Design is all about details, especially when it comes to a classic garment like a button-front dress shirt. Many shirt patterns, however, leave off one small detail that can make all the difference between a homemade and a professional look: a sleeve placket. It’s been replaced by a continuous binding that finishes the vent, but lacks crispness. On the rare pattern where a placket is included, it is often too short and too narrow to handle easily.

You don’t have to make do with an inferior vent finish. Learn how to add a classic sleeve placket to any shirt. This placket pattern and method make it simple to get professional-looking results. The pattern adapts easily for each wearer, and its 1-inch finished width gives enough room for buttons. Marguerite Leblanc will show you how to create a polished, refined sleeve finish in this article from Threads issue 161.