30 November 2016

Five Tips for Sewing Cleo

Five Tips for Sewing the Cleo Pinafore - Tilly and the Buttons

Making the Cleo pinafore or dungaree dress? This sewing pattern has become our new bestseller! While the dungaree clips may make it look fiddly, it's actually quick and easy to make - it's a great pattern for beginners, or more experienced stitchers looking for a speedy project. Today I thought I'd share some bonus tips for sewing Cleo...

Five Tips for Sewing the Cleo Pinafore - Tilly and the Buttons

24 November 2016

Black Friday sale!

25% off sewing patterns

It's time to stock up on sewing patterns - get 25% off in our Black Friday sale. Hooray!

If you fancy treating yourself to those patterns you've been coveting or you need gifts for your crafty friends, grab them now!

Visit the shop and enter code BLACKFRIDAY at the checkout

Happy shopping! xxx

https://shop.tillyandthebuttons.com/collections/pattern-bundles

Offer ends Sunday 27 November midnight GMT. The discount code is not valid on pattern bundles, Cleo sewing kit, books, bags or workshops.

21 November 2016

Your Makes!

Your Makes with Tilly and the Buttons sewing patternsHello everyone! It’s Kate, currently interning at Tilly and the Buttons. As the colder winter months approach I’ve had the pleasure of looking at all your autumnal makes. I've picked out a few of my favourites to show you - prepare to be inspired!

17 November 2016

A Cleo Dress for Every Day... (and a Giveaway!)


You know when you make something and you just want to wear it every single day? You miss it when it's in the laundry basket, and can't remember what you used to wear before you had it?

This is the outfit for me. I've got four Cleo dungaree dresses now, and this is the first version I made back in the Summer - and where it all began. I started off drafting the pattern for myself, then cut it out and stitched it together in an afternoon. When I couldn't wait to wear it again, when people kept asking where it was from, and when the ladies in the office wanted to make one too, I decided we should make it into a Tilly and the Buttons pattern to share with you guys.

14 November 2016

Cleo Sewing Party - You're Invited!


Guys! Do you fancy spending a day sewing a Cleo pinafore with likeminded sewing lovers? Sound good? Join our Cleo sewing party... on Instagram!

I thought it would be fun to have a few pals who love Cleo over to our studio so we could spend a day sewing, chatting and generally having the best time. And then I thought it would be even better if you could come to - as there's only so many sewing machines in my studio, and it's not easy for everyone to get to London, we're going to have the sewing party on Instagram as well!



When?
Saturday 26 November, from 11am GMT onwards (or earlier if you're keen!)

Where?
On Instagram and Instagram Stories - tag us @TillyButtons using the hashtag #SewingCleo

How do I take part?
Make a Cleo dress on the day, and share pics and vids of your work in progress and finished makes on Instagram and Instagram Stories. I'm going to be posting updates throughout the day - you can ask me questions if you get stuck on any steps. Ooh and you could also have your own Cleo sewing party at your house and invite friends - that would be so fun to see what you're up to and say hi!

Hope you can make it!



In other news, we've been nominated for 'Sewing Designer of the Year' in the British Craft Awards. OMG! It's the first time there has been a sewing category in these awards (!) so we're particularly excited to be in the running. It would be amazing if you'd like to vote for us - click 'sewing' and then vote in as many categories as you like. You can also enter the prize draw to win a £100 Amazon gift voucher :)

This is different to the British Sewing Awards (potentially confusing, I know!), for which we're up for Best Pattern House, Best Blog and Favourite Sewing Personality. If you'd like to vote for us in both, that would be incredible!

I really appreciate your support in helping us to do what we do and keep creating sewing goodies for you to enjoy. Thank you! x x x

11 November 2016

Sewing Cleo: Sizing + Fitting

Sewing the Cleo dungaree dress - Sizing and fitting

Making the Cleo pinafore or dungaree dress? Vanessa here today – let’s talk about choosing your size and fitting the dress.

The relaxed, loose-fitting design of dungaree dresses makes Cleo easy to fit - yay! This style of dress doesn't have any darts or close-fitting seam lines that need to mould to your curves, and it hangs straight down, so don't worry about trying to get it to fit a sway back.

What you might want to do though is lengthen or shorten the dress, combine different waist and hip sizes to fit your proportions, and make a couple of small adjustments as you sew. So that's what I'm going to show you how to do...

9 November 2016

Inspiration for Sewing the Cleo Pinafore

Inspiration for making the Cleo dungaree dress - Tilly and the Buttons

Thinking of making the Cleo pinafore or dungaree dress? Today we wanted to share with you some of the gorgeous inspiration we fell in love with when developing this pattern - hopefully it will inspire and delight you too! Short or long, cosy and layered or light-weight and lovely - this pattern is a pleasure to wear year-round, as well as being quick and easy to sew up. Have a scroll through our picks and let the dungaree joy wash over you!

7 November 2016

Introducing the Cleo Sewing Pattern!

 Cleo dungaree dress sewing pattern - Tilly and the Buttons
Cleo pinafore sewing pattern - Tilly and the Buttons

Get excited – it’s here! Our new sewing pattern is the super cute and utterly wearable Cleo pinafore or dungaree dress (AKA jumper or overall dress)! Cleo is speedy to sew and easy to wear – I hope you love it as much as we do.

Aaaaaand for the very first time, we’re offering sewing kits with everything you need to make it!

or

2 November 2016

Five Ways to Use a Dress Form

Five Ways to Use a Dress Form - Tilly and the Buttons

Do you own a dress form? Also known as a dressmaker’s dummy or mannequin. One of the questions I’m asked a lot is whether to buy a dress form and which one I’d recommend. So today I thought I’d show you mine and talk you through some reasons you might want to get one.

Five Ways to Use a Dress Form - Tilly and the Buttons

While a dress form isn’t an essential, it’s definitely nice to have – one of those tools like an overlocker that you can certainly live without when you’re just starting out, but will put to good use when you get one. I’ve had my Lady Valet Adjustoform for six years now, and it’s still going strong. The soft cover looks nice and is easy to pin, and the solid wooden top and base look smart – in fact, it looks as good as new six years down the line! As an Adjustoform fan, I'm excited to partner with them for this post to show you five ways you can use your dress form...