How to Make a Precision Placket

A well-proportioned pattern and fusible web tape yield a crisp, precise sleeve placket for any button-front shirt. Pattern: Vogue 8747, view D. Fabric: Swiss cotton shirting.

Add this placket at tunic hem vents or pant and capri leg vents, as shown with Simplicity Threads 1919, view D, in cotton twill. Adjust the placket length from the bottom edge to fit the hem vent.

A well-proportioned pattern and fusible web tape yield a crisp, precise sleeve placket for any button-front shirt. Pattern: Vogue 8747, view D. Fabric: Swiss cotton shirting.

Photo: Jack Deutsch

Sew a crisp placket into any sleeve

Replace the continuous vent binding on any shirt pattern's sleeve with an impeccably finished classic placket using this method. You'll need 1⁄4-inch-wide fusible web tape, such as Lite Steam-A-Seam 2, and a hot iron for a crisp finish. Using these fusible strips helps maintain accuracy while turning and pressing the narrow seam allowances, and holds them securely in place for stitching.

1. Lay both sleeves right side down. Position them so their cuff edges point toward you, and the sleeve fronts face each other. Pin each placket, right sides down, on the sleeves' wrong sides. The placket's tall column faces the sleeve front. Align the slash line with the sleeve vent marking.

2. Sew through both layers along stitching lines 3 and 4, pivoting at the top corners. Cut through all layers along the slash line. Clip into both corners at the top of the vent, being careful not to cut the stitches.

3. Press both columns toward the slashed vent over the seam allowances. Trim the vent seam allowances to 1⁄8 inch to eliminate bulk. Don't trim away the clipped triangle at the top of the slash. Fold and finger-press the placket's foldlines toward the placket's wrong side. Then, flip the placket to the sleeve's right side through the vent.

Prev 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 next> View all

Threads Magazine, editor
Posted on Apr 18th, 2012 in sewing, online extras, garment construction, how-to, threads magazine, sleeve, threads issue 161, placket

Comments (17)

charbroiled writes: This works very well with crisp/firm fabrics. I had a little trouble working it on a brushed cotton though - too soft I suppose.
Also - I discovered that when converting a continuous lap opening to this placket opening it increased the sleeve seam length by about 1 1/2 inches. It no longer fit the cuff seam.
Adding/increasing the pleats looked bad, so I gathered the excess to make the seamlines match.
Redrafted the sleeve to remove the excess for the next time.
Posted: 3:09 pm on April 20th

AltheaDi writes: This and all of your how to are so helpful. Thank you.

Althea
Posted: 9:10 am on October 17th

scrubble4 writes: I like the PDF downloads. A great way to tangibly increase my resources. Thanks
Posted: 7:55 pm on July 2nd

sailcocktail writes: Wow, so very clear! I nearly tore my hair out over the placket the first time I made a man's dress shirt. This will become a staple technique for me, I am sure.

Posted: 7:22 pm on June 26th

CarolW writes: I've been trying to adapt a placket pattern on my own with varying success. This looks like just what I need. Thank you!
Posted: 11:08 am on April 29th

teariana writes: I was wondering about different ways I might use this when I first opened it and then while copying I saw the capris. Great idea.
Posted: 5:45 pm on April 28th

whoneedlesthis writes: I used to make my shirt sleeve plackets in two separate pieces, until I was altering sleeves on an expensive RTW shirt and first saw this one!
Once I changed to a one-piece placket, it looked so much more neat and professional.
Thankyou for including a printable pattern piece for us, now all my shirts and blouses will look fabulous!!
Posted: 3:36 pm on April 28th

LeahBoyan writes: I've used the placket pattern from David Page Coffin's book and love it! It is flawless. I have altered the pattern slightly to increase the seam allowance. This helps me in two ways: 1) it's easier to turn under 1.25 inches rather than 1/4 inch, and 2) the seam allowance acts as an interfacing to give the placket more body. I alter the seam allowance on the 'right hand' side (the one with the #6 fold to 1.25. The 'left hand side' I increase the seam allowance to .5.
Posted: 11:36 am on April 26th

Nerdychick2001 writes: thanks for the clear explanations and great photos to help me visualize this.
Posted: 7:20 pm on April 25th

user-1118050 writes: Thank you for another great sewing idea. You always make it so easy.
Posted: 6:35 pm on April 25th

fotofashion writes: One thing I always do where clipping a corner is concerned is to shorten the stitch length about 1/2" before the corner and continue the short stitch length until the entire corner is sewn.
Beverly A.
Posted: 5:56 pm on April 25th

bbenson833 writes: Marguerite is amazing....thanks for sharing this pattern!
Posted: 5:38 am on April 24th

Princessaimee writes: What an amazing article! A beautiful technique. I will bookmark this for future reference. Thank you Marguerite and Threads!
Posted: 9:11 pm on April 23rd

Elaray writes: I recently made a dress with a front placket and I wasn't 100% thrilled with the outcome. I wish I had this information then! That's okay – I have it now.
Posted: 11:35 am on April 21st

bbieri writes: I have used this placket pattern and it is great. It is the same as in David Coffin's book. However, I did not think about using the steam-a-seam. Great idea.
Posted: 8:50 pm on April 20th