The Frankie Polo ~ An Updated Classic From Love Notions

There is nothing more classic than a preppy polo shirt here in the Northeast. Love Notions has taken that classic polo shirt and updated it for a new modern look! The Frankie Polo shirt and dress is the perfect addition to a classic wardrobe!

Tha Frankie Polo is the Feature Friday pattern, 7/4/25. You can grab this today for just $6. If you use the code 10MARYMAC you will get an additional 10% off.

I was lucky to test the Frankie and I’m so happy I did! It’s the perfect addition to my Fall wardrobe and I can see myself making several more. It will be perfect for layering with vests and sweaters this Fall and Winter. Come spring, I can’t wait to sew up a few short sleeved versions. I think my favorite thing about the Frankie is the option of a woven collar and placket. All those adored scraps of fabric I’ve been holding on to~ can now be used up in my Frankies!

Update 7/3/2025: My Frankie Plans For Summer

This summer I have so many sewing plans, but one of them on my list is a short sleeve Frankie made from a solid color knit with a woven collar and placket. Simply dive into your scrap bin to find something perfect! I have these old shirts (that haven’t fit for years) that I have been holding on to because I LOVE the fabric. My plan is to cut them up and use them for the collar and placket on a new Frankie! I think they will be soooo cute!!

The Details

The Frankie Polo is an updated polo that is bound to become a basic in your wardrobe. The neckline is more open than a traditional polo~ giving it a more feminine look. The possibilities truly are endless with all the sleeve and cuff options. Choose from a contrasting collar, placket and cuffs or all one fabric. Mixing up solids and prints or even print mixing can help you create a truly one-of-a-kind top or dress.

• Shirt or Dress length options
• 3 Sleeve options: short, 3/4 length, long sleeves
• Cuff options for all sleeves
• Collar and Placket can be made from knit or woven fabrics
• Short sleeve cuffs can be made from wovens as well.
• Side vents (perfect for those of us that are pear shaped)
• Longer back hem
• No buttonholes or buttons!

Sizing and Fit

The Frankie Polo is available in sizes XS-5X. As with all updated Love Notions patterns, a full bust front piece is included.

The Frankie Polo is a straight, boxy fit that is meant to hit at the high hip. It is drafted for the average 5’5″ woman. The pattern tutorial states to choose your size according to your full hip measurement. It is my suggestion to use your full hip as well as your high bust when choosing your size. If your full bust is more than 4″ larger than your high bust, you should use the full bust pattern piece. Remember that the full bust pattern piece adds 2″ to the finished measurement of the waist and hips.

My Fit & Modifications

I used my high bust measurement of 41″ to select a size XL. Since my full bust is just 4″ more I did choose to go with the full bust front piece. My hips are falling out just outside of the 2X, but I only graded out to the 2X since using the full bust gives me an additional 2″.

I am only 5 feet tall, but I did not shorten the body of the polo at all. This is just a personal preference since I like my tops to be a bit longer. I did shorten the sleeve just 1″ is which is a typical alteration for me.

Choosing the correct size for your shoulder/neck area is best done by using that high bust measurement. This is how I generally get my best fit and it is when I am happiest with a garment.

Since I am only 5 feet all and busty, I found the placket was just a tad too revealing for me. I feel like it shows a tad too much cleavage for my comfort. Height and depth of necklines is a very personal thing, and since we are sewing our own~ we can make them however we want to!

Placket Opening A Bit Too Revealing For You?

On my next version, I will be raising the placket opening by 1″. There is no need to shorten the actual placket pattern pieces as they will get trimmed shorter during Step #17. I simply just raised the cutting line for the placket opening up 1″. (See photos below) However it is VERY important to also true up (or redraw) the placket opening line otherwise the placket opening will be too wide at the bottom. Remember to also move the black dot up 1″ as well. You need this to know where to clip the placket opening. I’m so sorry that I have not been able to sew up a new version with the shorter placket opening yet (we are in the thick of wedding planning over here for my one daughter). When I get a new one sewn up I will post it in the Love Notions Facebook group as well as on this blog post.

Fabrics and Notions

The Frankie Polo is designed for stable medium weight knits with at least 20% stretch. Fabrics such as jersey blends, interlock and French Terry would all work nicely. My recommendation would be to avoid lightweight knits with a lot of drape, as they may not support the placket and color as well.

Design Bonus: The placket and collar can be made with knit or woven fabric. This allows for some some combinations! Even quilter’s cotton will work!

A Little Bit About Pattern Testing

I was one of the testers for this pattern, and it always amazes how much time Tami(the designer) puts in to make each pattern the best it can be. As with all new releases, the pattern is pretested in every single size. During this pretest, we look at fit and construction issues. Testers make recommendations and Tami listens to everyone’s feedback. The pattern pieces and tutorial go through several versions before it ever gets to you! 

My first tester version of the Frankie was made from a lightweight pointelle knit. It resulted in a placket that slouched and didn’t support the weight of the collar. With feedback like mine, along with other tester’s versions, the fabric commendation changed to stable medium weight knits

Sew Mary Mac’s Tips for Sewing the Frankie

• Make sure you carefully mark the dots on the shirt/dress front for your placket.
• Attach plackets before sewing the shoulder seams. I find it much easier to handle the fabric this way. I skipped Step 3, completed Steps 4-8, then completed Step 3 and continued on with Step 9.
• For a pop of color/interest, make some bias tape from a favorite scrap of fabric.
• If using a knit fabric, I highly recommend interfacing both plackets with a knit tricot interfacing.
• If using a knit for the collar/placket, I recommend a stable knit with good recovery. A very stretchy knit can stretch out easily when sewing.
• If you’re newer to sewing with knits~ use a woven for the collar and plackets~ it’s definitely easier!
• For Step 11, I used single fold bias tape. I unfolded one edge and placed the crease along the stitching where I attached the collar. I then graded the neckline seam and clipped the curve before I moved on to Step 12.
• If you are finishing the neckline seam with bias or twill tape, I highly recommend grading the neckline seam.

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Thanks for stopping by! I truly appreciate all of you that visit!  If you enjoyed this blog post, consider subscribing to my blog to stay up to date with all my posts including my new series “The Weekly Stitch With Sew Mary Mac”.

Mary Anne 🙂

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You can grab the Frankie Polo pattern here.

 This is an affiliate link. It costs you nothing to purchase from this link, it just helps fund my fabric addiction which allows me to test and review more patterns.

To receive an additional 10% off the pattern price, use this coupon code 10MARYMAC. This coupon code can be used at anytime on any pattern….even a $6 Feature Friday pattern. My code does change quarterly, so please always check the newest blog post for an update if you find a code isn’t working.