How to Sew a Zip Fly - with Video!

Want to learn a great method for sewing a zip fly?

Zip flies on trousers and skirts can be a little fiddly, but our awesome pattern cutter Serefina, who has worked for many years for couture and high street fashion designers alike, showed me a brilliant approach which is relatively easy to do and creates a neat finish.

We’ve outlined this method in full, with detailed text and step-by-step photos, in the instructions that accompany our Ness skirt pattern. To make it even easier for you to understand how to sew it, we’ve made a video so you can see the process in moving pictures :)

You can also use this video tutorial for many other sewing projects, not just the Ness skirt. But if you are making Ness, it’s a good idea to watch the video in tandem with referencing the instructions, as the instructions have more a few more details included in the text.

Fitting the Ness skirt

Making the Ness skirt? If you need any help choosing your size or fitting the skirt, you've come to the right place. It's Serefina here, the Sewing Pattern Developer at Tilly and the Buttons, to talk you through what you need to know.

So versatile, our latest skirt pattern can be worn all year round, and works in so many different fabrics. Dress it up, keep it casual or make it in a traffic-stopping print - if you get the fit of this down, you’ll be able to reuse the pattern again and again.

The good news is the Ness pattern only has a few areas that are crucial to the fit. It’s a good idea to make your first one as a sort of work-in-progress. If you only do one thing, tack (baste) together the side seams before you sew them together, trying it on and taking it in or letting it out where needed. Check it's comfy to sit down in as well as stand up in! If you want to make any further alterations, read on...

In this post I'm going to take you through the most common adjustments that you might need to make to your pattern - if you are already aware of which alterations you’ll need to make, go ahead and adjust the pattern before you make your toile or tack together your real fabric. Or if you're not sure, make your skirt first and adjust the pattern based on how that fits.

We're going to cover:

• Choosing your size
• Lengthening and shortening
• Combining waist and hip sizes
• Fitting the back yoke

Inspiration and fabrics for making your Ness skirt

Have you fallen for the oh-so-stylish new pattern on the block yet? If you haven't, by the end of this post I guarantee our latest pattern, the Ness skirt, will have your heart skipping a beat!

Ness will slot into any wardrobe seamlessly. Make her in autumn-friendly fabrics, such as corduroy, gobelin, jacquard, or wool - or select a denim for a multi-seasonal piece! With to-die-for denim-inspired details, Ness is sure to build your dressmaking skills and have you creating me mades that look like they just walked out of a shop!

Inspiration and fabrics for making your Nora top

If you haven’t already heard, there’s a new knit top in town that is destined to become one of your favourite things to make! Just like our popular Coco pattern, Nora is quick and easy to sew and will slot into your wardrobe like it’s always been there.

You can make Nora from a multitude of knit fabrics - from single jersey, to sweater knits, double knits, and stretch velvet – there are so many lovely options to choose from. The best part is the fabric can transform the shape, from being more structured, to floatier and fluid.

NEW PATTERNS! Introducing the Ness skirt

Today is one of those days that just keeps on getting better as we have a second brand new sewing pattern for you! Check out my previous post to read all about the Nora top if you missed it - and read on to find out about Ness.

The Ness skirt is a timeless design that also happens to be all over the high street at the moment. If you're wondering what to wear this autumn/winter season, Ness is the answer, with a Freya sweater or Rosa shirt tucked in... plus it's versatile enough for when the weather warms up next year too - hooray!

NEW PATTERNS! Meet the Nora Top

It's an exciting day as we have two gorgeous new sewing patterns to introduce you to! Nora and Ness are modern, stylish and effortlessly wearable. Our team has already made multiple versions of each patterns - we're officially obsessed!

First, let me tell you all about Nora...

If you like Coco, you'll love Nora. Quick and simple to make, easy to fit, extremely wearable and oh so versatile - what's not to like? Whip up Nora as a high neck sweater, top or t-shirt in a range of stretch knit fabrics, from sweater knits to jersey.

Tips for Sewing with Sequin Fabrics

If you're thinking about making a dress for the festive season, you might be pondering how to make it a showstopper. May I suggest adding some head-turning sparkle with sequins? Sequin fabrics can definitely be time-consuming to sew, but just think of the wow factor as you swan into that soirée!




For one of the versions of the Joni dress pattern from my book Stretch! I used a sequin knit on the skirt part. (I didn't use sequins on the bodice as the twist front would be a bit bulky and scratchy against your skin.) Sequin knit fabrics have sequins sewn onto a knitted base material, such as mesh. They work well with simple styles with few seams. The stretch factor makes them easy to fit and relatively comfortable to wear.



Here are my tips for sewing with sequin fabrics...