A shirt yoke has two layers, and the aim is to enclose every raw edge between them without any hand stitching. The method that does it is usually called the burrito, and it looks alarming the first time.
The back seam. Lay the back of the shirt between the two yoke pieces — outer yoke right side up, back right side up on top of it, inner yoke right side down on top of that. Sew across all three. Press the yokes away from the back and understitch or topstitch. The back seam is now enclosed.
The shoulders, by the burrito method.
One. Lay the assembled yoke flat, outer yoke down, inner yoke up.
Two. Place the two fronts on top with right sides against the outer yoke, matching the shoulder seams.
Three. Roll the back of the shirt up towards the shoulder line, into a tight sausage, so it sits clear of the shoulder seams.
Four. Fold the inner yoke over the top of the roll, so the shoulder edges of both yoke layers and both fronts are aligned with the rolled body sandwiched inside.
Five. Sew both shoulder seams through all layers.
Six. Pull the shirt out through one of the open ends of the tube. Every shoulder seam is now enclosed.
Press well and topstitch if the style calls for it.
Practise on a scrap in two colours. It makes the geometry obvious in a way that reading it does not.
Questions people actually ask
Why is my yoke twisted after turning through?
One of the fronts was placed against the wrong yoke layer. Check that both fronts sit right sides against the outer yoke before rolling.
Can I just sew the shoulders and finish the edges?
Yes, and it is quicker. The burrito exists because it gives a fully enclosed finish with no visible seam allowances inside.
Last reviewed 2026-08-11