Tilly and the Buttons: Team Button's Marnie Makes!

You may have guessed that this blog post was in the pipeline after all the Marnie love we've been showering on our socials, with makes from Team Buttons popping up here and there since we launched the sewing pattern in September.

It's time to get the gang together and share our Marnie blouses and mini-dresses (so far) all in one place...

"There's a bit of a story behind this one. In early 2020, Team Buttons gave me a Liberty gift voucher for my birthday (I know!). Then along came a global pandemic and a new baby, which put an end to any opportunities for leisurely in-store browsing. 2.5 years later, over the summer I finally got the chance to go into town, the planner that I am having already chosen the print I wanted (also knowing I had to be quick in store as my 4yo son was with me).

They didn't have that print in stock (doh!) so, on a whim and inspired by the cottage-core trend, I picked out three different colourways of the Betsy print. This is a bit of a style departure for me and isn't a print I would have ordinarily picked, but I LOVE the result!" - Tilly

"I stitched up this gingham seersucker version of the Marnie dress whilst we were developing the pattern and perfecting the instructions. As soon as I put it on I was obsessed! I love the tuck detail on the front yoke - it's so pretty and surprisingly easy to sew!

Marnie's easy fit means my dress is super comfy and I'm especially enjoying wearing it now the weather's getting cooler with tights and boots. I've got plans for another gingham Marnie dress in the works, this time in a gorgeous rust-coloured fabric from Fabric Godmother that I treated myself to at the Knitting and Stitching show." - Frances

"For my first Marnie blouse, I used the optional front yoke and sleeve tucks along with the shoulder ruffles. I used a lightweight linen voile fabric from Blackbird Fabrics and I made one small adjustment to the pattern and shortened the bodice slightly to my preferred length.

After trying a version with tucks and ruffles, I opted for a plainer version for my next and left off all the optional extras. I hacked the pattern to have short t-shirt-length sleeves and took inspiration from our lilac gingham Marnie photoshoot sample and used the print to make a feature of the front yoke!" - Kate

"This is the first Marnie I made, sewn up during the pattern development process to test out the instructions and fit. I used a lightweight, slightly sheer cotton voile from Minerva, and added all the trimmings - tucks, ruffles and frill collar. I love how classic and Victorian-chic this version looks!" - Tilly

"Marnie is perfect for somebody with a full bust because of the easy-fit, floaty design, no FBA is required! With a 32J bra size (around a dressmaker's E/F cup), the silhouette was a bit of a style departure for me, but I very quickly embraced the gorgeous shape - sewing it with a lovely drapey fabric creates the right amount of movement for my body and I feel super cute, flirty and effortlessly cool wearing it!

Sewing is a superpower and learning how to do simple adjustments opens up so many possibilities, even styles you might not otherwise try! The only adjustment here was to take a 1cm wedge out of the shoulders on each side of the princess seam, creating a nicer fit across the shoulders and back. I have two Marnies so far, and it's unlikely I'll stop there!" - Rhi

"I didn't think there would be a sewing pattern that could knock my beloved Martha dress off the top spot, but Marnie has well and truly stolen my heart...

Not only did I pinch the step shoot sample blouse from the studio (the pink with black hearts number you may have spotted in the instructions if you have the pattern), but I've also stitched up a floral cotton-poplin blouse, a plain and simple leopard print viscose blouse and a floral viscose-crepe mini dress with the shoulder ruffles and frill collar.

I've not tried the tucks yet, but I won't wait too much longer as I reeeeally want a lightweight denim one next (see what I'm thinking of recreating in this gorgeous Marnie inspo blog post)." - Abi

"For this version, I used the sweetest strawberry print double gauze from Hey Sew Sister that I'd had my eye on for months. It's soft to the touch with a gorgeous crinkly texture, and the relatively simple print lets the style lines of the garment do the talking.

I kept it simple for this version by leaving off the frill collar and omitting the tucks, but I couldn't resist adding the shoulder ruffles. Thanks to the swoonsome fabric, this is possibly my favourite of my Marnies - just don't tell the others!" - Tilly