The Button Up Shirt by Winter Wear Designs

Okay, I admit to liking quick sews. It is so satisfying to me to have a new handmade something to wear... like NOW. So I don't choose more complicated/ time-consuming projects often enough. I almost have to have a reason to choose a more time-consuming project. A blog tour or a pattern test is usually the perfect incentive for me to get something made, something awesome, but a little more time consuming...something like the Button Up Top by Winter Wear Designs!

The Placket Blog Tour gave me the push I needed to try this pattern, and I have to say... it's amazing. I'm sure I'll be using it again. Like I'm wanting to go get all the woven fabrics right now, all that quilting cotton I've been eyeing but didn't know what I would sew with it... I NEED it now! 😉

I have been looking at this pattern for a WHILE. I have made button up shirts for my little boy, but never one for me. And, I've wanted to, but I didn't want to spend the time doing it! HA! I'll admit,
there are quite a few pieces to cut out for this top, but after cutting, the sewing is fun and doesn't actually take that long.

Let me tell you about this pattern!

This pattern is drafted for woven fabrics. You have a lot of options for this particular pattern, because even quilting cotton will work. I used 100% cotton woven from Hobby Lobby, but the top would be beautiful in fabrics that drape better too. I have been looking at this particular print every time I go in. I love the yellow color, and just think it is so pretty. But I haven't had a reason to get it before! Then Suzanne announced that we would be doing a placket blog tour and I knew I had to have a top made from it!

The pattern has beautiful princess seams, a back yoke, options for sewing a sleeveless, short sleeve, 3/4 length sleeve, or long sleeve top. There are a couple of variations for the sleeves as well - for instance you can optionally choose to add a tab for your 3/4 length sleeve, and the long sleeve version contains pieces for both the traditional cuff or the button up tab too. You can choose to sew your top in all one fabric, like I did, or you might pick a coordinating fabric for the yoke, placket, and/or collar pieces.

As we are used to with Winter Wear Designs, the instructions are nothing short of AMAZING. The princess seams on the shirt include a 5/8" seam allowance so that you can choose french seams, if you wish. I did use french seams for my front and back princess seams. It takes a couple of extra minutes, but makes the inside of the shirt look amazing too! The yoke includes a 3/8" seam allowance, which is perfect. The shoulder seams are enclosed in the yoke. I'm telling you, the inside of this shirt is gorgeous. The side seams are sewn in a 3/8" seam allowance, but there are instructions for enclosing the seam in bias tape if you wish. I chose not to, just because it would take more time and I was ready to finish! But, if you do all of these things, the inside of your shirt will be just as pretty as the outside, which is amazing! The short sleeve hem is made with single fold bias tape. It really is a pretty top, and a well put-together pattern.

Sewing this pattern and tips:

I don't enjoy cutting. It's my least favorite part of sewing, but obviously necessary. Ha! It did take me a bit to cut out all. But after cutting, I only spent a few hours sewing. The long sleeve pattern options with the cuffs would have taken longer, but I didn't buy quite enough fabric for the long sleeve. That's fine though - I live in Louisiana, and I'll have a lot more short sleeve weather than long sleeve weather! I'm really looking forward to wearing this all spring and summer!

A little tip 😉 Not too long ago, I purchased washaway wonder tape for the first time. Y'all the stuff is AMAZING. I had never used it before, but quickly fell in love with it and all of its uses. I decided to use it for the placket piece here, rather than using a ton of pins. I applied washaway wonder tape to the inside fold of the placket (where you're folding it to the inside to hide your first row of stitching). I used a few pins to make sure there was no shifting, and I got the prettiest placket I've ever sewn. This stuff is going to forever be a shirt placket staple for me! I also used it on the inside of the collar before sewing it in place. Also... AMAZING. Did I mention that it's amazing? If you've never tried it, order some NOW!

So... make something with a Placket! 😉 

I see a lot of people afraid to try something with a placket - don't be! It's really not that hard. And with good instructions, which you'll find at Winter Wear Designs, you'll be set up for success!

Check out all of the other posts on this blog tour!

January 29

Aurelie of Maglice&So (guest posting at WWD)

Laura of Custom Made By Laura

January 30

Laurie  of The Bear and the Pea Atelier

Kristen  (guest posting at WWD)

January 31

Alyssa  of The Sewing Goatherd

Jessica of Jot Designs USA

Feb 1

Meriel of Elli and Nels

Livia of Liviality

I have included my affiliate link throughout this blog post. If you choose to purchase, I would so appreciate you using it! It doesn't cost you any extra, but I get a small portion of the sale!

Thank you so much for reading this post! If you enjoyed it, I would appreciate you following my blog to be notified and of new posts I make! Also, come follow me on Pinterest and Instagram!