Sewing Post: Some Shirts I made

Sewing is my hobby and I love making my own clothes. Since I sew just for fun and don’t feel any pressure to do it a particular way, I often take on projects that seem way too hard, but I figure I’ll just try them anyway. That was how I felt the first time I made a button-up shirt. Now I’ve made them a bunch of times and I have a sewing machine that’s so much happier to do an automatic buttonhole than my original machine was, so making a few in a row seemed fun and interesting rather than super intense.

Closeup of Andrea’s grey chambray shirt front with dark grey buttons. She’s looking down and her hair is in braids.

I love button-ups for summer because they’re such a great outer layer when I need to stay cool. I make them in linen so they’re great for a little sun and bug protection when I’m out hiking or taking pictures. As a bonus, they’re wonderful under knit sweaters when the wind picks up.

I recently sewed three projects with that function in mind, so I’m sharing some project details here in case anyone wants a little inspiration and/or inside scoop on my outfits.

Andrea wearing a pale striped button up linen shirt with lots of wrinkles.

First I’ll just say that I love linen wrinkles. They’re a genuine part of my current fashion vibe, and I encourage you to embrace those wrinkles too!

For sewist reference, my measurements are bust: 31”/79 cm, waist 26”/66 cm, high hip: 30.25”/77 cm, full hip: 38.75”/98.5 cm. And the pants I’m wearing are heavily modified Bryce Cargo Pants from Hey June in a stretch denim from Gala Fabrics.

I purchased all my supplies at full price and don’t have any kind of affiliate relationships with the companies I’m linking to.

Pale Striped Shirt

Pattern: Elbe Textiles Cornell, View B in the smallest size (32”/81 cm chest)
Fabric: Natural Stripe linen from Simplifi Fabric
Buttons: 11 mm Merchant & Mills Organic cotton buttons in Ecru from Simplifi Fabric
Notes:
- I made this shirt pretty much exactly as written, though I didn’t include the hang loop on the back because I guess I lost or failed to print out the pattern piece.
- I love the insides of this shirt — everything is French seamed and perfectly finished. It feels like the kind of piece I’ll be able to mend and wear for the rest of my life.
- This is my favourite of the three shirts and I find myself reaching for it with so many different outfits. It just seems so perfectly basic, like it wouldn’t look special if you didn’t know about sewing.

Closeup view of Andrea’s profile. She’s wearing a wrinkled palle striped button-up shirt and her hair is in messy, frizzy braids.

Andrea’s back, showing off the extreme wrinkles of her pale, loose-fitting linen shirt.

Andrea wearing a fitted pale blue chambray shirt.

Fitted Chambray Shirt

Pattern: Hey June Handmade Cheyenne Tunic, View A in the smallest size (32”/81 cm chest)
Fabric: Robert Kauffman Essex Yarn Dyed Homespun linen in Chambray from Stacked Fabric Company
Buttons: I don’t know, they were in my stash. I probably bought them from Fabricland or Gala fabrics ages ago.
Notes:
- Again, I made this shirt exactly as written. I was so impressed at how well it fit as soon as I finished it. I guess I got lucky that it was drafted in a way that really works for my frame. This one feels much more business casual than trekking in the woods, but I think it’s more classically flattering on me.
- After wearing drop shoulder shirts, I admit the more tailored style feels almost restrictive around the armholes, but maybe I just don’t know about fit and they should actually be looser? They look great to me, so I’d hesitate to change them, but maybe if they feel a little snug, that’s a sign. Now that I’m looking at the photos, there are some wrinkle lines coming from my armpits on the front, so maybe they are too small. Any more experienced sewists want to weigh in on that?
- The only other thing I’d consider changing is the collar. It’s great, but I think I’d want it to be a little smaller if I made it again. Those points just seem a little aggressively dramatic to me.
- The insides of this one are equally wonderful and I think I’m definitely going to French seam all shirts from now on. It’s so beautiful and since I mostly wear this kind of shirt with the sleeves rolled up, it’s even obvious from the outside.
- I bought the fabric from a quilting cotton shop because I wanted fabric for handkerchiefs, but the chambray looked like great shirt fabric! And I quite like it. (One of these days I’m going to get into quilting because fat quarter bundles are so tempting!)

Close view of the front of Andrea’s collared chambray shirt with big collar and pointed front pockets.

Andrea wearing a medium-grey, loose-fitting chambray button-up shirt.

Grey Chambray Hemp Shirt

Pattern: Elbe Textiles Cornell, View B in the smallest size (32”/81 cm chest)
Fabric: A hemp/cotton blend chambray from Cloth Castle. I bought this one in person and don’t remember the exact specs.
Buttons: 11 mm Merchant & Mills Organic cotton buttons in Garden Slate from Simplifi Fabric
Notes:
- The only change I made to this one was to use just one pocket and I made it about 1/2” smaller than the original pocket all the way around. As I’ve worn it a bunch, I’ve realized I actually kind of miss the second pocket. I may get around to adding another one some day.
- I love this fabric, but I’ve noticed it is a tiny bit heavier than the other two shirts, so I’m wearing it a little less in the heat. But it’s so soft and wrinkly and chambray-ish! I think it’ll be amazing for fall.
- I love the back of this one especially. I don’t know why, but it’s so good.