17 August 2022

Abi's Chic and Simple Lyra Shirt Hack

Tilly and the Buttons - Abi's Chic & Simple Lyra Shirt HackTilly and the Buttons - Abi's Chic & Simple Lyra Shirt Hack

If we haven't met yet, I'm Abi - Tilly and the Button's Content Producer. I've never been much of a separates kinda gal. But sometimes your wardrobe calls for a chic and stylish shirt you can throw on and go, that makes you feel instantly put together. Recently I've been wearing the same smart-ish blousy tops on rotation. So it's time to add more to my weekly roster!  

One morning at Buttons HQ I spied our fabulous office manager Kate wearing a dreamy spotty shirt with a peplum, which turned out to be our Lyra shirt dress sewing pattern - simply chopped at the hip. So, feeling inspired by Kate's Lyra shirt (which I need to take a picture of!), I had to make my own. But I'm skipping the peplum to make a more classic shirt shape - perfect for all the layering I have planned for it.

Here's how I made it if you fancy having a go too...

Tilly and the Buttons - Abi's Chic & Simple Lyra Shirt Hack

What you'll need to make your simple Lyra shirt:

  • Lyra shirt dress sewing pattern
  • Some extra paper (I have some spot and cross pattern paper, but you can use any large paper)
  • The usual tools; ruler, pencil, scissors, tape measure
  • (Optional) Piping - ready-made or make your own 

Tilly and the Buttons - Abi's Chic & Simple Lyra Shirt Hack

Firstly you need to decide how long you want your shirt to be. I know I'm going to be tucking mine in, but you might wear yours loose, so this might affect how long you lengthen the bodice. I added 10cm (4in) to the length of my Lyra bodice, so it sits just on my hips. Depending on your body shape, you may need to flare your bodice pattern out at the hips to allow for more room, instead of tracing straight down - compare your hip measurement to the finished waist measurement listed in the pattern instructions. You can see from the picture above how I've redrafted mine. 

You'll need to add your desired length to the front bodice, back bodice and button stand pattern pieces.

Follow the Lyra sewing steps as normal to construct the shirt! Just skip the steps where you would attach the gathered skirt, and simply hem to finish yours instead. If you fancy adding piping to your shirt collar too, you'll need to follow a couple of extra steps when you're constructing the collar. Keep reading...

Tilly and the Buttons - Abi's Chic & Simple Lyra Shirt Hack
Tilly and the Buttons - Abi's Chic & Simple Lyra Shirt Hack

As my fabric is off-white with adorable teeny black lighten bolts, I wanted to bring out a little more of the black and emphasize the collar. To add piping to your Lyra shirt dress, Tilly's already got you covered with a fabulous tutorial on how to sew piping, demonstrated on our classic Rosa shirt and dress sewing pattern.

Tilly and the Buttons - Abi's Chic & Simple Lyra Shirt Hack

This was my second time trying piping (although my first was over 5 years ago - so this felt like the first!), and I won't lie to you, it could certainly be neater... But I was fighting a losing battle with the fabric fraying and my own frustration. I ultimately decided that the sewing police might let me off on this one and I'm happy with the end result. 

Tilly and the Buttons - Abi's Chic & Simple Lyra Shirt Hack

If anyone needs me I'll be busy in my (home) office pretending I'm the very well-put-together main character in one of those rom-coms (looking at you The Hating Game...) - I mean, I matched my nails to my lipstick after all! 

I hope you've enjoyed seeing my simple Lyra shirt hack - make sure to let us know if you try it too!

Pssst... If you liked this blog post, check out my DIY 1960s Inspired Wedding Dress!


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Author & images: Abi Dyson
Sewing pattern: Lyra shirt dress