David Page Coffin’s career as a sewing expert, teacher, and writer began with a self-published how-to book about making custom shirts, which became a bestseller and led to an 18-year editor’s post at Threads magazine, where both his sewing and publishing skills found a worldwide audience. Coffin is also the author/creator of the authoritative and bestselling sewing books Making Trousers for Men & Women and The Shirtmaking Workbook, hundreds of sewing articles, two Craftsy classes, and YouTube videos with hundreds of thousands of views. He has taught workshops throughout the United States and Canada and in the UK, appeared on nationally syndicated sewing shows, and been a featured host on various sewing bulletin boards and websites. He lives in Brookings, Oregon, with his wife Ellen. [...]

Introduction 6
Chapter 1 Block Logic 12What is a Block? 13
Shirt Block Categories 13
Where to Get Your Block(s) 14
Blocks within Blocks 14
Fitting 18
Drafting 19
Draping 20
Copying a Shirt 22
General Pattern Skills 24
Tools 24
Digital Tools 26
Featured Designer: Diane Ericson 28
Resources 30Chapter 2 Skills and Structures 32 Sewing without Pins 34
Stitching Seams 36
Turn a Better Point 38
Placket Origami 41
Convertible Collar Options 44
Featured Designer: Morgan Meredith 46
Resources 48Chapter 3 The Dress (or Shaped) Shirt Block 50 The Dress Shirt 51
Featured Garment: Vintage Arrow Evening Dress Shirt 52
Featured Technique: Stand or Band Draping 56
Featured Details and Patterns: Dress Collar Geometry 58
Dress Collar Profiles: Equestrian Collars (64); Wing Collars (66); Detachable Collars (68); Roger Gray Men’s & Turnbull & Asser Women’s (70)
Featured Designer: Anna Gorbatenko 74
Resources 76Chapter 4 The Sport/Work (or Loose-Fitting) Shirt Block 82 The Sport Shirt 83
Featured Garment: Cubavera Linen Guayabera 84
Featured Patterns: Camp or Convertible Collars (86); V-Neck Convertible Collars (92); One-Piece V-Neck Collars (94)
Featured Designer: Michael Cepress 96
Featured Patterns: Combination, or Italian, Collars (98); Combination Collar Shape Play (108)
Featured Garment: Columbia Fishing/Sunblock Shirt 112
Featured Garment: Smith & Hawken Canvas Field Shirt 114
Featured Garment: Smith & Hawken Poplin Field Smock 116
Featured Details: More Pocket and Cuff Ideas 118
Resources 120Chapter 5 The Knit (or Stretch Fabric) Shirt Block 122 Featured Garment: Da Vinci Polyester Knit Combo 124
Featured Technique: Polo Collar and Placket Options 126
Featured Technique: Quilting Fleece 128
Featured Technique: More Fleece Finishes 130
Resources 132Chapter 6 The Folk (or Rectangular) Shirt Block 134 Featured Garment: Swanndri Wool Bush Shirt 136
Featured Garment: Smock Shop Crew Neck Smock 138
Featured Garment: Empire Wool & Canvas Boreal Shirt 140
Featured Technique: Type-1 Placket Closures 142
Featured Designer: Kayla Kennington 144
Resources 146Chapter 7 The Shirt-Jacket (or Oversized) Block 148 Featured Garment: Pendleton Men’s 49er 150
Featured Patterns: Convertible Jacket Collars (154); Trench Collars (158)
Featured Garment: Filson Double Mackinaw Cruiser 160
Featured Patterns: Mackinaw Collars (162); Shawl Collars (164)
Featured Technique: More Layering Options 168
Resources 170Acknowledgments 172
About the Author 172
Index 173