29 June 2018

Meet the Seren sewing pattern!

Seren sewing pattern - Tilly and the Buttons
Seren sewing pattern - Tilly and the Buttons
Seren sewing pattern - Tilly and the Buttons
Seren sewing pattern - Tilly and the Buttons
Seren sewing pattern - Tilly and the Buttons

Our office has been so high pitched these past few weeks, we've been so ridiculously excited to share not one but TWO brand new sewing patterns with you!

Get the deets on Stevie and read on to find out all about Seren.

Okay without further ado, let's meet Seren...


Seren sewing pattern - Tilly and the Buttons
Seren sewing pattern - Tilly and the Buttons
Seren sewing pattern - Tilly and the Buttons

If you're looking for THE dress this summer - you know, the one you're dreaming about wearing as you shimmy under the stars with a sangria in your hand - then you've come to the right place. A pattern with multiple variations, make it as a classic button-down or add a contemporary twist with the flirty neckline flounce or pretty waist tie detail.

Introducing the Stevie sewing pattern!

Introducing the Stevie sewing pattern - Tilly and the Buttons
Introducing the Stevie sewing pattern - Tilly and the Buttons
Introducing the Stevie sewing pattern - Tilly and the Buttons

What's better than a new sewing pattern? TWO new sewing patterns!

That's right, today we're launching two brand spanking new patterns - available in both printed and PDF versions.

First up, let me introduce you to Stevie...



Introducing the Stevie sewing pattern - Tilly and the Buttons
Introducing the Stevie sewing pattern - Tilly and the Buttons
Introducing the Stevie sewing pattern - Tilly and the Buttons

I don't know about you but I love having simple, modern pieces in my wardrobe that I can throw on in the morning and feel effortlessly stylish. Stevie is a contemporary top and a tunic dress that's as easy to make as it is to wear - it's destined to be one of those patterns you become addicted to!

27 June 2018

Louise’s Purrrfect Frankie Tee!



Hi everyone, it’s Louise here to talk about an adorable adaptation you can make to your sewing projects this summer!




Here at Tilly HQ we have been so inspired by some of the cute garments you can currently buy which include patches featuring almost anything you could think of. It seems that if you have an obsession – animals, TV shows, food – you can now find a patch to express that love!

When I saw this top from Paul and Joe I knew I had to recreate it using one of our patterns, and luckily I had the ideal pattern with the Frankie Tee from our book Stretch! Make Yourself Comfortable Sewing with Knit Fabrics. I found a gorgeous cat patch from Boho Haberdashery - which looks a lot like my own fur baby Maisie! - and I was ready to start this purrrfect project. Sadly the exact patch I picked is no longer available, but they have plenty of other cat patches on offer :)

20 June 2018

Sewing Space Tours... Evie la Lùve's Pastel Daydream!

Evie la Luve Sewing Space Tour
For today's sewing space tour, where we peek behind the closed doors at a crafter's inspiring sewing room, we're in the Derbyshire countryside with Hannah the pastel queen and sewing pattern designer behind Evie La Lùve.

We've been admiring Hannah's beautiful lingerie kits and weren't surprised to see her sewing room is equally gorgeous...

Evie La Lùve Sewing Space Tour



Hello, my name is Hannah and this is my happy place! I have been running my lingerie sewing pattern/made-to-order business Evie la Lùve from this little space for nearly three years. I live in the Derbyshire countryside and have taken over the largest bedroom in our house where I live with my husband and two kitty cats, who are not allowed in my sewing room unless under strict supervision! (The cats that is, not my husband!)

Evie La Lùve Sewing Space TourMy business is made up of so many different elements and this space has to work for everything. I design, draft and digitise multi sized lingerie sewing patterns for PDF download and reconfigure these patterns so they work as printed versions too. This process alone requires a lot of space to assemble pattern envelopes, cut and fold the pattern pieces and assemble instruction sheets.

I film YouTube tutorials here also for my channel. Anything from a fabric haul to a tutorial for assembling adjustable bra straps or a full step by step tutorial for one of my sewing patterns.

Evie La Lùve Sewing Space Tour

I stock a lot of lingerie sewing supplies here as well as assembling sewing kits for my patterns, which is tricky sometimes with the space that I have! This involves packing a lot of customer orders on a daily basis along with my recently launched made-to-order collections which are all handmade by me in this small space too.

So basically what I’m saying is, my sewing room has a lot going on and can get out of hand very quickly if I don’t keep on top of things. Don’t be fooled by these photos, this is my sewing room at it’s best! I regularly can’t see the floor, not to mention my desk…


As my business has grown, this space has changed and evolved with me to accommodate whatever new venture I've dreamt up. I love the light, airy feel it has so I’ve really tried to maintain that while also making use of every inch of this room, to create some kind of organisation and work flow.

Evie La Lùve Sewing Space Tour
Along one wall I have heavy duty shelving which holds most of my fabric stash, printed patterns and kits sold in my Etsy shop. My under table storage (thank you Ikea) holds the laces I stock in my shop and the fabric I use daily for my made to order collections. This all needs to be accessible in a hurry as I like to work fast!

Evie La Lùve Sewing Space TourMy sewing space has a lot of DIYs. I like to customise everything, even if that just means I spray paint it. This includes my lilac trolley and my giant peg board! That was an organisation revolution! I incorporated curtain rail holders with dowels that hold a lot of the elastics I sell, this makes them really easy to measure when I’m packing customer orders. It also stores a lot of the equipment I use when pattern drafting so that I can use and tidy as I go along, without breaking my work flow.

Evie La Lùve Sewing Space Tour
I developed my ‘clipboard organisation system’ about a year ago and it changed everything! After spending days searching around my room (mostly on the floor) trying to track down crotch pattern pieces of new designs I was working on, I came up with this system to keep all the pieces together.

Each pattern in development has its own clipboard on the wall. I tend to work on several patterns at once, so this system keeps everything in order while still being easily accessible. It’s also a gentle reminder to get on and finish them when all the clipboards are full, and not to start working on something new until there is a free clipboard! I tend to get carried away…

Evie La Lùve Sewing Space Tour

I think my sewing room really became the 3D mood board for my business. It’s full of all my favourite pastel colours, full of flowers and pretty things that inspire me. I have personal touches everywhere, like my wedding polaroids above my desk and other decorations from our DIY wedding. 

Evie La Luve Sewing Space Tours
Working around my husband's work schedule means I am often still in my sewing room into the early hours of the morning, so I have made this space as cosy and comfortable a possible. I have fairy lights, which serve no purpose other than to make me feel good, flowers everywhere and blankets and cushions so I can get comfy and cosy when I’m still sat at my computer at 1am! Working from home means I am often in my PJs well into the afternoon and have many a time answered the door to a delivery person in my dressing gown, silently hoping they realise that I’m simply too busy to get dressed and I’m not just being lazy!



I really just created a place where I wanted to be. I feel like my sewing room is what the inside of my head would look like. It’s bright and full of pastel colours and flowers, and loads of pretty things. It’s chaotic most of the time and always has 1001 things going on at once, but I couldn't love it more!

Thank you for showing us around your dreamy sewing space, Hannah! We've loved seeing behind the scenes at Evie La Lùve and we're lusting over all the sewing goodies in your shop.

Have you seen the rest of our Sewing Space Tours? Head over and check them out!

Fancy submitting your lovely sewing space to be considered for a Tour? Read the guidelines here.

Until next time!

13 June 2018

Troubleshooting Overlocker Stitches

How to fix overlocker or serger stitch problems - Tilly and the Buttons

Overlockers (AKA "sergers") are wonderful machines... most of the time! Great for stitching knit fabrics or finishing the seams on woven garments, once you get the hang of them they're super speedy to use. (And, if you do need a helping hand to get to grips with them, check out my bestselling online workshop, Make Friends with an Overlocker or Serger.)

Overlockers do need adjusting so the settings match the fabric and seam that you're sewing. Whenever you start a new project, take some time to sew a test swatch and adjust the knobs if you need to.

How to fix overlocker or serger stitch problems - Tilly and the Buttons

This is what you're aiming for - perfectly balanced stitches. (This picture shows four threads - you may have three instead if you're sewing lightweight fabric or seams that aren't going to come under too much strain.) I've used different coloured thread for each looper and needles so you can easily see how the stitches link together.

If your seam doesn't look quite right, here's a quick reference guide for seven common issues and how to fix them...

How to fix overlocker or serger stitch problems - Tilly and the Buttons

The loops from the right side are peeping out on the wrong side!
If the upper looper thread loops are visible on the wrong side, they’re either too loose or the lower looper thread is pulling them too tight. So you can either turn the lower looper tension dial down or turn the upper looper tension dial up. Adjust them one at a time, a little at a time, sewing a test swatch each time until the loops are staying on their own side.

6 June 2018

Free Hip Pockets Pattern for the Mila Dungarees!

How to add hip pockets to your Mila dungarees! - Tilly and the Buttons

What's better than three pockets on your Mila dungarees? FIVE pockets on your Mila dungarees!

You asked for more pockets, so we've created a free downloadable pattern for a hip patch pocket that you can add to your Milas, plus instructions below for how to sew it. The pockets make a simple addition and are large enough to slip your phone, snacks or idle hands into. You are welcome :)



How to add hip pockets to your Mila dungarees! - Tilly and the Buttons
How to add hip pockets to your Mila dungarees! - Tilly and the Buttons


Get your Mila dungarees pattern
if you don't already have it

If your fabric is 150cm (60in) wide, you’ll need 0.25m (3/8yd) extra for the pockets. If it’s more like 115cm (45in) wide, you’ll need 0.35m (1/2yd) extra fabric.

How to add hip pockets to your Mila dungarees! - Tilly and the Buttons