Make It Simple: Say Hello to the Tabitha T-Shirt and Dress!

A classic t-shirt is the kind of sewing pattern you'll return to again and again. It's speedy to make, easy to wear and oh-so versatile.

Over the next few days I'm taking you through the patterns in my new book Make It Simple (see the previous post for the Safiya trousers if you missed it). The second pattern is the Tabitha T-shirt, which you can also make as a drawstring dress. If you're familiar with my previous book Stretch!, I reckon this pattern is going to be the Freya of Make It Simple - in other words, the one that people will make over and over again :)



Tabitha has a classic straight shape, not too tight, not too loose. Some of our testers said they had finally found the perfect shaped t-shirt. As you can see in the technical drawing above, you can make Tabitha in multiple versions - with a choice of three sleeve lengths, as a drawstring dress, as a ringer T... so many options!

Like the other patterns in the book, the Tabitha T-shirt comes in ten sizes, from UK 6-24 / US 2-20. The patterns are included in the back of the book ready to trace off, or there's a link in the book to where to download them, as either A4/Letter or A0 files, if you prefer to print them at home or at a copyshop.

Make It Simple: Meet the Safiya Trousers, Dungarees and Playsuit!

I have been positively itching to share all the deets about the sewing patterns in my new book Make It Simple - and with the book now officially published and out in the world, I finally can - woohoo!

The book features six main patterns, each with four variations. The subtitle of the book is Easy, Speedy Sewing Projects to Stitch up in an Afternoon, so you can rest assured that all the patterns all quick and simple to make. The patterns come in ten sizes, from UK 6-24 / US 2-20. They're included in the back of the book ready to trace off, or there's a link in the book to where to download them, as either A4/Letter or A0 files, if you prefer to print them at home or at a copyshop.



Today I'm going to introduce you to the first pattern in the book, the Safiya trousers, which you can also make as dungarees, a playsuit or jumpsuit using the variations and extra pattern pieces provided in the book. The variations are great for if you have some more time and want to maximise the use of the pattern - you can make it again and again in completely different styles.

My new book Make It Simple is out today!

It's here! After many months of planning, writing, scheming, drafting, truing, cutting, stitching, photographing, proofing and (ahem) fabric shopping, my new book Make It Simple is out today.

In case you missed our announcement to our email list members and on social media, this is earlier than previously advertised after the warehouse got a little bit over-excited and started sending books out to bookshops early - oopsie! After discussing with the publisher, we decided to bring the official launch date forward to make it fair to those of you who pre-ordered from our online shop (if this was you, check your letterbox!).

As you can imagine, it's made us a little frantic over here signing books (me), packing orders and getting them out in time (Frances and Kate), as well as bringing forward the schedule of extra content and pattern downloads that we've been working on behind the scenes (me, Louise, Jenny, Nikki and Kate). But it's a good problem to have as for you guys it means you get to start sewing earlier - hooray!



I set out writing Make It Simple with the aim of helping you fit more creativity into your life, no matter how busy you are with work, family and other life commitments.

With time being one of the biggest barriers to sewing, I want to share with you my approach to fitting sewing into the smallest windows of time, as well as time-saving tips and shortcuts to speed up your sewing without compromising the quality of your creations.

It's this approach that has helped me get my sew-jo (sewing mojo) back - nay, set it on fire! - since having my son and juggling being a mum with running a business.




The book includes six main sewing patterns, each with multiple variations totalling 24 projects. They're all easy to make, speedy to sew, simple to fit, with no fiddly fastenings or complex supplies lists.

The patterns come in ten sizes from a UK 6-24 (US 2-20) - having a wide range of sizes like this is unusual for a book, so something we're particularly proud to have pulled off with the support of our publishers. The patterns are included on printed sheets in the back ready to be traced off, or you can download them to print at home or at a copy shop if you prefer.



Over the next couple of weeks, I'm going to take you through each pattern in the book, the variations and supplies needed - so watch this space!

I am super proud of this book - in fact, I think it's the best thing I've done to date - so I really hope you enjoy reading and sewing with it :)

We would absolutely LOVE to see the book in your hands as well as your sewing plans, works in progress and finished makes, so please share with us on Instagram @TillyButtons with the hashtag #MakeItSimpleBook (and, if you make one of the patterns, #SewingSafiya or whatever the hashtag is for that pattern).

Happy simple sewing, everyone!



*****
Author: Tilly Walnes
Make It Simple is published by Quadrille (Hardie Grant)
Model photography: © Ellie Smith
Model shoot props and styling: Clare Nicolson
Models: Karen Arthur, Samantha Waude, Paige Joanna, Kristabel Plummer, Phoebe Nickalls

Team Bobbi Makes

There’s nothing we love more in the Tilly and the Buttons office than a new pattern release. After months of behind the scenes pattern development, we finally get to unleash our sewing plans that we’ve been dreaming about for so long.

Nikki here today. It’s safe to say we’ve gone truly wild for our latest sewing pattern, the Bobbi skirt and pinafore. On the last count, we’ve got ten Bobbis between us, with even more planned. We decided to have a Team Bobbi Day where we wore our makes in the office and snapped some pics... read on to see how different this pattern looks in different fabrics!

You can always depend on Kate to bring the colour. Seriously, her wardrobe is like a golden ray of sunshine, and her Bobbi is no exception! Kate made a pinafore in a sensational Rifle Paper Company canvas that she picked up from Sister Mintaka.