Plackets and openings are essential elements in garment construction, providing functionality and style to various clothing pieces. Understanding the different types and how to properly construct them can elevate your sewing skills. Let’s delve into the world of plackets and openings to master these techniques.
What are Plackets and Openings?
Plackets are fabric reinforcements or extensions with openings that allow for ease in putting on and taking off garments. Shirt, blouse, dress, and other garment openings typically feature closures like zippers, buttons, or hooks and eyes. Plackets can be functional, like in the case of button plackets, or decorative, as seen in some sleeve plackets.
Garments require access points, and these are called openings. They’re typically found at necklines, sleeve ends, or along the front or back of the garment. To create polished finishes around these openings, various techniques come into play, such as plackets, zippers, buttons, or snaps.
Types of Plackets
- Button Placket: Need access to your clothes? Garments have designated areas for this called openings. Look for them at necklines, sleeve ends, or running along the front or back. To ensure these openings look neat and polished, various techniques come into play. Plackets, zippers, buttons, or snaps – these are some of the tools used to achieve a professional finish.
- Overlap Placket: An overlap placket is similar to a button placket but has one side overlapping the other, creating a clean finish. This type is often used in polo shirts and henleys.
- Continuous Bound Placket: To create a clean opening, a placket is constructed by folding and sewing the fabric edges together. This technique is commonly used for shirt sleeves and can be found in both men’s and women’s clothing.
- Centered Placket: Dress shirts frequently sport a centered placket. This design features a strip of fabric running down the center front, equipped with buttonholes on one side and buttons on the other for fastening.
- Inset Placket: An inset placket is inserted into a garment seam, creating a seamless look. It is commonly used in blouses and dresses.
Types of Openings
- Neckline Opening: The neckline opening is where the head passes through. Common finishes for neckline openings include bias binding, facing, or a collar.
- Sleeve Opening: The sleeve opening is where the arm passes through. Sleeve openings can be finished with cuffs, sleeve bands, or sleeve plackets.
- Side Seam Opening: Side seam openings are used for ease of wearing and are often finished with zippers, buttons, or snaps.
- Back Opening: Back openings are common in dresses and tops and can be finished with zippers, buttons, or ties.
Constructing Plackets and Openings
Constructing plackets and openings requires precision and attention to detail. Here are some general steps for creating a button placket:
- Prepare the Placket: Cut the placket fabric to the desired length and width, ensuring it is wide enough to accommodate the buttons and buttonholes.
- Mark the Placement: For a perfect placket, accurately mark its placement on the garment. Make sure it’s centered and aligns correctly.
- Create Buttonholes: Space and align the buttonholes evenly on one side of the placket fabric before sewing them.
- Attach the Placket: Attach the placket to the garment, aligning it with the marked placement.
- Sew Buttons: Sew buttons on the opposite side of the placket, ensuring they align with the buttonholes.
- Finish the Edges: Finish the raw edges of the placket to prevent fraying, using techniques such as serging, zigzag stitching, or binding.
