Hack the Tony Shirt with GBSB finalist, Tony Rea
Join Tony Rea from The Great British Sewing Bee for a fun and inspiring 1-day sewing workshop where you’ll explore the versatility of the Tony Shirt by Emporia Patterns.
Tony has made countless versions of this iconic pattern and will teach you how to take the classic shirt to the next level.
Saturday 5th September 2026 10:00am - 4:30pm
You’ll learn how to:
✂️ Hack the pattern into a shacket, jacket, or other creative variations
✂️Experiment with pocket designs to make the shirt uniquely yours
✂️Sew the standard Tony Shirt if you prefer to start with the original design
Under Tony’s expert guidance, you’ll gain hands-on experience in:
Pattern customisation and garment hacking
Sewing shirts with professional finishes
Mixing and matching elements to create a shirt or jacket that reflects your style
You will learn tips from precision sewing to professional finishing techniques, building skills you’ll use again and again. Don't miss this fantastic opportunity to gain insider tips from a true shirt-hacking expert!
What makes the Tony Shirt so versatile?
✂️ A relaxed, loose-fitting shape with an open collar and front facings.
✂️ Options for breast pockets and sleeve cuffs for a laid-back, everyday look.
✂️ Sew it up in lightweight cottons for sunny days, or swap to a heavier fabric to create your very own shacket, perfect for layering through the cooler months.
This pattern, born from a collaboration between Emporia Patterns and Tony, is a brilliant first step into sewing menswear but works just as well as a staple piece for any wardrobe.
By the end of the class, you’ll not only have a me-made Tony Shirt to be proud of, but the confidence to stitch this pattern up on repeat - whether that’s holiday-ready shirts or cosy autumnal shackets.
Join Tony Rea from The Great British Sewing Bee for a fun and inspiring 1-day sewing workshop where you’ll explore the versatility of the Tony Shirt by Emporia Patterns.
Tony has made countless versions of this iconic pattern and will teach you how to take the classic shirt to the next level.
Saturday 5th September 2026 10:00am - 4:30pm
You’ll learn how to:
✂️ Hack the pattern into a shacket, jacket, or other creative variations
✂️Experiment with pocket designs to make the shirt uniquely yours
✂️Sew the standard Tony Shirt if you prefer to start with the original design
Under Tony’s expert guidance, you’ll gain hands-on experience in:
Pattern customisation and garment hacking
Sewing shirts with professional finishes
Mixing and matching elements to create a shirt or jacket that reflects your style
You will learn tips from precision sewing to professional finishing techniques, building skills you’ll use again and again. Don't miss this fantastic opportunity to gain insider tips from a true shirt-hacking expert!
What makes the Tony Shirt so versatile?
✂️ A relaxed, loose-fitting shape with an open collar and front facings.
✂️ Options for breast pockets and sleeve cuffs for a laid-back, everyday look.
✂️ Sew it up in lightweight cottons for sunny days, or swap to a heavier fabric to create your very own shacket, perfect for layering through the cooler months.
This pattern, born from a collaboration between Emporia Patterns and Tony, is a brilliant first step into sewing menswear but works just as well as a staple piece for any wardrobe.
By the end of the class, you’ll not only have a me-made Tony Shirt to be proud of, but the confidence to stitch this pattern up on repeat - whether that’s holiday-ready shirts or cosy autumnal shackets.
About this workshop
Our students from Tony's last shirt course loved it!....
"So many top tips from Tony which you don't get from the pattern alone. Great pace and thoroughly please with my finished shirt!"
"10/10 fab day. Thank you :) Just perfect"
"Amazing day - great fun - wonderful G&G and Tony - super star!"
"Fantastic workshop - Tony was a great tutor. Nothing was too much trouble. Very inspiring!"
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.
Additional skills if hacking the shirt pattern:
✂️ Hack the pattern into a shacket, jacket, or other creative variations
✂️Experiment with pocket designs to make the shirt uniquely yours
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 and Patterntrace products 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
- 1m 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.
