Nikki's 70s-tastic Jessa trousers

On 1st January of this year, I scribbled in my notepad that I wanted to make a pair of trousers that fit me really well, and I'm happy to report I can tick that sewing resolution (sewlution?) off my list with my mid-blue denim Jessas jeans. Yay!

As soon as Tilly showed me her sketch of Jessa in the early stages of production, I was in complete love. I am a sucker for anything high-waisted with a 70s vibe. I also love big pockets. And asymmetric waistbands... I mean it's probably quicker to say what I don't love about Jessa (spoiler: nothing). I've been after a pair of gently flared trousers for ages and I'm thrilled that I now have the perfect pair.

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!

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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 : )

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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.

Inspiration for making Jessa

Have you seen our latest pattern addition? Say hiya to the Jessa trousers and shorts - a gorgeous pair of flares that you just won't wanna take off!

It's Louise here from team Buttons, a style obsessed sewer who is always on the look out for inspo to bring into my stitching. I wanna share some ideas and fabric suggestions with you for making this super cute pattern.

If you haven't read Nikki's introduction post, then pop on over because she shares all the details you need to know about this design.

When it comes to fabric shopping for you perfect pair of Jessas, what do you need to know? Jessa is designed for medium- to heavy-weight woven fabrics such as denim, corduroy, cotton drill, linen, or triple crepe if you're after a more flowy and romantic silhouette. Stretch isn't required but a small amount of elastane will make them extra comfy.

I have scoured our favourite fabric shops for some good options and have broken them down into a few look ideas. If you are off on holiday, you might want to consider a natural fibre like linen that will breathe and keep you cool. Denim is hard-wearing, so a good choice for your every day pair and the triple crepe and stretch cotton fabrics I found would make the perfect showstopping pair of Jessas.

Whatever you go for, have fun with this make because life is too short to be wearing boring trousers!

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French Riviera style was a big influence on the design of the Romy and Jessa patterns - cool, understated, but definitely screaming 'look at me'! I love the idea of a pair of striped shorts worn with an easy-breezy white shirt and wide-brimmed sun hat to top off the look.

A lovely pair of red linen shorts (fabric no.6), or azure blue twill trousers (fabric no.1) worn with a Breton striped Romy - et Voila! Super chic vibes, even if you are just popping to the supermarket : )

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This selection of fabrics would be perfect for your Riviera chic Jessa trousers or shorts - with twill, linen, stretch denim or cotton and jumbo cord, we've got you covered!

Meet the Romy top and dress pattern

If you love new sewing patterns then today is your lucky day. Today we launch not one, but two shiny new Tilly and the Buttons sewing patterns and we couldn't be more excited! If you missed it, check out our previous post introducing the new Jessa trousers and shorts for more info. Otherwise, read on to find out more about our gorgeous new pattern - the Romy top and dress.

If you love stylish yet comfortable jersey tops and dresses then look no further than Romy. With multiple, gorgeous variations to choose from you'll want to make them all. Romy is another multi-seasonal winner - three different sleeve options mean she's suitable for all temperatures. And have you seen those back ties? We are obsessed.

So without much further ado let's dive in and learn more about our new gal pal, Romy.

THE DESIGN

Meet the Jessa trousers and shorts pattern

Today is a very exciting day. We are delighted to announce the release of not one but two gorgeous new sewing patterns. Happy days!

First things first, let us introduce you to our newest sewing crush, the Jessa trousers and shorts. Our lovely customers have been asking us to release a jeans pattern for a while now, and we think we've created something even better. Jessa is a super flattering pair of high waisted shorts and flares that you can make as jeans, trousers or shorts.

And the best news? Jessa is a true all-round hero and can be worn in any season. Make the shorts version in summer and team with a loose, cropped Nora tee or our new fave Romy (more on her later!), or wear with a tucked-in Freya from our book Stretch! or a Rosa shirt in the cooler months.

We're sure you're going to love her as much as we do. Read on to find out more :)

THE DESIGN 

10 Strap Design Ideas for Cleo

Hands up if you have made a Cleo dungaree dress? Hands up if you if you wear dungaree dresses? Now, hands up if you want make your very own dungaree dress? Yay - you are all with me!

It's Louise here from team Buttons and I am forever searching for the perfect detail to add to my handmade garments. I love the feeling you get when making the same pattern again and again. Feeling confident with the sewing process gives me the freedom to think about adding design details to make my clothes even more special.

The Cleo pinafore + dungaree dress has to be our most iconic pattern. With nearly 6,000 uses of #SewingCleo on Instagram and 10,000 copies sold, there is a lot of love for this pattern! So with that in mind, we thought you might like some inspo for your next Cleo with a focus on the small but mighty strap.

Let me count the ways a Cleo strap could be done, one, two...ten! Here's a bunch of design ideas that will mean you never look at the strap in the same way again - enjoy : )

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The first idea is probably my favourite one - why not create plaits for your straps? Before you suggest that this idea is beautiful but totally tricky, I am pleased to tell you we have a video tute for creating this delectable detail! I predict myself putting plaits on everything.

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