31 August 2022

Our PRINTED Size UK 6-34 Sewing Patterns So Far!

Our PRINTED Size UK 6-34 Sewing Patterns So Far!

What a busy year it's been for the Buttons so far! In March, we announced on the blog that we were going to be combining our two size bands into one to allow us to print them in the full 15 sizes from UK 6-34 (US 2-30 / EUR 34-62). Behind the scenes, working on these updates has been our biggest focus this year... so let's have a catch-up on where we are a few months later and what's coming next...

Previously, printed Tilly and the Buttons patterns have been available in either UK 6-20 or 6-24 size bands, with patterns that come in sizes UK 16-34 (US 22-30 / EUR 54-62 / AUS 26-34) being available in PDF format only. But we've now combined our sizing to be able to offer PRINTED and PDF sewing patterns in a simplified UK 6-34 size range - yay! 

Our PRINTED Size UK 6-34 Sewing Patterns So Far!

This means that we now have a wider range of sizes in print as well as PDF with a more diverse range of bodies on the covers AND, consequentially, you should be able to see a wider range of pattern sizes available to buy from fabric shops and department stores around the world. 

The body measurements go up to 152.5cm (60in) bust, 134.5cm (53in) waist and 155cm (61in) hip.

Our PRINTED Size UK 6-34 Sewing Patterns So Far!


SHOP THE COLLECTION SO FAR

24 August 2022

Ten Things to Try if You Don't Have Enough Fabric for Your Sewing Project

Ten Things to Try if You Don't Have Enough Fabric for Your Sewing Project

You’ve got your heart set on a particular pattern and fabric combination… but then you check the pattern envelope and disaster strikes! You don’t have quite enough material to make it.

What do you do if you don’t have enough fabric for your sewing project?

Don’t ditch your dreams just yet – Tilly’s here with ten suggestions to try which may just help you make your me-made dreams come to life after all…


    1. Take the cutting layout with a pinch of salt


When sewing pattern companies create cutting layout diagrams, we can’t include absolutely every scenario. For the sake of clarity and ease of use, as well as space limitations in instruction booklets, we usually bracket together a few pattern sizes, and include two common widths of fabric. 

On Tilly and the Buttons sewing patterns, we also include a small amount of contingency for fabric shrinkage or distorted grainlines.

Depending on which size you’re making, how wide your fabric is, how much or how little it’s shrunk when you pre-washed it, and which variation of the pattern you’re making, you may well be able to cut your pattern pieces out of less fabric than the envelope suggests. So it’s worth laying your pattern pieces out on the fabric to see if you can fit them on – perhaps by shuffling them around a little and squishing them together a little more.

You could also try folding the fabric a different way – for example, rather than creating one fold by bringing the selvedges together, you may be able to squeeze more pieces on by creating two folds that bring the selvedges towards the centre, or closer to one side.

You’ll feel like a boss if you do manage to squeeze the pattern pieces on after all!

17 August 2022

Abi's Chic and Simple Lyra Shirt Hack

Tilly and the Buttons - Abi's Chic & Simple Lyra Shirt HackTilly and the Buttons - Abi's Chic & Simple Lyra Shirt Hack

If we haven't met yet, I'm Abi - Tilly and the Button's Content Producer. I've never been much of a separates kinda gal. But sometimes your wardrobe calls for a chic and stylish shirt you can throw on and go, that makes you feel instantly put together. Recently I've been wearing the same smart-ish blousy tops on rotation. So it's time to add more to my weekly roster!  

One morning at Buttons HQ I spied our fabulous office manager Kate wearing a dreamy spotty shirt with a peplum, which turned out to be our Lyra shirt dress sewing pattern - simply chopped at the hip. So, feeling inspired by Kate's Lyra shirt (which I need to take a picture of!), I had to make my own. But I'm skipping the peplum to make a more classic shirt shape - perfect for all the layering I have planned for it.

Here's how I made it if you fancy having a go too...

Tilly and the Buttons - Abi's Chic & Simple Lyra Shirt Hack

What you'll need to make your simple Lyra shirt:

  • Lyra shirt dress sewing pattern
  • Some extra paper (I have some spot and cross pattern paper, but you can use any large paper)
  • The usual tools; ruler, pencil, scissors, tape measure
  • (Optional) Piping - ready-made or make your own 

10 August 2022

Six Steps to Starting Sewing

Six Steps to Starting Sewing - How to get into making your own clothes

Fancy sewing your own clothes but don't know where to start?

If you've stumbled upon this site while researching how to get into sewing - in which case, welcome! - you may have spotted that we offer lots of resources aimed at stitchers, including complete novices, from step-by-step patterns and award-winning books through online video workshops and free tutorials.

It can all still be a bit of a maze of information though when you're just starting out and don't know what you don't know. So I thought I'd break it down into six simple steps to get started sewing. You're welcome!



Six Steps to Starting Sewing - How to get into making your own clothes

1) Get a sewing machine


Whether you buy, thrift, rent or borrow it, you'll obviously need to get your hands on a sewing machine. Shopping for a machine can feel a bit overwhelming, but all you really need is a machine that has a straight stitch (for most stitching) and an adjustable zigzag stitch (for finishing edges and sewing knits). Full-size machines (rather than those cute half-size models) are best for garment sewing. If you want to try before you buy, go to a specialist sewing machine shop or large department store such as John Lewis if you're in the UK. Or keep it easy by buying online. 

I always say that the best machine is the one you have, so don't sweat the decision too much!

Read more about choosing a sewing machine

3 August 2022

Tilly's Embroidered Puff Sleeve Indigo Dress

Tilly wears a black and white gingham midi dress with hand-embroidered flowers on the puff sleevesTilly wears a black and white gingham midi dress with hand-embroidered flowers on the puff sleeves

Do you ever have ideas for DIY dresses come to you in your dreams?

That was the origin of this dress, and it’s lovely to see it now it’s come to life!

I’m not the most skilled embroiderer in the world, but I do enjoy the process of drawing with thread, as well as the beautiful results. It was nice to have a slow, meditative project to work on over a few summer evenings sitting in the garden once the kids were in bed, enjoying some peace as the sun began to set.

Tilly wears a black and white gingham midi dress with hand-embroidered flowers on the puff sleeves

This is, of course, the Indigo dress sewing pattern, with the midi tier from the add-on pattern. The sleeves started life as the puff sleeve pattern, also included in the Indigo add on, but I hacked them to create extra volume. 

To be more specific, I “slashed and spread” the pattern – which basically means slicing it up vertically and widening it at various intervals, patching up the spaces with more paper – and added some extra height to the sleeve head.