We put together today’s post to round up all of the online knowledge resources out there for shirtmaking, including tutorials for specific skills, sew-alongs that may have tips or tricks relevant to any shirt pattern, and online classes and videos to guide you through the shirtmaking process!
Tutorials on Shirt Construction Skills:
General:
- Emma One Sock’s “Shirtmaking: Buttoning Down the Basics” has a tips for all aspects of shirtmaking, from interfacing through buttonholes.
- Shirtmaking Tips from Fashion Incubator includes tips on button placement and drafting a cut-on button stand
- 4 Shirtmaking Lessons Before You Get Started from Jennifer W. here on the CSC
- Mastering the Shirt Essentials from the National Sewing Circle has tips on different types of collars, cuffs, and pockets.
Photo credit: Andrea at Four Square Walls
Collars:
- This tutorial on sewing collars from Andrea from Four Square Walls is LEGENDARY! I can’t count how many times I’ve read bloggers saying “I used Andrea’s technique for the collar, and it worked perfectly!”
- Our intrepid editor Mary demonstrates “The Secrets of Sewing Perfect Collars” on the Bernina website
- Notched Collar/Lapel tutorial from Pam Erny of Off the Cuff/Fashion Sewing Supply. If you’ve ever struggled getting a nice notched collar/lapel, this tutorial is for you.
- Perfect Collar Points, also from Off the Cuff
Yokes:
- “Burrito” yoke method tutorial from Thread Theory: Sew a clean-finished shirt yoke completely by machine by using the “burrito” method.
- Easy chevron yokes and pockets from Off the Cuff for those using striped fabric
Photo credit: Threads Magazine
Sleeve Plackets:
- Threads Magazine walks you through precision tower placket sewing
- Off the Cuffs has a detailed tower placket tutorial using the glue stick method
- Sewaholic walks through the continuous bound placket (as seen on their Oakridge Blouse)
- A bias bound sleeve vent tutorial from Craftsy
Cuffs:
- Professor Pincushion walks you through sewing button cuffs in video format
- One Thimble’s tutorial has some nice photographs of the cuff sewing process
- The Sewing Coach has a mock turn up cuff video tutorial in case your shirt has short or 3/4 length sleeves
- Craftsy’s “How to Sew a Cuff” post walks you through cuff sewing
- Sew Maris has a tutorial for an alternative cuff, the vented sleeve band
Photo credit: Craftsy
Button Bands:
- How to Sew a Button Band, a video from Professor Pincushion
- Sewing a Concealed Button Band from Contour Affair
- Making a Popover from a Button Front Shirt, from SunnyGal Studio via Craftsy
Buttonholes:
- 12 buttonhole tips and tricks from Threads Magazine (not all for shirtmaking, but some interesting tips in there!)
- How to sew 1-step buttonholes from Tilly and the Buttons
- How to Make a Buttonhole from Sew Mama Sew
Seam Finishes:
- Jen from Grainline has a fabulous tutorial on French seams, including armholes that would be perfect for upping your shirtmaking game
- A couple of helpful tutorials on flat-felling your seams, a popular technique in shirtmaking- one from Craftsy, one from Colette for using a felling foot
- Mock/faux flat felled seams, courtesy of Colette and another courtesy of sewing.org
Photo Credit: By Hand London
Hemming:
- Hemming tips and tricks for curved shirt-tail hems from Victory Patterns
- 3 ways to hem a curve from By Hand London
- Curve edge finishing by machine, from Colette (they also have a free e-book on sewing hems)
Shirt Sewalongs:
- Grainline Archer Sewalong: expert advice detailing how to make a shirt step-by-step, plus posts on hacks and variations
- Sew Maris also has a step-by-step Archer Sewalong
- Sewaholic Granville Sewalong: no less than five lesson on the collar alone, plus posts on other tricky components
- Thready Theory did a complete sewalong on their Fairfield men’s shirt pattern
- Male Pattern Boldness and Male Devon Sewing both have men’s shirt sewalongs that may have some helpful shirtmaking tips relevant to sewing a woman’s shirt
- Kelly Hogaboom has a very thorough Flannel Shirt Sewalong
Photo credit: Tilly and the Buttons
Shirtmaking Video Resources:
- Cashmerette (aka. our own CSC editor, Jenny) came out with a video class called “Shirtmaking for Curves” to coach you through her new Harrison shirt pattern
- Craftsy has several classes on shirtmaking, including “Making the Classic Tailored Shirt” by Pam Howard, “Sew Better, Sew Faster: Shirtmaking” with Janet Pray, and “Shirtmaking Details: Beyond the Basics” by David Page Coffin
- Tilly and the Buttons has a “Sew Your Own Shirt or Shirtdress” video class associated with her new Rosa pattern
- Angela Kane walks through sewing a classic shirt in a series of free videos
Meg, This is a fantastic compilation of resources!!!
Thank you so much! 🙂
I really enjoyed Pam Howard’s Classic Shirt class on Craftsy. It walks through shirt construction nicely.
This is Amazing! Thank you very much, there are so many helpful resources here as I am intending to sew for myself and my husband.?
Once again thank you for your research meg
This is AWESOME, THANKYOU!
Elizabeth.
Yay, glad you like it!
I have another resource DVD for shirtmaking. I have Ron Collins shirtmaking DVD. Of course it is shirtmaking for men. But there is lots for women there as well. He taught me how to change the pattern from cutting out 2 collars, a collar and under collar, to cutting them all in one. That means there is so much less bulk to deal with when turning those important points. That alone was worth the price of the DVD. It also means that the undercollar is cut on the bias. He also has so many ideas for those little details that make it look like a really expensive shirt!
Sounds like a great resource, Elaine!
WOW! Thanks Meg (and everyone else)! This is FABULOUS!
Glad you like it, Julie!
Well – – JUST WOW! This is right up my alley. Thanks for this resource.
Hope it’s helpful, Susan!
Meg this list of resources for shirt making is incredible. Saying it’s helpful is an understatement. I’ve bookmarked it, printed it off and thinking maybe I should paste it to my wall 🙂 I don’t want to LOSE this for sure! Thank you!
Glad you’re finding it useful, Kathleen- it was a group effort!
I loved the Pam Howard class on Craftsy! Amazing teacher, I learnt so much!
It’s great to know it’s a good class!
Thanks Meg! I mostly use David Coffin’s Shirtmaking book and the Off the Cuffs tutorials for reference but it’s nice to have all these knowledge resources together in one round up!
I’ll have to check out that book!
Ha! His latest book: The Shirtmaking Workbook will knock your socks off! It covers techniques for men’s and women’s shirts in amazing detail. copyright 2015. He basically walks you through making shirt blocks (shaped shirt, loose-fitting shirt, knit shirt, folk or rectangular shirt and shirt jacket) and blocks within blocks (shoulder and armscye, center-front and neckline, and full-neckline). The purchase of the book includes downloads for collars, cuffs and plackets. It is an amaaazing resource.
Love D.P.C.! Big favorite in my area where the Thursday night men-only sewing group met weekly with a wide variety of instructors for over 2 decades. Slacks-shorts-t-shirts-leisurewear were popular. But the main draw were the shirt makers with their industry tips and methods for speeding along the construction process. From button-down to boiled-front, all the popular shirt styles. were sewn. And proudly displayed. Great concept that went against the traditional women-only sewing structure, and was a rip-roaring success!
David Page Coffin’s new books and reprints continue to sell out within days of delivery between pre-orders, walk-ins. and fiber network buzz.
ZB
Oh my word! This is a veritable bible of all things shirtmaking! :-O Thank you!!
Glad you like it, Camila, hope it’s helpful!