Plackets

 A placket is an opening in a shirt, skirt, dress or jacket with a closure fastened with buttons or loops. There are also a few ways to attach a placket.

The most simple style is simply to fold the edge of the fabric under, and sew a hem. The button holes are made in one and the buttons are sewn onto the other. This is often used on shirts or ladies' blouses.

Another placket style is where an add-on piece is added onto the front edges on both sides. The placket can be top stitched or left plain,

A placket can also be sewn onto a shirt cuff. There are at least two ways to sew this type of placket.

Another place that you would have seen a placket is at the neckline.

A placket can also be sewn onto the back of a dress or blouse, onto the shoulder or even into a side seam under the arm.

When following a pattern, see what the order of construction is, often the placket is added before the collar on a shirt or blouse. On a skirt, it is most likely added before the waistband.

When sewing buttons onto a ladies' shirt or blouse, it is worth considering sewing one or two extra buttons which work backwards, as in the buttonhole is on the inside placket, facing inwards. It is also a good idea to add a cover placket which hides the buttons.