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 

It's no secret that Tilly loves seventies fashion, and this was a big inspiration for her when she designed Jessa. She wanted to design a pair of trousers or shorts that remained modern whilst giving a nod to nostalgic details. And well, we think this pattern does just that.

The full-length trousers feature wide, gently flared legs and the shorts have oh-so-cute turn-up hems. Both versions close with a concealed front zip fly and have a high waisted curved waistband and back darts to help you get a super flattering fit. Believe us when we say that this pattern makes your behind look very peachy! The triangle tab fastening on the waistband adds a unique feature to elevate your make into something extra special.

We know you love pockets as much as we do so we've included optional patch pockets to add to the front or back (or both!). They're deep enough to hold your phone and other essential bits and pieces. There's also the option to add a faux pocket flap to the front which is a gorgeous detail that will make your Jessa trousers or shorts extra special.

THE SEWING PATTERN

Our award-winning patterns feature clear instructions with step-by-step colour photos to guide you through the project. The pattern pieces themselves are clearly labelled so you can see which seam is which and how they go together.

We've labelled the Jessa trousers and shorts as suitable for improvers. It's a bit more of an involved make than say a Cleo pinafore or Stevie dress, but with our crystal clear instructions and additional resources, we'll hold your hand every step of the way. In fact, we're going to do a sewalong for the Jessa trousers and shorts, which will include additional photos and instructions to help you even further. If you're thinking of making the Jessa trousers or shorts and want some help, following the sewalong is a good opportunity to get extremely detailed instructions and pick up some extra tips and tricks. We'll be announcing more details on this in the coming weeks so keep your eyes peeled.

The fiddliest part of sewing Jessa is the zip fly, but the good news is it's mostly the same as the zip fly method in the Ness skirt, and we already have a video (made by the very clever Jenny) that explains this. Hooray! The only way in which the zip fly method in the Jessa trousers and shorts differs from the Nessa skirt is the order of the finishing of the seams. We'll cover this in more detail during the sewalong posts.

Order the printed sewing pattern and we'll send you a beautiful package in the post. Made in the UK, our patterns are printed on durable paper which you can use again and again without it tearing or scrunching up. As well as our online shop, you can buy them from fabric shops and department shops around the world - check out our list of stockists.

Prefer to print and assemble your pattern at home? Buy the digital pattern and you'll get an email in an instant with a PDF to download. You can either print it at home on A4 or letter size paper, or send it to the copy shop to print large scale.

SIZING AND SUPPLIES

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. Louise is going to share some pinspo and fabric ideas on the blog next week - keep your eyes peeled!

Find out how much fabric and other supplies you’ll need for each version on the shop page. You'll need an 18cm (7in) zip, although don't worry if can't find the exact size - get one a little bigger, as we have a blog post on how to shorten a metal zip. You'll also need two hook and bars for a clean finish with no visible fastenings, or one button and one hook and bar. If you are adding a faux pocket flap you might want to add a button to it for an extra design detail. The decision is completely up to you!

The pattern includes eight sizes – from UK 6 – 20, US 2 – 16, or EUR 34 – 48. You can see the exact body measurements on the sizing chart.

When it comes to fitting, the thought of adjusting trousers and shorts can seem a bit scary. The good news is a couple of tweaks can turn an ill-fitting pair of trousers into a pair that fits in all the right places. Keep your eyes peeled for a blog post which will the basics of fitting, as well as how to lengthen, shorten and combine sizes.



Want to make the Jessa trousers or shorts? Grab the pattern from our online shop today.

Here at Tilly Towers we are absolutely thrilled to see your finished makes and progress shots - nothing makes us happier. Please share with us on Instagram @TillyButtons with the hashtag #SewingJessa :)

*****

Photographer: Jane Looker

Hair and make up: Julie @ The Bridal Stylists

Gorgeous Models: Suzanne Hopkins and Alice Irvine

Pink trousers: Stretch denim from Higgs and Higgs (gifted)

Cream shorts: Stretch denim from Higgs and Higgs (gifted)

Teal trousers: Corduroy from Like Sew Amazing (gifted)

Enormous thanks to our amazing pattern testers, we couldn't do it without you x x x