Today marks an important milestone for Closet Core, over a decade in the making: our very first pattern collaboration! Inspired by the golden age of sewing patterns, when fashion houses partnered with pattern companies to bring runway style into home sewists' hands, we're bringing you a 2026 indie iteration of that dream: a collaboration with sewing celebrity Cornelius Quiring and the Cornelius Western Shirt, with versions drafted for both women, men or a PDF bundle of both!
If you've spent any time in the online sewing community, you've almost certainly come across Cornelius. His videos and tutorials are the rare kind that blend deep garment construction knowledge with genuine style, humour, and a commitment to making clothes that actually work for real bodies. We first crossed paths with him last May at the H&H conference in Chicago, and honestly? The connection was immediate. Over many conversations about sewing, graphic design, and what makes a truly great pattern for men and women, the idea for a collaboration began to take shape.
You might recognize Cornelius from his signature cowboy hat. Growing up in a Mennonite community across both South America and Canada, Western wear has always been woven into his personal style, so when we started talking, a Western shirt collaboration felt less like a lightbulb moment and more like an inevitability. Western wear has deep roots in fashion history, and its influence never really goes away — it just keeps getting rediscovered and reinterpreted. We may have Beyonce/Cowboy Carter and Orville Peck to thank for today's current resurgence, but beyond the trend, this collaboration speaks to our mutual love of shirtmaking and the craft behind a truly well-made garment. We were also thrilled to finally add a more fitted shirt to the Closet Core library, and this pattern delivers on every front.
Western shirts may feel quintessentially American, but Canada has its own rich rodeo and ranching culture and as it turns out, so does our collaborator Cornelius, who is practically our neighbour in Ontario. Working with him also opened our eyes to how much of that iconic Western aesthetic actually traces back to Spain and Mexico, through the traditions of charrería and vaquero culture, and the ornate embellishment that came with them. All those beautiful details are not just for show. Doubled yokes, distinctive cuff finishes, even the choice of snaps over buttons — every signature feature of a Western shirt has roots in clothing built for hard work, with function driving the form. This isn't a costume. It's clothing with a deep story, designed for real life and with so many details to play with, it's also a pattern that's endlessly your own.
A Western Shirt with Options
The Cornelius Shirt is a classic semi-fitted Western shirt built around the details that make this style so iconic. It features sewn-on yokes (angled or curved, depending on your view), a carefully engineered collar and collar stand, and a semi-fitted sleeve with a gently shaped tower placket and cuff. From there, it's yours to make your own — optional front darts and back fisheye darts let you dial in a more tailored fit, and two distinct views give you completely different details to choose from.
View A is a classic Western shirt with angled front yokes, front patch pockets with flaps, and a timeless two-piece collar. It's the shirt you'd reach for on any given day: wearable and endlessly versatile.
View B is a showstopper with curved front yokes, smile pockets with piping, an oversized Western style-collar, and optional decorative piping throughout. This is your rhinestone cowboy moment: bold, detailed, and infinitely customizable.
Whether you keep it simple with classic shirtings or go full Western with contrasting piping, embroidery, and decorative details, this pattern gives you the tools to create something truly your own. We've also included comprehensive instructions for techniques like piping application and the smile pocket construction. Cornelius will have videos on his YouTube channel to guide you, and if you want additional support, our bestselling shirtmaking class walks you through classic shirtmaking techniques step by step.
Sizing for Everyone
We're thrilled to offer the Cornelius Western Shirt in three size ranges to serve as many sewists as possible. Alongside our standard ranges of 0–20 and 14–32, we've added a menswear size range drafted for a height of 5'10" in sizes 34–52, cut broader through the shoulders and longer through the torso with less hip shaping and a fisheye back dart for a closer fit. When you purchase the pattern, you can choose one or all size ranges, so you're covered whether you're sewing for yourself, a partner, or anyone else in your life.
How To Get Cornelius
Option 1: Join Crew
All size ranges of the Cornelius Shirt are available to Crew members this month (including the menswear draft), which gives you two patterns for the price of one! Join monthly for just $14 USD / $17.50 CAD (no minimum commitment!) or upgrade to our annual Unlimited plan for access to Cornelius, plus:
- Access to all patterns in our 2026 Living collection + the Decades and Stone Collections
- Access to Gabby, our fitting expert, for personalized one-on-one fitting help
- Standing discounts at Closet Core Patterns, Deer&Doe and Core Fabrics (patterns, classes + fabric!)
- Exclusive access to member-only resources and community
Option 2: Choose Your Size Range — or Get the Bundle!
As a special exception, the Cornelius Western Shirt is available to everyone as a standalone PDF starting today — no Crew membership required! (Normally, Crew patterns arrive in the Closet Core shop the following month.) The pattern comes in sizes 0–20 and 14–32 in our standard size range (which are always bundled together), and 34–52 in our menswear range, available in both French and English. You can purchase each size range individually, or grab the bundle for the best deal!
Fabric Suggestions for Cornelius
Fabric requirements are straightforward: reach for a light to medium-weight woven like poplin, chambray, denim shirting, oxford, broadcloth, linen, or flannel, plus fusible interfacing and 14–16 buttons or snaps. If you're sewing View B with piping, you'll need 4–6 yards depending on your size — or make your own for a completely custom look! And if you want to recreate one of our samples, Core Fabrics has put together fabric kits so you can get everything you need in one easy click.
Want more details? Watch our Design Story video where Heather and Cornelius walk you through the pattern, share fabric recommendations, and offer their best styling tips!
A Collaboration Rooted in Craft
This collaboration has been a joy from start to finish. Cornelius's dedication to craftsmanship, his generous approach to teaching, and his belief that garments should work for the bodies we have right now have made this project meaningful in ways that go beyond pattern drafting.
We're grateful for the opportunity to work with Cornelius and to share this pattern with you. We can't wait to see the Western shirts you create—whether you go classic, dramatic, or somewhere entirely your own. Be sure to share your makes using #ClosetCoreCornelius.
