The Art of
Shirt Making
Let's get started.
Welcome to the Art of Shirt Making!
Shirt making is a beautiful craft. It is meticulous, considered and at times mathematical. By focussing on sewing each small step to a high standard you will build a beautiful and complex piece of clothing.
This page guides you through everything you need to know to create 3 professionally made shirts. You’ll master essential techniques to make the Over Shirt, Unisex Shirt and Classic Shirt and develop skills to last a lifetime.
Take your time navigating the workshop and enjoy learning the art of shirt making at your own rhythm. We can't wait to see what you create!
Your Projects
Over the course of the Art of Shirt Making series you’ll apply many of the same skills you’ve leant to each shirt. We recommend sewing your shirts in the order shared below so have a read and familiarise yourself with what you’ll be sewing for each project. The construction differences for each piece are highlighted in italic.
Over Shirt
To begin your shirt making journey we recommend starting with the Over Shirt. This project includes the 2 hour video tutorial which will give you a groundwork of knowledge in shirt making.
Skills:
- Run & fell seams
- Patch pockets
- Grown on Button Stand
- Double yoke with back loop
- Classic collar and collar stand
- Square topped placket and cuff
- Sleeve (no pleats) with insertion & no shoulder ease
- Hemming & buttons
Unisex Shirt
Moving on to the Unisex Shirt, you’ll be following an almost identical making process to the Over Shirt. We recommend referring to the video tutorial and following the PDF instructions for the parts that are different. The differences are highlighted in italics below.
Skills:
- Run & fell seams
- Patch pockets
- Grown on Button Stand
- Double yoke with back loop & inverted pleat
- Classic collar and collar stand
- Triangle topped placket and cuff
- Sleeve (with pleats) with insertion & 1cm ease
- Hemming & buttons
Classic Shirt
Lastly, in the Classic Shirt project you’ll use the skills you’ve already learnt along with some additional finishing techniques shown in the step-by-step guides on this page. We recommend following the PDF instructions as well as referring to the photo guides and Over Shirt tutorial.
Skills:
- French seams
- Grown on Button Stand
- Double yoke with pleat
- Classic collar and collar stand
- Square topped placket and cuff
- Sleeve (with pleats) with insertion & 1cm ease
- Flat binding on curved hem
- Buttons
What's inside each project?
Video Tutorials
You'll find access to your 2 hour Over Shirt video tutorial.
Step-by-Step Photos
Additional step-by-step photo guides to help you complete the Unisex Shirt & Classic Shirt.
Tips on Choosing Fabric
Tips on how to choose suitable fabrics for each shirt with seasonal suggestions.
Professional Finishings
A range of professional finishing techniques that you can take forward with your sewing.
Perfect Plackets
Removing the fear of sewing plackets, collars and other complex construction techniques with easy-to-follow guidance.
Buttons
Tips on choosing the right buttons for each pattern.
Useful Tools
Guidance on useful shirt making tools to consider adding to your tool kit (although each project can be sewn with a basic tool kit).
Fusing/Interfacing
Advice on how to choose a fusing/interfacing for each shirt along with weight and weave recommendations.
Getting Started
Brush up on your skills with our getting started videos series, teaching you the basics before you begin your projects. The video series will cover:
- Your Tool Kit
- Threading & Trouble Shooting
- Choosing Your Fabric
- Patterns & Lay Planning
- Cutting Your Fabric
- Fusing
- Binding
- Practise Your Seams
The Fitting Guide
Our fitting page for Tops, Shirts and Jackets will guide you through finding your size and making fit adjustments to your garment.
- Finding your measurements and choosing your size
- Grading between sizes
- Shorten or lengthen pattern pieces
- Full bust adjustment with a dart
- Full bust adjustment without a dart
- Increasing the size of a dart
- Narrow Shoulder Adjustment
- Wide Shoulder Adjustment
- High Rounded Back Adjustment
- Bicep Adjustment
Shirt Inspiration
Once you've made your first shirt you might like to get creative and include some hacks and special features in your future makes. Have a browse of our shirt related blog posts to help inspire you and create a range of beautiful shirts.
