Introducing my new Tilly and the Buttons Rosa dress.
I was delighted when Tilly asked me if I’d like to test this pattern. I was excited by just the line drawing alone. All I could see was piping and matching buttons and I didn’t falter when the pattern arrived.
I won’t go into construction details, mostly because so many weeks have passed, I’ve quite forgotten them, but also I think it only fair to do that with a tried and tested one.
That said, I love it and its had so many outings already. The legs are still bare, making the most of this warm September, but I have another styled vision of red tights and black patent DMs for the colder months ahead!
I love the 3/4 rolled up sleeves with the tab. It adds such a lovely detail. I’m always doing stuff and sometimes a full length sleeve just irritates me and feels so restrictive. Rolled sleeves makes me feel like I mean business even if I actually don’t!
I’m pretty sure I jumped at this pattern after making Mr O a few vintage western shirts (See two of them here and here). And I’m pretty sure the only shirt I’ve ever made myself – with a proper collar – is my 50s bowling shirt.
So I was due one. Even if it’s actually a dress! It still has that lovely vintage front and back yoke that I adore.
I used a cheap washed out denim from A-One fabrics in the Goldhawk Road. Was a bit worried about the thickness, with piping sandwiched in the seams, but it worked just fine. Incidentally, the only piping I managed to get my hands on is upholstery piping for sure. It’s not dainty in the least. But hey I wanted statement red piping and I got it!
I apologise to anyone with a phobia of wrinkled clothing. I do have an iron – honest, guvs! But denim is just one of those tricksy fabrics I guess and in any case there is no official term for such phobia so I might just get away with it!
I actually sewed down the pockets, whilst sewing on the buttons (intentionally of course ;-)) to save me putting anything in them. Which I obviously would if they were functional. This will ultimately limit unnecessary boob distortion and minimize wrinkle action.
Another thing I really like about this pattern is the in-outness of the waist to hip. Such a lovely shape. And really helpful when one’s waistline is increasingly difficult to define!
I should really declare that I took these shots myself. Not the usual quality delivered by Mr O, because he is away, gigging with his new band. It isn’t my favourite thing to do at all but needs must when your children declare they have better things to do, like walking someone else’s dog or doing Latin homework. Yeah, right!
Happy weekend everyone. Hope you get some sewing in! xxx
So beautiful and Sharp! That is a beautiful length for you. There is a time for longer, floaty skirts and there is a time for short and flirty.
Thank you so much Sara. I hadn’t realised quite how short this was till I took those pics! Haha!
A timely post as I’ve just signed up for the online workshop to make this dress. Time for me to face my button, yoke and stand collar fears. I was thinking of piping too and now I’ve seen your version, I’m sold. I have some light blue chambray and some blue floral Liberty which I thought I could use for the collar stand, the piping and covered buttons. That’s the plan anyway.
Brilliant. You will have fun with this one. Especially if you are at Tilly Towers. I love it there. Your fabric choice sounds perfect. Cant wait to see it!
Love this shirt dress I downloaded and printed it as soon as it was released and am halfway through making a wearable Muslim from some chambray and liberty scraps I had kicking about. I struggled a bit with the back yoke not preserved and it looks great now. Love your version with the piping , that might be my next version for the shirt!
Thank you, Sam. Yes the back yoke just needs a bit of a care and attention to keep the shape. x
Amazing dress, I love the red piping with the chambray, it’s such a great shape and one I think I might have to give a go. Wrinkling is frustrating with this fabric, I keep hoping to find a wrinkle resistant chambray but so far no luck.
Thanks Lynsey. The only thing that helps is not to sit down. But that’s obviously not very practical!
Thank you for saying out loud something I've been feeling for a long time, not about this book (which I haven't read either) but about so many "important" Canadian books. There's a certain rural Toronto view that I'm just so sick of. Anyone reading from outside of Canada must think we're a country of lakes and small town concerns. And snow, of course. At some point there's always snow as metaphor.
Ooh very nice love. I have a half sewn Rosa in grey corduroy, it’s looking good so far and seeing your lovely version has spurred me on! I may even finish it next week if I can sort out my buttonhole foot! x
Thank you Jane. Sounds gorgeous! Yes, lots of buttons needing a trusty buttonhole foot. Good luck x
Ooooh… I dismissed the Rosa as too twee for me, but you’re making me reconsider!
Thank you so much. It really is a great pattern. Open to all sorts of fabrics and finishes 🙂
Love those red pops with washed out denim (shoes awesome as per usual! ;o)
Thank you, Collete 🙂
Squeee! That is just gorgeous 🙂
The piping is such a perfect addition, makes it look so streamlined.
This is brilliant! I love how it looks with the piping.
The shoes!!!
So cute (not twee), looks so crisp with the red piping! And the shoes, tdf.
You look really cute in this beautiful outfit