Alter & Sew a Custom Dress Shirt

Class Preview

Button-down shirts can be found in nearly every closet. Whether you like a fun print on casual fabric or something more formal with cufflinks and a crisp collar, you can make something unique to fit your style after taking this class.

Overview

This session is all about what you will need to construct your shirt. You will learn some of the variations that are possible when making your own button-down and how those variations can make your shirt look more casual or formal. Your instructor, Ashley Hough,will walk you through all of the tools you’ll need to measure, cut and sew your shirt from start to finish.

How to Measure & Select the Correct Shirt Size

Before you can make a shirt, you need to know what size to make it. Learn how and where to take the proper body measurements and what kind of measuring tape is right for the job. You’ll also learn what to do if all your measurements don’t fit into the same size category on a commercial pattern.

Stitching Pocket & Shirt Front

Pockets are front and center on most button-down shirts so they need to look good. Learn how to construct a pocket and stitch it to the shirt front. You’ll also learn several variations and how to make them, and learn which side of the shirt the pocket should go on.

Add a Yoke & Stitch the Shirt Back

Learn what a yoke is and where it goes. It’s time to find out some fun ways to customize and embellish the yoke as well as how to attach it to the shirt. You’ll also get the chance to alter a pattern or to leave it out if it’s not your style.

How to Add Plackets & Stitch Sleeves

Plackets can take a shirt from casual to formal in a few simple steps, and Ashley has all the techniques you need to create a work of art. Learn how to make plackets and attach them to your shirt. You’ll also get to learn an alternative in case plackets don’t seem to be something you are interested in.

Cuffs & Sleeves

Whether you want to make a statement with cuff links or have a small cuff that can easily be rolled up, you’ll learn how to get the look you want in this session. Ashley will teach you how to attach the cuff to the sleeve with a finished seam on the inside, and then how to attach the sleeve to the shirt.

Add a Collar & Stitch the Shirt Front

In this session, you will learn how to create a crisp collar using two pieces: a collar and an undercollar. You’ll also learn how you can use just one of those pieces to create a more casual shirt. Then find out how to attach the collar to your shirt with a finished seam on the inside.

Add the Finishing Touches

Buttons, buttonholes and a hem will round out the shirt-making process. Learn which side your buttonholes should go on, how to mark for them and which direction to stitch them. You’ll also learn how to securely sew on a button and how to hem the lower edge of your shirt.

Meet Your Instructor

Meet Your Instructor, Ashley Hough.