Sewing - All levels

Learn to sew a shirt with GBSB finalist, Tony Rea

Ready to level up your sewing game? Join us for an exciting, hands-on class where you’ll craft a stylish, timeless shirt using the sought-after Emporia Tony Shirt pattern.

Guiding you through this creative journey is none other than Tony Rea, a finalist from The Great British Sewing Bee (Series 9)! With his expert tips and tricks, you’ll master the art of shirt-making, from precision sewing to finishing techniques that will take your skills to the next level.

✂️ The Emporia Tony shirt is a loose-fitting shirt, with an open collar and front facings.

✂️ Customise with optional breast pockets and sleeve cuffs to add interest and for a more relaxed, laid-back vibe

✂️ Perfect for both sun-soaked vacations or cosy layers when the temperature drops

✂️ This pattern, a fantastic collaboration between Emporia Patterns and Tony, is ideal for anyone new to sewing menswear but versatile enough for every wardrobe.

Once you’ve created your own me-made Tony shirt, you’ll be reaching for this pattern over and over again—it’s that good! 🧵✨

Don’t miss out!
Let Tony show you how to stitch up your next wardrobe favourite!

Width
Running Time
10.00am- 4.30pm
£115

About this workshop

The Emporia Tony shirt pattern comes in sizes 36" to 56" chest.

Finished garment measurements:

Size
Chest Back length to hem Sleeve (at narrowest point)

36”
91.5cm/39.5” 75.6cm 40.2cm

38”
105.5cm/41.5” 76.2cm 41.4cm

40”
110.5cm/43.5” 76.8cm 42.6cm

42”
115.5cm/45.5” 77.4cm 43.8cm

44”
120.5cm/47.5” 78cm 45cm

46”
126cm/49.5” 78.6cm 46.2cm

48”
131cm/51.5” 79.2cm 47.4cm

50”
136cm/53.5” 79.8cm 48.6cm

52”
141cm/55.5” 80.4cm 49.8cm

54”
146cm/57.5” 81cm 51cm

56”
151cm/59.5” 81.6cm 52.2cm

Further Information

Seams: Practice stitching clean and durable straight seams with finished edges.

Collar Construction:
Master the process of sewing a Cuban/camp collar, including techniques like turning sharp corners and achieving symmetry.

Inserting Sleeves:
Gain experience in sewing and attaching sleeves using the flat method, a fundamental skill for many garments.

Facings:
Sewing and under stitching facings.

Buttonholes & Buttons:
Learn how to sew buttonholes neatly and attach buttons securely

Topstitching:
Refine your topstitching technique for decorative and structural purposes, especially on cuffs, collars, and seams.

Hemming:
Practice creating neat, even hems for a polished look on sleeves and the shirt’s body.

Please note:
As this class is just one day, depending on your past level of experience you may have to finish some elements off at home e.g. optional pockets

Level 3 - please click here to read the description of this level to ensure it is suited to you

  • 20% discount on supplies required for the workshop (full priced fabric & notions)
  • 10% off any other full priced fabrics purchased on the day of your course
  • A paper copy of the Emporia Tony Shirt pattern
  • Use of all tools, machines and equipment
  • Tea/coffee (please bring a packed lunch or visit one of the lovely local shops)
  • Fabric:
    Light to medium weight woven fabrics e.g. Cotton poplin, quilting cotton, cotton lawn, linen, linen blends
  • Fabric requirements - 150 wide:

    Sizes 36"-44" - 1.8m

    Sizes 46"-56" - 2.8m
  • Matching thread
  • 0.5m medium weight fusible interfacing
  • 5 x 10-15mm buttons

It is recommended to pre wash your fabric to allow for any potential shrinkage. For guidance on pre washing please see here.

Please note: The pattern will be sent to you in advance of the workshop. To maximise the sewing time during the day it is recommended to cut out your pattern pieces or trace them off prior to the workshop so you are ready to cut out fabric on arrival. Guidance on this will be sent to you via email in advance of the workshop.

Tony Rea

Tony is a maker and content creator from Bude, North Cornwall. But you may know him better as being a finalist on Series 9 of The Great British Sewing Bee.

Before entering the Sewing Bee, he had only made men’s clothes for himself. Everything he made on the show he had never made before.

Tony took this as an opportunity to grow as a sewist and to learn and to explore new techniques. At the time, he really didn’t know what he couldn’t make. Tony now takes this ethos through into his teaching to attempt to demystify techniques which are sometimes considered challenging.

Tony, having built upon his time on the Sewing Bee, is passionate about getting more people making and improving their own making repertoires.

In addition to teaching, Tony is also very active in Pattern Testing for numerous patterns houses and he has also had a men’s shirt pattern released in his name.

Tony lives with his wife and two teenage daughters in Bude. He also has an older daughter.

When not making, as the secretary of his local mountain bike club, he can be found riding one of his many bikes.

Dates & Times

  • 10:00am £115
  • 10:00am £115