Sew Your Own #1 - Tilly and the Buttons - Coco Dress with Ruffle Sleeve Hack!

Hi pinups! As promised early this week in my Sew Your Own Introduction post, here's my first make in my new blog series. All about how I've recreated some of my favourite ready-to-wear/high-street/online looks myself with handy sewing pattern choices and easy hacks.

A sewist's essential pattern!

Which do you prefer?

Coco & ruffles - a match made in sewing heaven!

My hacked Coco vs the Joanie Suri Dress

Perfect for comfy & smart Spring dressing!

A staple for Spring!

Overall, I am so happy with this dress! I'm forever looking at RTW clothes and thinking 'I should make that', and I'm glad I've finally started. I hope my Sew You Own blog series will also inspire you to start recreating and do let me know if you try this one!

Tilly and the Buttons - Cleo Dungaree Dress - Button-up Pattern Hack!

Hi pinups! I'm so excited about this make, I couldn't wait to share it with you, so I bumped it right to the top of my blog post queue! Lets get into it... I recently made a button up skirt and combined with my and a girl in working in my local H&M, I was inspired to make my own button up dungaree dress, using the as the base.



This hack is super simple and would be great for beginner sewists looking for a new challenge, who maybe aren't quite ready to sew a shirt yet. The easy button facing is a great skill to nail down as it crops up in lots of shirt/button up styles. It'll also get you practising those button holes!

My Pinterest inspiration!

For my button up Cleo I wanted a knee length, fitted style with two small pockets and fastened with clips instead of buttons. I love the high-street styles with waist seams but I thought I would keep it simple to start. For my version, I wanted it to be pretty figure hugging but not restrictive ('cos hips) so I chose a light-weight, super soft stretch denim fabric, quite different from my previous Cleo. Being a curvy gal, as I said in the pattern review, I was worried I would loose my shape in the dungaree dress, but a smaller size made from stretch fabric works well for me personally.



For the Cleo Dungaree Button-up hack (along with the original pattern & fabric/supplies) you will need:

• pattern paper
• tracing tools - scissors, pencil, ruler etc.
• light/medium weight interfacing & iron
• 12 buttons

Vintage Vogue V2930 - Sew Style Vintage Bookazine Pattern Hack Feature!

Something a little extra exciting today, which I've been dying to share for months! My first ever magazine feature! I was contacted to be part of a pattern hacking feature for Sew Style Vintage bookazine. A series of sewing bookazines by Sew Style, other titles include Fashion & Home, Quick & Easy and For Beginners. Each one is £9.99 but the price is totally justifiable as they are designed to keep, love and use over and over again plus there's FREE patterns! Available to buy HERE.

I just wanted to share a little of what I got up to and show you a couple of images that didn't end up in the bookazine. Here's a peek at the vintage pattern hacking feature:

So exciting to see myself! And how gorgeous is Victoria's dress too?

"Welcome to Sew Style Vintage, your keepsake project book celebrating the joys of stitching the styles of bygone eras. Step back in time with us, taking a fashion journey from the 1920s right through to the 1980s, and discover a wealth of inspiration for stitching the glamour of old. Start tonight with one of the gorgeous Vogue® Patterns included in your pack, or turn to our project section for a collection of retro ideas. Add a touch of 1940s and 1950s style to your wardrobe with your two patterns. Within these pages you’ll find tips and tricks for stitching these as well as a whole host of fabric ideas. These are classic looks, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be worn with today’s trends, too, so turn to page 50 for all the styling inspiration you’ll need.

Once you’ve read all about the history of the hat, had your 50s tea party, and consulted vintage bloggers for expert advice, there’s a collection of stitchy projects that embody all things retro – whip up some fifties flair with a Monte Carlo skirt, or wrap up in style with the tartan cape. The accessories you choose can complete your ensemble, so check out an effortlessly elegant fur stole, stylish denim bag and a very retro headband, too.

Whether you’ve got a spare hour or a whole day to indulge your hobby, this handy tome will have you covered. Grab some fabric, raid your stash and get stitching vintage lovelies to wear and wow."

If this doesn't tempt you, I don't know what will!

My finished pattern hacked Vogue 2903 dress!

I'm not going to go into my pattern hack as that's all in the bookazine. But I was given the vintage Vogue 2903 dress pattern from 1957 along with the fabric and asked to hack it into something new!

Here's a peek at the pattern:

There was sooo much fabric in that skirt!

As I say in the magazine I chose to hack my dress using my favourite sewing skills (if you can call them that), shirt collars and button holes! If you've been following my blog, you'll know I love a shirt dress. I'm pleased with the outcome and it will be a lovely addition to my Summer wardrobe.

Pattern: hacked!

A huge 'thank you' to the team at Sew Style Vintage for asking me to be a part of this feature, it was so much fun! I can't wait to pick up a copy of this gorgeous retro sewing publication and get inspired by all the vintage sewing fun!

Thank you for reading, pinups!
xo

Tilly and the Buttons - Agnes Top to Dress Pattern Hack

If you've read my previous pattern review blog post, you'll know this one was coming! The to dress pattern hack. Now I'm not claiming any credit for this hack, it's been really popular since the pattern came out and there are some great versions out there. After recently sewing the basic top version, I knew I had to try the popular dress version too!


Here's a peek at the pattern:

So many styles to create!

I found her intructions really easy to follow and the colourful images make each stage easy to understand. I already had a gathered skirt pattern to hand as I've used it before in my previous pattern hack posts.




For my Agnes dress I chose this stunning rose print, light weight jersey. I'm in love with it. It's a jersey print I don't think I'd usually go for, but I wanted something out of my polka dot and stripes comfort zone, and I'm so happy I did! It's the perfect Autumn floral and perfect for this dress.




This dress has fast become one of my favourite makes and I've worn it several times already, so I'll definitely be making more. It's such a comfortable dress but also looks really smart and can be easily dressed up.

For my version I chose to try the elasticated centre front with 3 quarter length sleeves. The only thing I found tricky with the construction was getting the jersey to gather. However much I stretched the elastic or steamed it after, the jersey just wouldn't play ball. After a 3 attempts I was worried I might start to damage my fabric with my repeated unpicking so I left it in the end. I find the center front top stitching pretty ugly and the stitches are uneven as I had to stop to pull the elastic. Ohh well, better luck next time!




Sewing Summary:

Pattern: 

Fabric: Red Pink Roses Photos on Black Cotton Jersey Blend Knit Fabric - Girl Charlee £9.95 per m

Notions: Narrow elastic from the center front gathering

Sewing time: A couple hours.

Modifications: See Tilly's Instructions (link above) to see how to do the hack.

Fit: Good! I adjusted the bust fit as I found my first Agnes top a little tight and this is much better but the jersey fabric is also a little thinner.

Difficulty: Easy-peasy!

Watch out for: The elastic center front. Grrrr.

Make Again?: Yes!




Overall, I'm really happy with this dress. I'm so in love with this printed jersey, and sewing with jersey fabric in general. It's the perfect first dress for my Autumn/Winter wardrobe, with lots more to come!

Get this gorgeous Autumn roses look for yourself with this jersey fabric from Girl Charlee with the




Thanks for reading, pinups!
xo