Get a gloriously gape-free fit in a button-up with the Vernon Shirt! The Vernon is a button-up sewing pattern designed for curves in sizes 0-32 and cup sizes C-H. This pattern is available to everyone as a PDF or printed pattern!

Busty sewists, it’s time to reclaim the button-up! If you have big boobs, you know that it’s VERY hard to find a button-up shirt that doesn’t gape in the front. Having a shirt that you can rely on to fit and feel good throughout the day is essential!

So we’re thrilled to have the Vernon Shirt as the newest pattern to join the core Cashmerette collection of patterns. The Vernon is a darted button-up with multiple sleeve, collar and placket options to help you create the gape-free shirt of your dreams. Whether you want to go classic or trendy, the Vernon can do it all!

This button-up sewing pattern is available to purchase as an instant download PDF pattern with print-at-home and copy shop files, or as a beautifully printed pattern that ships anywhere in the world. It’s available for all—no need to be a Cashmerette Club member! (Although if you’re a Club member at the Plus or All Access levels, you can get 10-15% off the Vernon with your special code. Want in on that discount? Join today.)

Jenny is wearing View A in a size 20 G/H. Her measurements are 44″ high bust, 49″ bust, 40″ waist, and 47″ hips, and she is 5′ 6″.

Rachel is wearing View B in a size 18 G/H graded to a 20 in the waist and hips. Her measurements are 43″ high bust, 47″ full bust, 39″ waist, and 49″ hips, and she is 5′ 5″.

Dhara is wearing View A in a size 8 C/D graded to a 6 waist and 4 hip. Her measurements are 35″ high bust, 36.6″ full bust, 28.5″ waist, and 37″ hips, and she is 5′ 2″.

Carrie is wearing View B in a size 8 G/H graded to a 10 waist and 12 hip. Her measurements are 34″ high bust, 37″ full bust, 31″ waist, and 41″ hips, and she is 5′ 4″.

Meet the Vernon: the Essential Button-Up Sewing Pattern for Curves

With the Vernon, you can count on Cashmerette’s famous gape-free fit for bigger boobs! Our multi-cup sizing and tried-and-tested design for curves have helped thousands of curvy sewists create wardrobes that fit their bodies and their style, and that legacy continues with the Vernon.

The Vernon Shirt comes in two size ranges, 0-16 and 12-32, with cup sizes C-H available in both ranges. (Not sure what size to use? Try our sizing calculator.) It is rated intermediate, but our detailed illustrated step-by-step instructions make this an approachable project for confident beginners looking to advance their skills.

The Vernon features two views: a classic button-up and a fashion-forward top with dramatic collar and sleeves. Both views have bust darts, a back yoke with a clean inner finish (burrito method, for the win!) and a back pleat. The hem is slightly curved and sits at the high hip.

Let’s take a closer look at what makes the two views different.

Go Classic with View A

View A of the Vernon is a classic shirt with a traditional collar and collar stand and a classic button placket. The sleeves are slightly full (with a full bicep option included in sizes 12-32) and have a subtle gathering at the cuff. The cuff is narrow with a continuous bound cuff placket and a single button closure.

View A makes a great flannel shirt or a no-fuss officewear top.

Turn Up the Drama with View B

Take your button-up to the next level with View B! This view features a sophisticated covered placket (tutorial coming your way!) and on-trend lantern sleeves that are gathered slightly at the shoulder and end in wide cuffs with continuous bound cuff placket and a two-button closure. And let’s not forget View B’s oversized collar—the pièce de résistance! (Embrace your inner vampire, we say!)

Fabric Recommendations for the Vernon Shirt

The Vernon looks great in a variety of light to mid-weight woven fabrics such as shirting, lawn, or flannel.

Jenny’s Vernon was made in a plaid cotton from Blackbird Fabrics.

The lantern sleeves of View B work best with a medium weight fabric for a more structured look. For Rachel’s Vernon, we used a cotton twill from Mood.

The Vernon also looks great in a small-scale print like the ditsy floral print from Blackbird Fabrics that we used for Carrie’s Vernon. Or go big with a bold print—the world is your oyster!

Vernon and Harrison—Which is Right For Me?

The double princess-seamed Harrison Shirt sewing pattern has been a go-to pattern for Cashmerette fans for years, and we’re thrilled to bring you the same great quality in a new design and fit in the Vernon. Here’s what makes the Vernon different from the Harrison:

• The Vernon has bust darts (rather than princess seams) which create a slightly different fit in the bust.
• The Vernon has more ease in the waist than the Harrison.
• No princess seams makes the Vernon easier and faster to sew, and you can more easily match stripes and prints.
• The Vernon has some fun on-trend features, including an oversized collar and lantern sleeves.

We think there’s room in any sewist’s closet for two (or more!) great-fitting button-up designs, especially after all this time of not having any button-ups that fit us. So why not try both?

A New Look for Our Printed Patterns

As you may have heard (because you must keep up with all the indie sewing business news, naturally!), the tissue printing facility used by the vast majority of the world’s sewing pattern companies recently closed. We’re so glad that we were able to secure an alternative so that we can keep producing printed patterns, but they’ll look a little different going forward, as the new printers print exclusively on the brown tissue paper that you may already be familiar with from other brands. Everything else will remain just the same!

Prefer white paper? You can always purchase our patterns in PDF and get them printed on your paper of choice at a copy shop! We have a full guide on how to do that here.

Let’s Get to Sewing!

We can’t wait to see what you make with the Vernon Shirt! Remember to tag your makes with #VernonShirt and #Cashmerette on social media so that we can celebrate you and the fabulous things you create.