From Father’s Day or Valentine’s Day to birthdays, finding something for the special fella in your life isn’t always easy. Men are notoriously hard to shop for, and if your husband, brother, father, or BFF never writes a wish list, you’re not alone! Many of our team at Good Fabric know this dilemma all too well.
But, from this problem came inspiration: a guide to sewing gifts for men that they’d actually want. There are no tea cosies or golf club covers here, just useful, practical gifts that we think most men would love to receive. Plus, the added bonus that you sewed them yourself with lots of love and care is bound to ensure the handmade gifts go down well. Let’s get into it!
Lahja Dressing Gown
The Lahja Dressing Gown is a fairly easy sewing project, but your man will never know. This gown oozes minimalist luxury and is the perfect thing to snuggle up in on a cold day. However, it can also be made light enough that any men who run at warmer temperatures (we know a fair few!) will still love to pop it on after a shower or before bed.
The pattern includes two versions, a knee-length gown with shorter sleeves, and a mid-leg gown with full-length sleeves. Whichever you choose, both designs come with gorgeous oversized patch pockets that are perfect for storing odds and ends and have gorgeously minimal belt fastenings.
In terms of fabrics, we’d recommend a nice, cosy waffle fabric for the Lahja Dressing Gown. Our sustainable Waffle Fabric Range includes plenty of shades to pick from, from neutrals to primary colours. Soft, breathable, and gorgeously textured, you can’t go wrong with a cotton waffle!
Jacob Men’s Hoodie
For our sewists with some skill, the Jacob Men’s Hoodie from Viki Sews is a wonderful project to try your hand at. This cool, casual hoodie has a little twist of contemporary style and is bound to be a crowd-pleaser. From hipsters to hikers, we’re pretty certain most fellas will find a spot for it in their wardrobe!
The Jacob Hoodie incorporates a standing collar that seamlessly continues into a lined hood for a modern look. Twill tape is threaded around the hood to create a handy tie, whilst a partial front zipper is both stylish and practical. The clever inseam pockets blend into the fabric for a smooth, unfussy finish, whilst cuffs and a waistband create a nice fit.
For a thick, warm hoodie, why not try a Brushed Sweatshirt Fabric? With plenty of weight, it’ll give the jumper a good shape whilst keeping the wearer nice and snuggly.
The Arbor Shirt
One of the many things we love about The Arbor Shirt from Merchant & Mills is that it can be made into either a shirt or a jacket, depending on the fabric you choose. Pretty cool, isn’t it? Collared, with two breast pockets, and a button up front, it’s undoubtedly in the style of a shirt, but make it out of denim or thick corduroy and you’ve got yourself a cosy layering piece!
Because this is such a versatile piece, we would hesitate to recommend one single fabric. Instead, we’ll direct you to our range of Corduroy, Denim, and Gabardine sustainable fabrics, all of which would make a great shirt/jacket and come in a range of different patterns and textures.
If this specific pattern isn’t up your street, do check out the other men’s sewing patterns at Merchant & Mills. They have a whole range of lovely designs, so you’ll be sure to find something your man will like.
JOE PJ Bottoms
When the weather’s a little cooler, every man needs a reliable pair of PJ bottoms on his side. Whether to be worn to bed or for lounging around the house on a lazy Sunday, who doesn’t love a good pair of pyjamas?
Our team particularly favour the Joe PJ Bottoms sewing pattern from Tilly and The Buttons, which can be made in either a full-length trouser style or as shorts for when the weather warms up. An elasticated waist and low-rise cut make for a comfortably stylish fit. This is a super simple sewing project, too, which can be whipped up in no time! There’s even a video tutorial to help you, making for a beginner-friendly project.
Pair this PJ pattern with flannel, the ultimate pyjama fabric, for a winning combination. At Good Fabric, we have a large selection of Brushed Cotton Flannel in different colours and patterns, perfect for creating super soft pyjama bottoms.
Tulia Unisex T-Shirt
Here’s an ultimate wardrobe staple that you can’t go wrong with: the classic white t-shirt. There are lots of patterns out there for this particular item of clothing, but we love the Tulia Unisex Tee PDF from By Masin. A gender-neutral style that’ll keep everybody happy, it’s made up of five separate panels for a cool take on the plain tee. Because of the separate panels, you can also make it out of fabric scraps and cut back on waste for more sustainable sewing – hooray!
If you don’t have offcuts ready to use, we’d suggest checking out our range of sustainable Organic Cotton. Of course, you don’t have to make a plain white t-shirt, you can pick whichever colour or patterns will suit your dad’s, partner’s, or friend’s wardrobe. You can even go for a funky colour block, switching up the colours for different panels.
Jalie Mimi Winter Mittens
Mittens might be a slightly odd gift to receive on Father’s Day (which is in the middle of June FYI) or for a summer month birthday, so maybe it’s best to park this idea until Christmas or chilly Valentine’s Day. But it’s still good to have a gift idea in the bank.
At Good Fabric, we’ve made creating a set of winter mittens easier than ever with our Mitten Sewing Kit. With everything you need to make the gorgeous Jalie Mimi Pattern, this is an ideal project for beginners or if you’re looking for an easy make. The kit includes 2 fabric options, wadding, thread and elastic.
If you know someone who likes to sew, this craft kit itself is a great present. Or, if you know a man with cold hands, these toasty warm mittens will make him the happiest fella in town.
Discover More Men’s Sewing Patterns
If you’ve read this blog and are still wondering what to sew for the man in your life, don’t panic – this isn’t everything we’ve got up our sleeves! We also have a wide range of men’s sewing patterns on the website. Be sure to check them out to discover the perfect gift for your man, whether it’s for Father’s Day, a birthday, or just to say you love them.
This is also a PSA to head over to @good_fabric_store on Instagram, where you’ll find tons more sewing ideas and tips. We can’t wait to connect with you.
