Reddit reviews Shirtmaking: Developing Skills For Fine Sewing

I am literally on the exact same path as you right now. Shirts that I can afford don't fit, and shirts that fit are way too expensive.

First off, go buy Shirtmaking: Developing Skill for Fine Sewing, as all the rookie mistakes you'll make will not be made by reading this book. You will learn about the frills, yes, and you can change your mind about whether or not they are worth your time.

Second off, don't be afraid to make a few "practice" shirts that will never be worn. The process of actually making a shirt will familiarize yourself with the "tough" spots (warned about in the book mentioned above). I'd buy (or make) a pattern and buy some cheap shirt-weight cotton from the bargain bin and some blank paper (for the modified pattern that fits). Make a shirt, see where things went well & where things could improve, modify the pattern, repeat. You'll definitely feel comfortable wearing your third shirt.

However long it takes you to do those two things is how long it will take you to be able to make a shirt you can wear out.

Relatedly, you might enjoy this book. I bought it before realizing that I need to work on some basic skills first, but if you're interested I can flip through a little more and answer any questions you might have about it. Just reading the first few chapters, I liked it, even though it was a bit complex for me.