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All About the Willis Top

Fabric resources, fitting details, and tutorials to help you sew this button-up top.

Posted in: Patterns • May 31, 2020






Look at all the fun details you will sew on this shirt! The Willis top is a stylish sleeveless button-up that will really boost your sewing skills.

This top has a relaxed fit and features a stand collar, front button placket, bias finish at the armholes, and a patch pocket with a button closure. You can pick your own hemline and choose between a straight hem or a curved hem. Look for light to medium-weight woven fabric like poplin, shirting, batiste, lawn, voile, seersucker, Swiss dot, linen, rayon challis, and silk crepe.






Sienna is wearing a size 4 Willis top at the shoulders and size 0 at the waist and sweep with the bust dart lowered 1". Her measurements are 36", 28", 39" and she is 5'2".

Taylor is wearing a size 16 Willis top with the bust darts lowered 1/2" and 1/2" added to the armhole for coverage. Her measurements are 45", 37", 50" and she is 5'7".

Chelsea is wearing the Pattern Hackers version of Willis in size 8 with the bust darts raised 1 1/2". Her measurements are 38”, 28” 40" and she is 5'2".

Shop for Fabric

The Willis top looks great sewn in solids or prints and it works with nearly any woven fabric. You can choose a lightweight, drapey fabric or something with a little more structure. When picking fabric, just remember all the details, like the collar, button placket, pocket, bust darts, and bias tape. If you are a beginner, you can choose a fabric that is stable and easy to sew, like chambray, linen, lightweight denim, shirting, lawn or voile. If you are feeling confident in your buttonhole-making skills, you can also choose silk or rayon.

If you're sewing this shirt to wear in warm weather, it looks great in summertime classics like seersucker or Swiss dot! Don't forget to watch the Willis class to learn even more about the best fabrics for this pattern.

Love the samples in this month’s issue? Here is where we sourced the fabric.


Get the Perfect Fit













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