So you wanna sew a Henley? Now that I've got you humming "Do you want to build a snowman", let's get down to the real purpose of this post!

There are no less than 4 Henley Patterns out right now. That's right, 4. And there's another coming mid November! So how do you know which one to get? You don't, because well, they all have different options and you really want them all. Well, if you want them all, do it. Because they're all different enough and you won't regret it. But if that seems like a LOT of Henleys, then I will do a quick recap of the different ones and their specific features.

I have been lucky enough to receive all 5 Henleys for free. All opinions remain my own. The individual reviews are linked below:

#1- Winter Wear Designs Hepburn Henley
#2- Patterns For Pirates Women's Henley
#3- KB Stitch Designs On Point Penley
#4- Terra's Treasures Telluride Top
#5- Itch to Stitch Mila (coming soon!)

Due to time constraints, the Itch to Stitch Mila will NOT be compared in this post. This post will be updated when it is available (probably Mid November).

To keep things simple, I'll be using a giant chart to compare the 4 patterns. Compare the different features and think carefully about which ones are most valuable to you. BUT (and this is a big but), I still stand by purchasing every single one. Yes, it seems like a big investment, but these patterns each have enough features on their own to stand under their own weight. AND, keep an eye out for pattern hacks, as I'll be showing you ways to get the most from these patterns.


WWD Hepburn Henley is the simplest version of them all. That means it lends itself well to hacking. When you don't have to worry too much about finicky curves or unusual shaping, you can let your creativity shine. Abby Dabbles has a great little shoulder color block here that is so simple but really brings a pop of color. WWD Hepburn Henley Color Block

P4P's Henley really shines with the banded hem. This is standard P4P style (nearly every pattern offers it as an option) and I really like it. The banded hem helps keep your shirts down, and as a busy mom chasing 3 kids, I can promise you, I can use all the help I can get. Its a great relief to know that I'm not going to need to yank down my shirt hem all day long. The P4P Henley has a looser fit which means you can use warmer fabrics. With fall heading into winter here on the east coast, I can definitely see myself making at least 1 in french terry!

KB Stitch Designs Penley (affiliate link) has several great features you won't find in the other patterns. This is the only pattern available right now with a polo collar! Yup, that is completely different from the other designs. And, the Penley has a nice v-neck collar that is flattering without showing too much. Also, it comes with an awesome color block detail built right into the pattern. No need to draft your own pieces. Even better is that the triangle cut outs create an hourglass shape to the pattern. That makes it extra flattering! The Penley also offers a maternity add on pack. Considering the time it can take to re-draft a maternity bottom, I'd definitely consider that a worthy investment.

Terra's Treasures Telluride Top was my last sew before I tackled the review. I have to admit, I was sort of tired of sewing henleys! Thankfully, the Telluride has a great faux henley option. This one isn't like the others either! The curved faux henley is super stylish and a great way to add in a touch of color. The different neckline options on this one are completely unique.

So, you're probably wondering, which one would I buy? If I had to choose, I'd choose the neckline from the KBSD, the fit of the P4P (so I could use warmer fabrics), the hemline of the KBSD and the banded P4P (because a girl can never have too many options). And for add ons, I'd want the hood of the Telluride and petite cutting lines of the Hepburn. So basically, I need them all, LOL. Perhaps I'll mash all the features I love together and make the best henley ever. But for now, I think I'm done with henleys, at least for a while. :) Get your copies of each in the links above.

Terra's Treasures gave me the Telluride Top in exchange for writing a review. All opinions remain my own.

The Telluride top is the fourth in my series of Henley Pattern Reviews. And let me tell you, so far I haven't yet seen a henley pattern that I don't think you need. You can click through the side bar to find the other reviews for the WWD Hepburn Henley, KBSD On Point Penley, and P4P Henley.

The Telluride is supposed to be a fitted Henley with multiple neck, sleeve and hem options.

The Telluride Top has
4 neck lines:
-Scoop
-Henley
-Faux Henley
-Hoodie
5 sleeves
-Short puff sleeve
-Long puff sleeve
-Short slim sleeve
-Long slim sleeve with hem
-Long slim sleeve with thumbhole
5 hems
-Shirt
-Banded shirt
-Tunic
-Banded Tunic
-High low hem

I used my measurements and picked a size medium, faux henley, slim sleeve and hemmed tunic length. Due to measurements, I did NOT do a full bust adjustment. I did remove 1 1/8" from the length (at the lengthen/shorten line) to accommodate my shorter stature (I'm 5'1"). The length now hits perfectly.

The faux henley is a really cool feature, however, I did find that the way the instructions have you sew it in could have been different (and resulted in a better line). If you wish to follow my method, you would sew in the faux henley BEFORE you connect the shoulder seams. Sew the shoulder seams together, then add the neck band and continue as the instructions are written. If you don't have the pattern, this won't make any sense. If you do, it should. :) I did bring this to Terra's attention. It is of course up to her whether she wishes to update the pattern at all.

As an inverted triangle, I was worried when I saw the original line drawings that the pattern would only include the puff sleeve. Puff sleeves are not good for people with wide shoulders as they make our shoulders look even wider. Not a good look for me. Thankfully there is a slim fit sleeve and that is the one I chose. I appreciated that unlike the other patterns, the sleeve piece has a very definitive front/back, versus being cut on the fold. I find that this makes for a better armscye and better mobility in the sleeve.

I found that while the Telluride is marketed as a "fitted" pattern, it actually has more of a semi fitted feel. I really appreciated that there were finished measurements included in the pattern. It was clear that unlike other "fitted" patterns, it does not have negative ease, which helped me to better understand the expected fit.

All in all, another good henley pattern with some very unique features. I will say, that while many people think "faux henley" and assume it will be easier than the henley, that in this case, it isn't. It is a wonderful addition to the pattern and is worth the time though. So don't skip it. To really create some wow factor, be sure to use a second, different fabric, for the faux henley to create some "pop" in your top.

As for the final fit, I'm not 100% happy with the fit of this henley. The shoulders fit okay, but the underarm is too big and the sleeves are also too big. Next time, I will sew up the small through the shoulders and bust and add in my full bust adjustment. I would then have to grade out to the size medium for my hips. I will say this isn't a fault of the pattern. It just appears that this pattern is graded more for a rectangle than the typical hourglass. If you keep that in mind as you choose your size, you won't be disappointed. I also might shorten the sleeves to better fit my frame. That said, I'm so used to wearing sleeves that are too long, that I sort of like the way they can cover up my hands.

I used some of my Cali Fabrics to sew up this version. i was a little disappointed that the directional fabric was printed ever so slightly off grain. I had to choose between having the print be lined up or the grain. I went with the grain, since the print is wild enough that it doesn't need to line up perfectly, but now I'm not so sure. That said, this fabric was less than $4 a yard, so I'm not really complaining. I wish I had color blocked the faux henley instead. Right now, you can't even see it with the fabric. But it does make a very nice v-neck shape.

All in all, I'll still be wearing this top regularly. You can get your copy here: Terra's Treasures Telluride Top. Last I checked, the sale price was supposed to expire on the 19th, but it was still live when I checked on October 20th.

Keep your eyes open for my next blog post, "So you wanna sew a henley". I'll be doing a comparison of the current 4 knit henley patterns. And you'll get to hear which is my favorite, or not. ;)

Up third in my Henley Reviews is the Patterns For Pirates Women's Henley. Judy, over at P4P was nice enough to give me this pattern for review. All opinions remain my own. Click to see my reviews for the WWD Hepburn Henley and KBSD On Point Penley

The P4P Henley is a semi fitted henley with multiple options.

Neckline:
-Crew neck
-Henley
-Henley with hood
Sleeves:
Short
3/4
3/4 with button tab
Long hemmed
Long with thumb hole
Hem:
T-shirt
Banded T-shirt
Tunic
Banded Tunic

I sewed up the Henley with Hood, Long sleeve hemmed and tunic hemmed. I have to admit I own a LOT of P4P patterns, so I was familiar with the fit. I jumped right in, using a size small. Normally I use size mediums for other designers to fit my shoulders, but I've found that P4P drafts for a slightly wider shoulder (yeah me!).

P4P drafts for a taller woman, so second step was removing a LOT of length in the body. I'm 5'1", I definitely don't need any extra length. If I kept the pattern as is, the hip line on the pattern would end up somewhere around my butt. So my shirts would be tunics and my tunics would be dresses. So I removed 2" from the pattern length. Since my tunic hits me exactly right, I think I took out just the right amount.

Next in line for adjustments was the bust. I am NOT a size small bust. But, if I went by my bust size, the shoulders of my tops would fall off, all the time. So, I actually have a 38" bust. The size small is drafted for a 34 or 35" bust. That means I needed to add a 3" FBA (or 1 1/2" on each side). I'm an FBA pro, so I did my typical darted FBA. I could have rotated the bust dart back out, but I find that the drape is better in my shirts when I leave the busts in.

The thing about sewing bust darts on knits is that each fabric drapes and pulls just a little differently. So unlike a woven, there's a little bit of play in length and positioning. If I was going to sew this pattern again (and I probably will), I'd make the dart point a little further towards the side seam. Also, based on the drape, the dart should be just a bit larger, maybe 1/2". That would get rid of the tiny bit of tenting I have at center front. But seriously, I'm still going to wear this!

I used the last of my Girl Charlee (affiliate link) Knit Fix Fabric from July for this Tunic. It is an amazing cotton/lycra jersey blend. It is lighter weight and just dreamy. I actually received it in my knit fix and then bought an additional 2 yards because I loved it that much. I'd buy more if I could! I used a scrap of woven fabric from my stash for the placket. Using a woven makes the plackets on henleys super easy.

I have 2 complaints with this henley. #1 is the neckline. In general, I don't wear crew neck shirts and this crew neck is definitely high. It just isn't my style. It is however well drafted and my hood fit PERFECTLY. I'll never wear it with the buttons all buttoned. Next time, I'll just add the very lowest button, and probably drop that a bit lower. I'm not trying to be scandalous, but when your bust is this large, good low necklines help balance just how much of it there is. #2 is the sleeves. I have really slender arms and I don't like loose fitting sleeves. These sleeves are a looser fit. They are by no means saggy or ill fitting. They're just loose. That is just their style. But my 2 complaints are strictly styling complaints. And both of which would be easy fixes to modify if you like everything else about the pattern. And, not a complaint, but next time, I'll need to shorten the arms. I normally do this BEFORE I sew, but I was in a rush to get this review done.

As with all the other henley patterns, I think you need this pattern. The hood is AWESOME and a great, simple addition. I'll be hacking mine into a zip up hoodie in the next week or so. Keep an eye out for that!

You can get the Patterns For Pirates Women's Henley or Bundle on sale through Sunday October 18.
Get the women's only pattern here. $6.50
To purchase the entire bundle (Men, Women and Kids) here. $18 for all 3!

I was given the Koerb Brothers Stitch Design On Point Penley for free in exchange for pattern testing. All opinions remain my own.

Some people might think that you only need 1 Henley Pattern. They'd be wrong! You can click here to see my review for the Winter Wear Designs Hepburn Henley. Despite testing for the Hepburn Henley, I was ecstatic to test the KBSD On Point Henley.

The KBSD On Point Penley is fitted in the bust but loose in the waist and hip. It includes a V neck and a choice of henley or polo collar. You get 3 sleeves, short, 3/4 and long. And 3 hem lengths; shirt, tunic and dress. The hem has a fabulous curved shape which looks great when wearing. For the placket, you can use a knit or a woven. What a great way to showcase something from your scrap pile!

The real identifying feature of this pattern though is the super cool color blocking along the side seam. The triangle cut out is slimming and a great way to use up small scraps of your favorite fabric. Due to time constraints, I didn't sew up the color block version, but it is definitely on my list of items I want to complete.

I sewed up the henley collar, with woven placket, 3/4 length sleeves and tunic length. I used the size medium for my measurements of 34 over bust, 38 full bust, 30 waist and 38 hip. I'm 5'1", so no shirt pattern is going to fit me without modifications. Thanks to great pattern drafting, the pattern includes a waist line. That means it was super easy for me to remove 2" from the torso length. That means my tunic was actually a tunic and not a dress! I also added in a 1 1/2" bust dart to account for my larger than average bust (compared to shoulders, etc). I could have rotated the bust dart out, but I actually prefer the drape that you get when you leave it in. Finally, I didn't hem. My Rayon Spandex is super drapey and soft, so soft that my machine attempted to eat a part of my fabric, EEP. I wasn't willing to chance it ruining all my hard work.

This pattern went through 7 drafts, yes 7. And that was a good thing too, because it is absolutely perfection now. To get your own copy of the KBSD On Point Penley, click here (affiliate link). Take advantage of the release sale. It is on sale until Sunday, October 18, for $6. Don't miss out!

I had the pleasure of testing the Winter Wear Designs Women's Hepburn Henley. I received the pattern for free in exchange for testing. All opinions remain my own.

The WWD Women's Hepburn Henley is a relaxed fit Henley with a few different sewing options.

Variations include
3 necklines
-Henley
-Faux Henley
-T-shirt
3 Sleeves
-short
-3/4
-long
2 Lengths
-Shirt
-Tunic

The henley option is definitely intermediate level and includes detailed instructions on sewing the placket.

The loose fit is comfortable to wear. Its great when Jeans and a t-shirt just aren't enough. Definitely play around with fabrics as that is what will bring variety to this pattern. I picked a teal knit with silver glitter in it. I found it at Joann's.

I sewed up the short sleeve option and made a matching henley for my oldest. Yes, I cheated and used Kamsnaps instead of buttons. They actually match well with the silver glitter in the fabric. For a great mommy and me look check out the Winter Wear Designs Everything But the Kitchen Sink. You can find my review here: Winter Wear Designs Everything But the Kitchen Sink

Get the Winter Wear Designs Women's Henley on sale through October 11th for $7! Winter Wear Design Hepburn Henley

For more reviews of the Hepburn Henley, you can check out Abby Dabbles 

With the Winter Wear Desgins Women's Henley releasing, I thought it was only appropriate to think about mother/child coordinating tops. Thankfully, WWD has the Everything But the Kitchen Sink Henley. I received the Winter Wear Designs Everything But the Kitchen Sink Henley Pattern for free for this review. All opinions remain my own.





This pattern is packed full of features.

1- Slim and regular fit cut lines
2- 5 separate sleeves
-short
-short gathered
-3/4 sleeve
-3/4 sleeve with button tab
-long
3- 4 different necklines
-henley
-faux henley
-v placket henley
-t-shirt
2- 2 different back hemlines!

Combine those features and your options are 80 different shirts across sizes 1-14. That's a total of 880 different shirts if you sew up each feature in each size. Talk about versatile! Also, maybe overwhelming.

Want even more choices? There's also a welt pocket. That bumps our total up to 1760 different shirts, OH MY! Talk about Everything But the Kitchen Sink!

I've sewn up the slim fit, long sleeve regular henley with shirt tail hem for my oldest daughter. She loves matching her clothes with other people. Whether it is me, or her little sisters, she just loves coordinating with someone else. So I sewed her up a matching Henley to my Women's version. Our teal knit from Joann's has a touch of silver glitter, which makes it fancy while still comfy and cozy.

The hardest part of this pattern really is picking which features you want. Definitely take your time on the placket. The instructions are careful and clear, but if you've never done a placket before, you'll want to take your time. Once you've done one of these, you'll want to sew more and more. Mix and match all the features to fill your child's closet with hand crafted love!

Get your copy of the WWD Everything But the Kitchen Sink Pattern Here: Winter Wear Designs Everything But the Kitchen Sink

My review of the new WWD Women's Henley will be available when the pattern releases (hopefully on Monday).