It’s been a while since I last posted here, due to one long-ass house move (more on that in a later post!). Now that I’m more or less settled into my new abode, I thought it was time to start writing again. I work full-time […]
I sewed the wrap-top pattern included in Simply Sewing magazine. Last summer I signed up to a free subscription of Simply Sewing magazine. I think it was £0.99 for 3 issues or something like that. Of course, I forgot to unsubscribe and ended up paying […]
The Stella is the last pattern that I had left to make from Tilly and the buttons “Stretch!” book. I don’t usually wear hoodies unless they had a zip so I decided to add one. The hoody also needed to be a little longer than a standard hoody to keep me warm as I don’t really wear coats on a day to day basis, choosing cardigans and hoodies and thus the need to fulfil the purpose of keeping me warm.
For this pattern hack, I used a 26in zip as I had lengthened the pattern by a couple of inches, if you stick to a standard length just use a 24in zip. Fabric wise, I used 2 metres of sweatshirting that I bought from Crafty Sew and Sew in Leicester the morning after the Dressmakers ball.
1.Cut out your pattern as per usual but add an extra 3cm to the centre of the front pattern piece and the pockets (if you want pockets) .
2. Cut down the centre of the front pattern piece, this is where your zip will go.
3. Construct hood and sew the shoulders together as per the book
4. Ensure edges centre edges of the hood align with the seam allowance for the zip (1.5cm)
5. Attach body, sleeves and cuffs as per the book.
6. Measure the hem of the hoody. Take 5cm off that number.
7. To make the bottom cuff, take the number from step 4 and trace a pattern piece. The height of my pattern piece matched the height of the cuff pattern piece, aka 13.5cm
8. Fold the hem cuff in half and pin it to hem. The hem cuff will be slightly shorter than the hem so you will need to stretch as you sew.
To do this measure your cuff and divide into 4 ( use 3 pins as your 3 markers). You will find that each front side is equal to half of the back panel. Match the markers in the cuffs to the side seams, the middle of the back pattern piece. As you sew, stretch both pieces so that the hem cuff is stretched evenly.
Optional Step: Topstitch above the hem.
9. Follow the same instructions for the pocket as the book, you will simply have 2 pockets instead of one.
I placed the pockets 1.5 inches (approx 4 cm) from the hem, but that’s your choice. However, do ensure that you place them 2 cm away from the edge to allow space for the zip though.
10 Finally, sew the zip in.
The neckline of Joni dress is what drew me to buy the latest Tilly And The Buttons (TATB) book, even if I originally assumed it was a top on the cover photo. Despite being the main draw, it wasn’t the first garment I decided to […]
This is a dress I drafted and sewed myself a few years ago. It was the first dress that I had ever self-drafted. I held on to the measurements/diagrams/pattern in the hope to maybe one day share them with others through a paid or free […]
