10 Design Hack Ideas for the Stevie Tunic

 
Are you part of the Stevie tunic appreciation society? If you have caught the bug for this speedy-to-sew and addictive-to-wear style, you might be looking for ways to hack your favourite pattern to make even more!

It's Louise here from team Buttons, and Stevie has to be one of my favourite TATB patterns. I have made several and found myself inspired to hack this design to keep my collection growing. When I realised that my Pinterest board was overflowing, I pencilled in a blog post so I could share these hack ideas with makers that would be able to appreciate them (my husband was not my ideal audience, as he kept asking, "Who's Stevie?").

So, without further ado, I am going to share ten design ideas for the Stevie tunic top or dress!

Clockwise L-R: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6

Fitting the Romy top and dress

Making the Romy top or dress and want a friendly, extra helping hand with fitting and choosing your size? It's Nikki here, Product Manager at Tilly and the Buttons, and I'm here to talk through the main things you need to know about fitting one of our newest sewing patterns.

Romy is relatively simple to fit, as it has a modern, loose silhouette - hooray! It's designed for low stretch knit fabrics such as jersey or interlock but, unlike many knit garments, it has "positive ease", meaning the top or dress is bigger than the body. It's designed to skim rather than be close-fitting - so don't be tempted to over-fit it ;)

As with all garments, the fabric that you choose is going to have an impact on how the finished garment hangs and feels on your body. To reiterate the fabric suggestions listed on the pattern envelope, look for a knit fabric that isn't too drapey or lightweight so the envelope neckline doesn't sag, avoid anything clingy if you're making the dress, and avoid bulky fabrics if you're making the back ties. A medium weight jersey or interlock with little stretch or drape should be perfect.

If you're making the back tie version, the other thing to bear in mind with fitting is to check the upper back bodice is sitting nicely against your back. This is going to be different for everyone depending on your shape and the amount of stretch and recovery in the fabric, so we recommend in the instructions to tack (baste) your top or dress together and try it on before stitching for real.

We're going to cover this in more detail in this post, as well as some other simple adjustments you can make to get a great fit:

• Choosing your size
• Combining pattern sizes
• Lengthening the bodice, sleeve or hem
• Shortening the bodice, sleeve or hem
• Adjusting the shoulders and back
• Making a toile

Tilly's Favourite Dress of All Time

If I had to retire tomorrow, I'd do so content with the knowledge that I'd reached my sartorial zenith with releasing the Romy sewing pattern. 

It's no secret that I love a breton top or dress, as they're so stylish and easy to wear. It's the details on Romy that elevate it to something extra special. From the front, the simple loose-fitting shape is effortlessly chic, while the overlapping envelope neckline creates some construction interest. And then you turn around to reveal the back ties - I for one am drooling!

Inspiration for Making Your Romy

If you haven't yet caught the bug for our latest pattern Romy, that may be about to change!

It's Louise here, and I'm going to share some inspiration and fabric suggestions for making a wardrobe full of this stylish - and comfy! - top or dress. The envelope neckline, optional contrast binding and optional back ties make it a lovely pattern to get creative with. There is so much to tell you about Tilly's favourite pattern to date, so be sure to check out our blog post giving you all the deets.

 
When choosing fabric for your make, shop for a medium-weight low stretch knit fabric such as jersey or interlock. As the pattern has a modern, looser fit, you don't need to worry about picking a fabric with a certain amount of stretch - yay! Tilly's tip is to avoid any fabric that is too clingy or drapey (like a viscose jersey) to avoid neckline droop. And, if you are making the back tie version, steer clear of anything thick so the knot doesn't end up bulky. A medium weight cotton jersey would be perfect.

I can share a little insider knowledge with you - there may or may not be Romy kits coming to the shop in the next few weeks with perfectly picked fabric to make a gorgeous Romy. But you didn't hear that from me : )

Clockwise L-R: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8

When designing the pattern, Tilly had her head in the French Riviera clouds - can you tell? Romy and stripes are a match made in heaven, but she looks lovely in all kinds of prints and plains.