DIY Button Up Shirt- Butterick 5526 Review

Soooo, I wore this and never blogged about it, I know, right!  I try to take photos and blog about what I make before I wear it.  This way, I wont forget, but with Instagram, I periodically scroll through to see if an item has been reviewed or not.  I try to get nice outdoor photos with themes and corresponding wall colors, but truthfully that’s unrealistic for me.

 I don’t want to spend all day taking pictures (insert eye roll) lol.  I just want to take front back and side photos with a few extra poses for good measure.  I think people want to see how the garment looks on a real body.  There is some value in where a photo is taken but, I hope that just having a background that’s not distracting will suffice.  Also, dress form photos are ok but they don’t really show how a garment hangs.  I’m also taking my own photos this time so yeah, weird expressions are to be expected, just try and focus on the garment, OK?  lol.

I went through my closet and in looking at my wardrobe, I realized I only had two button up shirts, both were made out of a silky material, but nothing in a shirting.  I also had two denim shirts, what gives?  I do like knit tops for work because I like to be comfortable, and well, I’m not sure why I have so many knit and pull over tops other than I like them and they are easy to make and wear.  When you make your clothes, you can make them comfortable, right?

Why am I lopsided? lol

In comes this shirt pattern, this top has been reviewed a gazillion times (not really, but a lot) and pattern review had tons of reviews.  What does that mean?  when one of my favorite sewing bloggers reviews a pattern, it makes my life a lot easier because I know the language they speak and I focus on what they are saying potential issues could be.  No, I don’t always follow what they say, because those issues may not necessarily be issues for me, but it gives me a good baseline.

I chose this top because it has princess seams in the front and back so awesome shaping potential.  Also, it was $1.99 so there’s that, lol.  I have a few other button up shirts but most of them look very similar to this one.  This makes two that I really like for myself, the first one being the hack of Simplicity 8014 that I wrote about here.   You will see a lot more in different fabrics and textures.

On to the review:

Butterick 5526
Pattern Description:  
Fitted shirts A, B, C, D, E have collar band, shaped hemline, three-quarter or long sleeves with pleats, button-down placket, button cuffs, front-button closing, topstitch trim and narrow hem. A: Button trim on pleated pockets, long, rolled sleeves (wrong side shows) and button tabs. C: Tunic-length. A, B, C: Mock-front bands. A, B, C, D: Collar. D, E: Front bands and princess seams. E: Ruffles and stand-up collar.
SEWING LEVEL: easy (Intermediate- button holes, princess seams, plackets and collars)

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?  
Yes
Were the instructions easy to follow?  
Yes, I’ve heard there are better collar and placket instructions out there, but these were ok, the shirt came out good.  I’m going to learn to take better notes, sometimes I see an issue while constructing but forget to write it down (insert eye roll ), I don’t believe so with this, just trying be truthful.  Also, this has been reviewed so much, I didn’t see anything that the other reviews didn’t see.
What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?  
I like the different views, there is a straight front and back and princess seamed front and back, and pockets, you can easily mix and match.  There are also length and sleeve variations.  The only dislike is the pattern would have been good with an optional yoked back.  The bias sleeve placket is ok, but the instructions could be a little clearer on this.
Fabric Used:
Open weave cotton shirting
Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:  

• I did my normal forward shoulder adjustment.
• I cut the size 22 (44″ full bust) and did a 2″ FBA to bring me to my full bust of 46″
• I lowered the bust point of the side front 1/2″
• I added 5/8″ to the front and back side seams.  This is a “fitted” shirt and I wanted semi fitted so I added additional ease to make it more comfortable for me.  From the line drawings and finished garment measurements, this is not a “fitted” top but whateves right?
• The sleeve cap had way too much ease, check out Sewmanju’s blog post.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?


Yes, and yes.  I already have a white one planned and maybe another silky one.