Online workshop - Learn to sew a jersey or woven dress - Tilly and the Buttons Lotta

Date/Time
Date - 07/06/2021 - 14/06/2021
6:30 pm - 9:30 pm

Duration – 6 hours split over 2 sessions

This workshop will run on 2 dates. You must be able to attend both dates to complete the workshop.

Monday 7th June 2021 6.30pm-9.30pm- 3 hours

Monday 14th June 2021 6.30pm-9.30pm- 3 hours

This workshop is suitable for those who have used a sewing machine before and can confidently thread the machine and bobbin. If you need a beginners class or a refresher then have a look at beginners classes available. This could however be the first garment you will sew.

Learn to sew a jersey or woven dress- Tilly and the Buttons Lotta

“Easy to make, with no fiddly bits, Lotta is a perfect dressmaking project for beginners, or a satisfyingly speedy sew for more experienced stitchers. It has a blousy bodice and flared skirt, cinched in with a narrow elasticated waistline.

Choose between knee-length or midi-length skirt, with grown-on short sleeves or bracelet-length drop shoulder sleeves, with optional deep patch pockets. To make it even more versatile, you can make this dress in either woven fabric or stretchy jersey.” (taken from the Tilly and the Buttons website)

You will learn how to:

Take essential body measurements and select your pattern size
Identify pattern pieces required
Lengthen/shorten pattern pieces if required
Accurately cut out pattern pieces
Identify the grainline of the fabric and lay out pattern pieces correctly
Follow a commercial sewing pattern
Woven version – Sew staystitching, apply facings to a garment, sew understitching
Optional – how to sew deep patch pockets
Jersey version – how to sew with stretch fabrics, how to insert a jersey neckband, how to hem jersey fabrics.

What is included:

Paper pattern and step by step instruction booklet worth £15.50 (this will be sent to you prior to the workshop).
Full tuition in order to make your garment

Pattern sizing

The Lotta sewing pattern is sized between UK sizes 6-24.

You will need to measure yourself in order to know how much fabric to get. You cannot compare to high street sizes. Please get in touch if you are uncertain.

You will need to measure your bust, waist and hips. Please refer to my blog post on measuring yourself accurately for help with the waist and hip measurements.

You will need to get:

Fabric

For 115cm/45″ wide fabrics

Knee length sizes 1-4: (sizes 5-10 won’t fit onto 115cm/45″ wide fabric)

Bracelet length sleeve: 2.9m. Short sleeve: 2.5m

Midi-length:

The midi length skirt won’t fit onto 115cm/45″ wide fabric – you will need 150cm/60″ wide fabric

For 150cm/60″ wide fabrics

Knee length: 2.5m

Midi length: 2.8m

For woven fabrics – 0.2m medium weight iron on (fusible) interfacing
Matching thread
2 safety pins
Your waist measurement in 10mm (3/8″) elastic

Fabric suggestions:

Light- to medium-weight drapey fabrics such as chambray, viscose (rayon), Tencel (lyocell), double gauze, brushed cotton or crêpe. The short sleeve version can also be made in less drapey fabrics such as linen, cotton lawn and seersucker. You can also make this dress in jersey fabric – for example a single knit drape jersey or light weight French Terry.

Please give me a call if you are in any doubt about fabric choices or suggestions of where to buy from.

It is recommended to pre wash your fabric before the workshop as it is likely to shrink a little in the first wash. If it is jersey fabric then dry the fabric flat – do not hang or peg as this is likely to stretch the fabric out of shape.

Cost £60- for the 2 sessions.

Lorna says:

“Yes! A dress that is so versatile that you can make it out of woven fabrics and out of jersey!! I have made one of each version and absolutely love mine. The jersey version is super comfy and the deep pockets on my woven version are amazing!! With the short sleeves being part of the main bodice, this is an ideal project for beginner dressmakers. The bracelet length sleeves are dropped at the shoulder so also nice and easy. I have also layered my short sleeve dress with a jersey top underneath for extra warmth. The bodice and skirt sections have a beautiful drape so make sure you choose a fabric that will show this off – nothing too stiff!”