Today we're launching a pattern I have wanted for a long, long time and I am so delighted to finally bring it to you! The Jenna Shirt + Shirtdress is our latest standalone pattern for Closet Core Patterns, and if you're anything like me, you will be making a dozen and wearing them nearly every day. Best of all, we're also debuting our latest online sewing class to accompany it! Let's get our shirtmaking on!
The Design
Inspired by the casual fit of men's shirts, Jenna has an oversized + slouchy silhouette. As a button-up aficionado, there is nothing better to me than a loose-fitting shirt thrown over a pair of jeans - this is my daily uniform, and I wanted to transfer all the things I love most about my favourite thrifted men's shirts into the ultimate shirt pattern. Jenna is it. With the perfect roomy fit and *chef's kiss* proportions, I have to resist the urge to wear Jenna and only Jenna pretty much every day.
Jenna features a dropped shoulder and deep back yoke. We skipped the traditional back pleat in lieu of a charming hang loop, but kept things classic with a collar stand, long sleeve with tower placket and cuff, and patch pocket over the bust. Best of all, we created 3 unique views to give you a ton of mileage with this pattern.
View A is the perfect everyday button-up shirt, ending below the seat with a deeply curved and exaggerated hem. It also features an optional hem gusset at the side seam for stability, another lovely detail. This is my favourite option for wearing untucked over jeans, but I also love it knotted at the waist or French tucked with high-waisted skirts and pants. It would also make a fab workshirt or shacket; I'm desperate to make one in plaid wool.
View B is cropped at high hip with a straight hem, and pairs super well with high-waisted bottoms. It would also make a cute layering piece with delicate dresses.
Last but not least, we wanted to give you a fun dress option with View C. Gathered panels create a breezy midi-length shirt dress, so lovely in lightweight fabrics like viscose and silk.
Just like our Fran Pajamas, Jenna is available in our new alpha size range from XXS-4X, in PDF and print (all sizes are included in the envelope!) You can get more info on our alpha size range here.
Learn To Make Shirts!
If shirtmaking is new to you or if want to bone up on your skills, I highly recommend enrolling in our latest online class! Learn to Make Shirts: The Ultimate Shirtmaking Workshop is a wonderful skill-building sewing class, and one I was so excited to develop and teach. It condenses everything you need to know to confidently make beautiful button-up shirts in one fun and easy-to-follow class.
You'll learn how to shop for the right fabrics and supplies, discover the many ways you can personalize and modify patterns with custom details, how to sew tricky details like collars, cuffs and literally every kind of placket construction, how to fully assemble a shirt using only a straight stitch on just a regular machine, and all my tips and tricks for getting the most professional and beautiful results when sewing shirts for yourself or anyone else in your life. We've included your choice of the Jenna Shirt and the Kalle Shirt with enrollment, but since we cover so many different shirtmaking techniques in this class, you can really use it to sew just about any shirt pattern (just choose "no pattern" as an option when you add to cart!)
Our new class platform also includes a wonderful forum for you and your fellow students, so you can share your progress and ask questions within a supportive private community. Whether you're a beginner hoping to level up, or more intermediate in need of some technique refreshers, we've got you with this sewing class. Add a Jenna fabric kit from the Core Fabrics shop and you'll have everything you need!
Fabrics For Jenna
Jenna works in a variety of fabrics. Naturally, it's perfect in light to midweight shirtings. For a crisp, classic shirt we recommend structured wovens like poplin, chambray, oxford, and broadcloth. For a softer and drapier shirt, choose linen, Tencel, voile, viscose, silk or flannel.
As always we've curated some all-on-one kits for you at the Core Fabric shop. Recreate our samples using your choice of cotton oxford (which is so dreamy soft after a wash!), classic stripes, or a beautiful eco-silk or viscose. You'll get interfacing + buttons, and I highly recommend picking up a buttonhole gauge, fray stop and buttonhole cutter if you don't already have these tools in your stash.
Who Is Jenna?
We realize we're setting ourselves up for confusion with the similar-sounding "Jenny" overalls in our catalogue, but we simply could not name this pattern after anyone other than the unimitable Jenna Lyons. Former design head of J. Crew, current star of Real Housewives of New York, and forever style legend, no one has done more to reveal the endless allure of a simple, perfect button-up than Ms. Lyons. Her gift for the high/low mix and her innate knack for styling simple pieces in an idiosyncratic and original way will forever have her pinned to the top of our vision board. It is the Jenna shirt because it could be nothing else. If only we could make her one!
We've been so excited to launch this pattern and class - I think it's such a perfect encapsulation of what we are hoping to do with our standalone Closet Core releases, which is to bring you perfectly drafted and infinitely customizable patterns with tons of views and options, and the opportunity to build and develop your sewing skills. Jenna is a TNT pattern and we know you are going to absolutely adore adding it to your closet!
Ting says
The gusset insert is not very clear. Is there a video to show us how to do this properly? Thank you.