Shirt: sewing steps in pictures

1Place both fronts on the back and sew the shoulders

Lay the back right side up and place the two fronts on it wrong side up, so the right sides face each other. Line up the shoulder ends and the neckline ends, pin, and sew along the stitching line 1 cm (3/8 in) from the edge.

2Finish the allowances and press them to the back

Serge or zigzag both allowances together. Open the body out flat and press the allowances toward the back.

1Match the notches and sew the armhole

Lay the body flat and place a sleeve on it right sides together. Match the center notch to the shoulder seam and the ends of the sleeve to the underarm, pin, and sew the armhole from end to end. Finish both allowances together and press them toward the sleeve.

The sleeve head is almost the same length as the armhole, so set it in without easing.

1Sew from the cuff to the hem in one seam

Fold right sides together at the shoulders and match the armhole seams exactly at the underarm. Sew from the cuff, through the underarm and down to the hem with a 1 cm (3/8 in) seam. Finish both allowances together and press them toward the back.

1Sew the facing to the front edge

Place the interfaced facing on the right side of the front, right sides together. Line up the front edge, pin, and sew from the neckline down to the hem line.

2Turn the facing and press the edge

Turn the facing to the inside, roll the edge about 1 mm toward the inside so the facing doesn't show, and press. Baste the facing and front together at the neckline, inside the allowance.

1Sew the outer and under collar and turn

Place the interfaced outer collar and the under collar right sides together and sew the top edge and both ends, leaving the neckline edge open. Trim the corners and turn right side out, then press.

2Sew the outer collar to the neckline

Pin the outer collar to the neckline right sides together, with its ends at the front edges and its notches at the shoulder seams and center back, and sew through the facings. Clip the curved neckline allowance.

The collar is the same length as the neckline from front edge to front edge. If an end drifts off the front edge, re-pin from the notches.

3Fold the under collar over and topstitch

Fold under the allowance of the under collar, lay it over the neckline seam to hide it, and pin. Topstitch all round the collar about 2 mm from the edge.

1Double-fold the hem and cuffs and stitch

Turn up the hem and cuffs 1 cm and then 1 cm again (a double fold), press, and stitch close to the fold. Fold the bottom of the front facings into the hem and stitch them in with it.

1Make the buttonholes and sew on the buttons

On the upper front, work vertical buttonholes at the center-front notches, and one horizontal buttonhole in the collar. Sew the buttons on the other front and the collar.