Here's a riddle for you - what's ultra-comfy, casual, modern, and your next favourite make? Answer: it's the Billie sweatshirt and sweater dress! Billie is the newest member of the Tilly and the Buttons sewing pattern family and we can't wait to tell you more.
As we're spending a little (a lot) more time than usual at home at the moment, we decided to create a pattern that you'll feel great in, wherever you are and whatever you're doing - whether that's in Zoom meeting after Zoom meeting, glued to your sewing machine, or lounging on the sofa!
With multiple sleeve versions, and the choice to make a top or a dress with optional cutaway pockets, the question is: which version will you make first?
Excited to learn more about Bille? Let's get to it...
*Update!* Billie now comes in a choice of TWO size bands - a UK 6-24 OR a UK 16-34.
THE DESIGN
When designing the Billie sweatshirt and sweater dress, Tilly wanted to create a quintessential sweatshirt pattern with a twist. And what better way to elevate a garment than with on-trend sleeves and super cute pockets?
All versions of Billie have a relaxed (but not too baggy) shape, crew neckline and classic neckband. Keep it effortless with cuffed, straight sleeves (either long or three-quarter length), or add some drama with on-trend balloon sleeves and deep cuffs. The balloon sleeves are seriously gorgeous - we've gone wild for them in the TATB (virtual) office!
It's no secret we love the concept of "secret pyjamas". These are clothes that look stylish but are so snuggly and comfortable you could totally lounge on the sofa watching a film or take a nap in them, and we're delighted to report that Billie ticks all the boxes in this category :)
THE SEWING PATTERN
The Billie sweatshirt and sweater dress is suitable for confident beginners. If you've made a couple of garments before, you're ready to make Billie. If you've never sewn with knit fabrics before and are a bit apprehensive - don't be! Pick a low stretch French terry, loopback or sweatshirting fabric, all of which are easy to sew. Our instructions will hold your hand every step of the way, and we have some additional resources on the dedicated Billie blog page to help you further, including a video tutorial on how to sew a jersey neckband, and a video with tips aplenty for sewing sweatshirt knit fabrics.
The only other slightly tricky aspects of the pattern are gathering the balloon sleeves and stitching the pockets, however, the instructions will also take you through these options, step-by-step. We also have a blog post (with video!) on how to sew gathers on the dedicated Billie page you can check out.
Order the printed UK 6-24 sewing pattern and we'll send you a beautiful package in the post, with full-colour instruction booklet. 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.
And for the PDF digital sewing pattern, you have a choice of either the UK 6-24 size band OR the UK 16-34 size band (see the body measurements chart above to figure out which one most closely matches you). If you are in between the two, check out this guide to choosing your size in TATB patterns.
Once you've checked out your purchase, you'll find an email in your inbox with a PDF to download. You can either print it at home on A4 or Letter size paper and stick the sheets together, or send the A0 version to a copyshop or pattern printer to print full scale.
SIZING AND SUPPLIES
Billie is designed for medium- to heavy-weight knit fabrics with at least 10% stretch such as sweatshirt fleece, French terry, ponte, double knit, interlock or sweater knit. If you're sewing the balloon sleeve version in a thick sweatshirting fabric, you'll need a sturdy machine as the gathers make the sleeve seams quite thick.
If your fabric has at least 20% crosswise stretch, you can use it for the sleeve cuffs, hem band and neckband. If your fabric has less than 20% crosswise stretch, or if you want to mix it up a bit, you can use a matching, toning or contrast ribbing fabric for these details. You can get ribbing from lots of fabric shops and it's mostly (but not always) sold as "tubular ribbing", where the fabric comes as, you've guessed it, a tube and has no selvedges.
Tilly's has written a blog post with tips on sewing with sweatshirt fabric, so make sure you check that out! Speaking of blog posts, Louise wrote an inspiration post for making and styling Billie. Trust me, it's a goodie, and is filled with gorgeous fabrics and styling ideas. You won't want to miss it.
Excited to stitch up the Billie sweatshirt and sweater dress? Us too! Grab a copy from our online shop.
We always love seeing your makes and progress shots so don't forget to tag us on Instagram @TillyButtons using the hashtag #SewingBillie so we can see your lovely creations.
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Author: Nikki Hoar
Model: UK 6-24 pattern - Marcela Solarte @mama.on.a.sew UK 16-34 pattern Sarah Baillie @SuperBailles
Photographer: Jane Looker
Video: Filmed by Jane Looker, edited by Jenny Lingham-Doe
Makeup: Marcela's - Laura Anne / Sarah's - she did her own!
Samples: sewn by Lisa Obuchowska
Marcela's samples
Pink grid See You at Six French terry: Lamazi Fabrics (gifted)
Light blue fleece back sweatshirting: Minerva Crafts (gifted)
'Maker' decal: Created in a collaboration with Happy Fabric
Glow glam drops jacquard in navy and copper: Albestoffe (gifted)
Mustard organic sweatshirt fleece: Fabric Godmother
Sarah's samples
Colourblock sweatshirt dress fleece back sweatshirt fabric (colours melange light blue, rose pink and yellow) and mint ribbing for the cuffs and neckband from Minerva Crafts (gifted)
Striped balloon sleeve ponte roma fabric from Minerva Crafts (gifted)
