Anybody here proficient in making Plains war shirts? (Need help)

Flintlock Fellow said:

Yes, traditionally, some shirts leave an opening below the sleeve on the main body. This armhole was often used for ease of movement (but also permits airflow), especially for drawing a bow or handling weapons on horseback. If the pattern doesn’t specify, you could leave a 4-6 inch slit below the sleeve as a general rule of thumb. However, it’s not mandatory—sewing it fully to the sleeve is also acceptable if you don’t need that functionality or prefer a cleaner look.

If you’re making the shirt long, it’s a good idea to leave a slit past the waist (similar to a tunic style). This provides more movement, especially if the shirt is knee-length. The length of the slit depends on how much freedom of movement you want, but a common range is to leave about 10-12 inches unsewn at the bottom.

Ultimately, it depends on how traditional you want to keep it versus making it functional for your needs. If you’re recreating a historical garment, I’d stick closer to tradition. If it’s for practical use, adjust as you see fit.

Hope this helps. Feel free to ask more questions, and I’ll do my best to answer them for you.

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andy52 said:

The pattern seems to have an open armpit I can't tell for sure. The alternative is to use a diamond-shaped gusset in that area, in which many patterns have.

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AnotherHawkenGuy said:

Thanks. That really helps a lot. You cleared all my questions up. Now I just gotta decide if I want the arm hole or not. Im proficient in sewing leather but shooting bags and Mocs have been mostly what I’ve made in the past so this is definitely the biggest project I’ve taken on so far. I really appreciate you taking the time to help.

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