Ultimate Button-Up Showdown: 4 Patterns Tested & Reviewed 

Very valuable information. I have a nine inch difference. I am extremely short waisted and have never worn anything tucked in. I love the Patina blouse but the FBA seems daunting. I love all of your makes.

I'm just starting to dip my toes into making clothes. I'm in the process of doing the Closet Core class, and will be doing my first pattern soon. So, a button-up shirt still feels a bit in the distance, but I really enjoyed hearing what you had to say about these patterns, because I wear a lot of button-up shirts. The Gilbert is now high on my list as a first button-up to try. Love a camp style shirt, and it will hopefully still be summer when I feel like taking the plunge to making one. And the Cashmerette shirt looks great. Your flannel one is so good! I wear a lot of flannel in the cooler months, so I definitely have my eye on that one. Videos like this are so helpful. Thanks for doing this one. 🙂

I have the Vernon and now I can't wait to make it! Especially in a white fabric, classic! Thank you for this video Izzy. All your makes look fabulous ❤😊

Polished, understated, and fun! I like that!

Thanks so much for your critique of these 4 patterns - it was so detailed and really helpful in thinking what I would want to make- I’m retired, but I still don’t want to spend ages adjusting patterns if I don’t have to! And now I know I want to avoid a plain version until I’m confident of the fit and my topstitching!!

Hi Izzy, thank you for this comprehensive analysis and comparison on the 4 shirts. I have made the Aria, and I liked it. I also purchased the Vernon by Cashmerette, as I want to make it for my daughter. Very interesting to see all your version in different fabrics. Thank you for another great video💕💕.

I’ve made 2 Vernon’s, one in an icy blue linen and one in a dark navy blue stripe. I love both. I did need to alter, added 2 inches to bodice length and arms and did a forward shoulder adjustment. I just finished the blue stripe one, I wanted it to look like those classic Ralph Lauren shirts and I nailed it. I was a bit nervous about how the front plackets would look with the stripes but they look great, nice and even. I have plans to make a classic white Vernon soon and a Patina in a flower print.

Hi Izzy. That was a really interesting comparison. Your Vernons are fantastic and my favourite of your shirts. The Patina looks lovely in most pictures I've seen of it, but the collar accentuates the V neckline which isn't the best neckline for me and I think a more traditional collar de-emphasises a V a bit. Overthinking this? Maybe! I love making, and wearing, shirts but like you, don't love sewing on buttons. It was a game changer for me when I discovered that it's really easy to sew buttons on my machine, once I bought the right foot for it.

Great round up! I’ve made two Gilbert’s and now this year I find I’m tucking in the tie tails rather than having it tied in the front! I love how all these shirts can all look in different fabrics!!

Hi Izzy! Thank you for such a thorough description/comparison! Based on your photos, I'd say the Gilbert and Vernon look the best! You must be very skilled at your buttons/buttonhole making by now for sure!! 💖

You know I love the Patina too ❤. Your new Gilbert top is so pretty in the viscose linen. The Vernon has to be the favorite. It looks so so so so good on you. I think the shaping and fit on you is excellent.

I’m making my husband a shirt for his birthday. He has never agreed to anything hand made before. I wanted to do flat felled seams and I have with the exception the sleeve. It is done in two parts and the opening for the cuff is on one of the seams making it that type of seam difficult so I recut the sleeve and will finish that one seam another way. I would love to find a pattern designed for a typical man’s shirt. This one was a unisex pattern by Palmer and Pletch (not certain I have that spelled correctly).

It has been so long since wearing a button up shirt for the same reasons you listed. I’ve only made 1 since starting sewing again. Thanks for these suggestions. 😊

I have a 5 to 6-inch difference between my high bust and full bust also. I have thought about doing another full bust adjustment on the full bust patterns to give me more room in the bust area. Great button-up tops!

What an amazing resource for anyone interested in making any of these patterns, Izzy! Fab work and info! 💗

Great vlog, I have the Aria pattern but not made it. I like the look of the Gilbert but already have the LN Melody but not so keen on the grown on sleeves so may try it. I don't often need a smarter blouse so wouldn't go for the Patina. Love all your versions of the patterns, watch you every week 😀

I'm glad you mentioned about the green fabric in the Aria being itchy, even on the back. I still have that fabric, and I was just thinking about making a little shift dress from it for the summer. So I will definitely line it. If it was itchy on you, it would definitely be on me, too.

Fantastic video and comprehensive review on blouse patterns. For me it's the Patina but I don't think you've shown a blouse that didn't look good on you. I'm itching thinking about that green fabric again 😂. As you say, you honestly don't need to buy any more as you have every blouse option and you can get so many styles now from those patterns. PS I had forgotten how awesome that flannel shirt was 👏🏼💙. Thanks for all your hard work and research xx

I've made the Patina 3 times First one in Cotton Lawn with the high 'v' second one long sleeves in a Viscose Fabric 3rd. One in cotton Prima without the collar and the Donny shirt sleeves. made a skirt to match Love them all x

Hi Izzy. Thank you so much for this very comprehensive analysis of 4 button up shirts. The Vernon shirt certainly looks impressive, however I have been a bit hesitant to purchase due to the cost (and conversion to $AUD). I have made several Aria shirts and like you, have found the shirt sticks out if not sewn in a fabric with good drape. I will make that again and will be careful about the fabric I choose. The Patina blouse is definitely on my wish list as I think it looks so lovely on you. (I will also need to do a narrow shoulder adjustment plus FBA.) Another favourite shirt of mine is the LN Melody Dolman which is a more casual shirt with a camp collar. This is great made up in a linen / cotton blend - in other words looks better in a fabric with some structure. So once again many thanks and happy sewing. 🌸

What a great video! I own the Aria and the Gilbert, and I've had my eye on the Patina. This video gives great information for which one I want for summer. Thank you!

Hi Izzy A great review. I’ve made the Vernon. The results were excellent. I’d already made the Harrison by cashmerette ( which had been my current go to shirt at the time), so I was expecting good results. I’ve looked at the Patina shirt but I’d already purchased the Kenny shirt pattern from stylearc which I liked.” Thank you for the review I really enjoyed hearing your comments

Very comprehensive comparison. I have an embroidered cotton long-sleeved Gilbert that I love but definitely want to make more. I think I would like to do the short sleeved in a viscose but with the straight hem so I can wear it tucked in.

My goal this year is to perfect a button up shirt so that I can have a go to shirt pattern. My plan was to start with the Vernon as I am short, busty and curvy. After hearing your review of the Vernon I am glad that’s the pattern I picked to work with.

I enjoyed this review. You have some great button ups. I have only made the Gilbert top and want to try it again.

Great video Izzy! This was so fun to watch! Kudos to your in-depth description of each pattern. I’ve made the Aria 3 times and the Vernon 4 times. I love them both but have to do less adjustments on the Vernon. I would love to try the Patina at some point. I just love the last one you made.

I love the video, I have made the Aria and Vernon I love both but I made the lantern sleeves and wasn’t keen on them so I’m going to make the other view 😊

I just love all your makes! I need to work on FBA’s for most of my tops and I’m determined to draft a pants pattern that will fit me! Your latest Patina is absolutely perfect! It looks so good on you too!

Hi Izzy ☺ I made 2 Gilbert shirts last summer, and love them both. I've got the Aria, it keeps getting bumped down the printing list I think because with the full bust fronts, it's a huge file to get printed up AO. The Patina is another one perpetually on my pattern wish list, but I don't have it yet. 😜 I love a good light linen Gilbert! I've got a Jenna shirt cut out and ready to get sewn up today, favorites have been the Archer and Classic Shirt. 😘

Great video Izzy. I have made the Patina and the Gilbert and have plans to make another of each. I have fabric to make a long sleeve rayon Patina (my first was a short sleeve linen) and I hope to make another Gilbert later in the year. Making a facing for the hem including the ties is a great idea - I also find the look of the underside of the ties less than ideal so I might try that if I make that view too. ☺️

Thanks for a very comprehensive video on all these patterns - I have not made any of them but feel like I know so much more about them now - I think I'd like the Patina because of the collar and the way it makes a pretty neckline, and the Gilbert because it looks like fun. I'm not busty so I don't know if Cashmerette patterns would work for me, but those Vernons you made are all so nice and I can see why it's your favorite - I hate altering patterns and don't feel confident doing it although sometimes you just have to...I would love to have custom-made patterns and I know there are systems that say that's what they do but I'm not ready for that, either - I want an easy, custom-made pattern where the work gets done for me and all I have to do is cut and sew - you know, the fun part, the dessert 😁!

Hi Izzy, I’m so glad I watched your very helpful video tonight. Tomorrow I was going to cut out a toile of the Tessuti patterns Arkie shirt with a view to then making it in the blue and green BtPD seersucker fabric. I will have to think of another use for that fabric now, I must admit I have been wondering about the drape and whether it would be okay for a shirt. I’ll still do the toile and maybe trawl Andrea’s website for an alternative pattern for the Arkie. I also have the Love Notions Aria pattern and the class, my plan is to make the dress version in a lovely viscose I got from Spool of Thread in Vancouver. Very excited about that. Thanks again, and happy sewing. X

I’ve made the Gilbert a few times and absolutely love it. I’ve made the version which is sleeveless hack on Helen’s closet website.

Thank you for your videos. I am learning so much. You mentioned that you had learned so much about fitting. I would be interested in “how” you accomplished that!

Hi Issy, thank you for another detailed and interesting video. Your attention to detail and abundance of information is superb. I made a Lutterloh blouse with my BTPD a green fabric. The blouse was lovely as indeed was the fabric, but unfortunately totally unwearable because of the extreme itch factor 🤣. Such a pity. I’ve made both the Gilbert and the Patina, the score being three all to date ! I drafted a facing for the Gilbert ties because I don’t like the wrong side of the fabric showing through. Have a good week xx 😄

Great battle video. I have both the aria and the Vernon and the classes that go with it. I also have Whitney’s shirt making class. I am scared of the buttons but I need to just get over it! I may have to get the patina sometime but think I need to make one that have first. Have a great week!

Izzy, thank you for a very comprehensive description of these patterns. So helpful!! I have the Aria pattern but have not yet made it. I'm going to try a wearable (hopefully) muslin with the Aria.

Love your shirts, Izzy and this review of shirt patterns was very helpful. I’ve made 5 Arias - 3 shackets and 2 “regular” shirts. I find it a bit boxy, with too much fabric in the back so I eliminated the back pleat. I think I need a pattern that is more fitted - maybe with some darts. I love, love, love your Patina blouses!! I’m very tempted to get that pattern and give it a try. Thanks again for a great review.

I have never made a button up shirt, although I have made a Donny shirt - that I don't wear I have a buttonhole phobia, like simple lines, and don't really like collars. I've got the Olivia blouse pattern from Alelier Jupe, but haven't tried it yet. I just need to do a bit of buttonhole practise first :) Thanks for video x

I just bought Vogue 8689. It has princess seams and is supposed to be custom fit. I have a really special fabric I plan to use. I don’t know if I will go ahead and use the pattern or switch to the Cashmerette pattern. Thank you for the really good review of the four patterns you made.

I've done the Gilbert and liked the camp collar, but found the shape too boxy for me. Since it hits straight at the hips, it made me look/feel very top heavy. I've just finished my first Cashmerette Haskell, and it has the same relaxed style but a nice curved hem that suits me a lot better. My go-to button-up shirt pattern is actually an older printed one, the Kwik Sew K3586. I tried it during the pandemic, made a few small tweaks, got all the dumb mistakes out of my system, and I've made a bunch of them, both dressy and casual, short and long sleeved; they are all in regular rotation still. My "uniform" is usually a camisole or tank paired with a cardigan or button-up shirt, so these are right up my alley! I'm curious, what do you do with garments once they're "retired"? I've had some luck giving a few pieces away, though not many of my friends have the same shape/style... what's your approach when a garment no longer fits in your wardrobe?

Have you tried the sledveless top in the first Cashmerette book? I'm just curious because it is the only Cashmerette pattern I have tried, so far, even though I have most of them. We are very close in size and shape, so I would expect to have the same, or similar sewing issues and successes as you, but that top, even though I used theif fit calculator, camemout huge on me, especually under the armpits. Its a good 3" or 4" too big. The bust isn't bad, and the body is just a little loose, which I don't mind too much, but that underarm is terrible. I set it aside and didn't touch it again. And that was right after the first book came out. I really should do the fit guide that you are working on. I signed up, but haven't had any time to sew garments, let alone make all those toils the past few months. But I have all the information, so I really do need to do it

I am actually surprised I only have one of those patterns 🤷‍♀️😂🤣 the Aria which I haven't made yet.🤦‍♀️ The Vernon looks like it was made for you!!❤ I have smaller shoulders as well I make a smaller size and grade out. Have you made the All in shirt from Pattern Emporium? (I think that's the name) I'm working on mine now, the tester was a dud but I think I might have the next one right?

Did you find the Patina neckline too plunging? I tend to not like that now that I’m 70

Hi Izzy. Thank you so much for this very comprehensive analysis of 4 button up shirts. The Vernon shirt certainly looks impressive, however I have been a bit hesitant to purchase due to the cost (and conversion to $AUD). I have made several Aria shirts and like you, have found the shirt sticks out if not sewn in a fabric with good drape. I will make that again and will be careful about the fabric I choose. The Patina blouse is definitely on my wish list as I think it looks so lovely on you. (I will also need to do a narrow shoulder adjustment plus FBA.) Another favourite shirt of mine is the LN Melody Dolman which is a more casual shirt with a camp collar. This is great made up in a linen / cotton blend - in other words looks better in a fabric with some structure. So once again many thanks and happy sewing. 🌸