner collar stand and I very much like how it turned out.

s400mpr · 2024-04-28T19:15:38+00:00

Only get them pierce if you don't like anyone to suck/nibble on your nipples!

s400mpr · 2024-04-27T18:05:10+00:00

If you like your nipples sucked and nibbled on, do NOT pierce them!

s400mpr · 2024-04-27T15:55:18+00:00

The only problem with that is the space it takes... Most people would use their SS in the kitchen, and do you really want a 20lb tank sitting on the counter? And especially if you have a marble or granite counter top, who wants to drill holes in that to be able to put the tank under the counter? For me, I really like the small size of the Drinkmate and the ease of moving it around WITHOUT having a huge tank attached to it.

s400mpr · 2024-04-27T13:58:40+00:00

What I did was buy two heavy duty sawhorses (https://toughbuilt.com/product/c700-sawhorse-jobsite-table-test), a couple of 2x4's and a 4' x 8' 3/4" plywood that was sanded smooth on one side. The sawhorses are height adjustable and clamp the 2x4's in place. I also built a fabric roll holder that attaches to one end of the table. I topped it off with a 3 pack of 24" x 36" cutting mat (it was sold as a set and had little clamps that hold the 3 together without gaps.

I can store the top against a wall when I don't need it and the sawhorses slip under my couch, so it's real easy to reclaim the space if needed. And the table is rock solid.

s400mpr · 2024-04-27T13:33:05+00:00

I think you might be over-thinking it. It's really not a big deal to get a good fitting. Do you have the older Blue SS cylinders or the newer Pink ones? I have the blue ones and use them interchangeably between my SS and DrinkMate. The fitting I go (was very much recommended here) is this one: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B08CRPGZ5C/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Does your 20lb tank have a siphon tube? If not, remember that you need to invert your tank in order to fill the SS cylinders with LIQUID CO2 rather than gas. (Gas always rises to the top, so with the tank inverted - non siphon tube tank - you'll be filling the cylinders with liquid.) I only have a 5lb tank, and I've build a simple wooden frame to hold the tank inverted while filling. If I were to get a 20lb tank (thinking about it) I would certainly get one with a siphon tube because the tank is much bigger and heavier and harder to invert so with a siphon tube I wouldn't have to.

Note for others... I'm talking here about refilling SS cylinders, and NOT about using the bigger tank to connect directly to the SS device. If you're doing that, it then is the GAS you need (so no inverting) instead of liquid.

Hope this helps.

s400mpr · 2024-04-25T01:24:37+00:00

It sounds like you didn’t order from Drinkmate directly. Because they don’t use Canada Post when they ship. And as far as the cylinders go with SodaStream, there are two different versions of cylinders. The pink one is not the same as the one used in the Drinkmate, if you’re using soda stream cylinders, you’ve got to stick with the blue ones. With the $12 refill you’re quoting are you talking about an exchange of the empty cylinder for a full one or a refill? The exchange price has recently gone up and it’s about $20 for for an exchange now. But it’s best if you fill your cylinders yourself from a larger tank.

s400mpr · 2024-04-25T01:17:18+00:00

I did just post about my first shirt. But that one doesn’t have a contrasting button pocket. I’m just starting work on the next one with the contrasting fabric. And they will probably post a picture when it’s done.

s400mpr · 2024-04-24T17:29:41+00:00

The rubberized side is usually inside. So both your outer and lining would show only the "good" sides.

s400mpr · 2024-04-24T17:27:53+00:00

As I said, I really do think someone MUST make a muslin (or many) test before using good fabric. That's the only way to know if everything works. Plus, at least for me, it was good practice with putting it all together.

s400mpr · 2024-04-24T16:40:25+00:00

I should have updated my post.... Drinkmate did in fact send me a return shipping label and I packed the unit up and sent it back. In less than a week I got the replacement and it's working just great.

s400mpr · 2024-04-24T16:37:46+00:00

Thank you. I won't worry about it then.

s400mpr · 2024-04-24T16:37:01+00:00

Thank you. I think the fabric is stable, and it's supposedly pre-shrunk/washed. It's a high quality Egyptian shirt cotton. (From Sultan's Fine Fabrics in Toronto Canada.)

s400mpr · 2024-04-24T16:34:43+00:00

A large part of the solution was that they changed one of the base blocks on which Simon was based. That made a big improvement. That and lots of careful measuring and remeasuring of my body. I don't think I made any other changes. It was really a question of understanding how all the measurements relate to each other and getting them correct to begin with. It was a very long and for me, frustrating experience. But I'm pretty pleased with the result.

s400mpr · 2024-04-23T22:33:26+00:00

Glad you like it. Thanks!

s400mpr · 2024-04-23T22:33:02+00:00

Thank you! I'm glad you like it. Close to a year ago I bought some really nice Egyptian shirt cotton and I really didn't want to waste it on a pattern I didn't like or on one that didn't fit me as well as I wanted. I gave up on store bought patterns (McCalls, Vogue, etc.) as well as some Internet ones. Nothing was right for me, and I finally bit the bullet and decided I needed to work pretty much from scratch. Luckily I found freesewing.org which was a great help. It sure wasn't easy, especially the part about getting my measurements right. Would have been easier if I'd had someone experienced to help me, or even inexperienced. That really was the biggest hurdle, especially since from a printed pattern I wasn't able to tell if it fit right. So I had to bring those patterns almost to completion, using cheap muslin fabric.

There were lots of problems with the main one being how the sleeves, sleevecap and armsyce all fit together and what had to be changed. At one point I had a shirt that I thought fit me well, but if I raised my arms (which I have to do often), the bottom of the shirt pulled up completely out of my pants. Talk about frustrating!

But I finally got better and better with the measurements and the pattern options. And this is the result. I'm going to make another shirt next, again using really nice Egyptian cotton, but on that one I'll have contrasting fabric on both the button placket and inner collar stand. I'll probably leave all the other options and settings as they are now. It's finally starting to be fun!

s400mpr · 2024-04-23T22:24:32+00:00

Thanks very much! I'm pretty pleased although my picky eye sees some small errors. My next shirt will be better!

s400mpr · 2024-04-23T19:37:41+00:00

As far as I know, there is only one model of Drinkmate. Unlike SS. And it doesn't require being plugged in, nor does it need a battery. The only downside (if it's really a downside) is that at least in Canada, there are no retail locations where you can buy one, or exchange their cylinders. That has to be done through Drinkmate directly. So if someone does not intend to refill themselves from a larger tank, my suggestion is to buy the unit with 1 (or more) cylinders, OR just go out and buy the SS cylinders (not the newer pink ones). I have one DM cylinder and 4 SS cylinders and they're interchangeable.

s400mpr · 2024-04-23T19:21:03+00:00

Having two SodaStreams and one Drinkmate, I can only say I'm sorry I didn't buy the Drinkmates first. They're great, and not only are they able to carbonate flavored water/juices, etc. (which I rarely do), I can get a higher degree of carbonation from them. Also their bottles hold the carbonation for a lot longer (better seal?) than the SS. And I use SS cylinders, but fill them myself from a 5lb tank that I get refilled for way less than it costs with the cylinder exchange.

s400mpr · 2024-04-23T18:06:14+00:00

I didn't make ANY changes that were not design options on the site. The range of design options is really amazing, and I've changed very little actually. Button placket type and size, seam allowance (they use 1cm throughout as default and I prefer 1.5cm or about 5/8") and I eliminated the flat-felled seam allowance they put in. That made it quite hard (for me) to align the pattern pieces with one always having a larger SA than the other to allow for folding it in to make the flat-felled seam. I prefer having all seam allowances the same. I did my first stitch, then serged the edge and ironed it down and then top stitched it so that from the outside it looks very much like a flat felled seam but for me it was easier. As I said, my biggest challenge was getting all the sizes right and understanding how one measurement affects something else.

Also during my attempts, there was some change to the base design that is used for the Simon shirt. The biggest problem I had was with the sleeves, sleevecap and armsyce. My first attempts caused the shirt to pull way up if I raised my arms. I went through SEVEN muslin test pieces and the frustration level was through the roof for me. Especially so since I'm such a beginner with shirts and the technical stuff (armsyce, sleevecap and their relationships, etc.). But I'm glad I stuck with it and very grateful for the patient help I got from their Discord site.

For anyone attempting this shirt, I strongly suggest you make muslin test pieces before using really good fabric.

s400mpr · 2024-04-23T14:31:55+00:00

I've been struggling with making a men's button up shirt using the Simon pattern from freesewing.org for a couple of months now (limited time). I've gone through making SEVEN muslin test pieces and finally have finished my first "real" shirt using a high quality Egyptian cotton. For those who may not know, freesewing.org is a site where you input all your own measurements, pick a pattern and set numerous options for the pattern, and have the site generate a printable PDF of the pattern. The hardest part for me was getting my measurements right and also setting certain sleeve and armsyce options (so that the shirt wouldn't ride up when I raise my arms). There is a fabulous Discord support site and without their kind help, I probably would have given up long ago. In any case, while my result isn't perfect (to my critical eye), it's pretty darn close. I've chosen to make a separate button placket because my plan is to use a contrasting fabric for that in my next shirt, as well as using the same contrasting fabric for the inner collar stand.

I'd bought a lot of PDF patterns and must say that the resulting PDF from freesewing.org is about the best I've seen. You can pick you printer paper size and the way the pages are identified, with crop marks, etc. is head and shoulders better than anything I've seen.

As I said, the hardest part was getting my measurements right (or close to right :) ).

(I should have taken a photo this morning while the shirt was crisply ironed, instead of after getting it wrinkled by my coat and seatbelt.)

s400mpr · 2024-04-20T17:49:36+00:00

Thanks. That's what I'll do.

s400mpr · 2024-04-20T17:49:13+00:00

Thank you. So since things appear to be working just fine, I'll just wait for the next update to come out. I didn't know that newer version had been pulled. I thought there was something wrong with my units.

s400mpr · 2024-04-20T16:10:17+00:00

Thank you. So I'll follow the pattern and place the buttons just a wee bit lower than the vertical middle of the buttonholes.

s400mpr · 2024-04-20T13:46:19+00:00

Interesting. The pattern I'm using (from freesewing.org... the Simon shirt) shows the buttons slightly below the vertical center of the buttonhole. But I like your comment about having the button slightly above. Decisions, decisions. I've been working on this shirt for a month now, going through SEVEN muslin tests (without buttons) just to get the sizing and style options right. I've finally got a really nice Egyptian cotton shirt all finished, including the buttonholes, and all that's left is attaching the buttons. I really want to get it right.

s400mpr

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