Tilly and the Buttons - Leah Top & Dress Sewing Pattern

ONE PATTERN, SO MANY POSSIBILITIES 

Meet Leah, the pattern you’ll make and wear on repeat. Love clean lines and an understated style? Sew an everyday shift top or minimalist mini dress to throw on and go. Fancy more whimsy? Add the gathered skirt to make a pretty peplum top or floaty tiered midi dress, with optional playful side ties. 

You have the choice of:

• Shift top, shift dress, peplum top, or tiered midi dress 
• Semi-fitted, slightly A-line, sleeveless bodice with bust darts 
• Optional side ties on the peplum top and tiered dress versions 

• Bias binding finish on the neckline and armholes 

• Keyhole back opening with button and loop 

SKILL LEVEL - For Confident Beginners

MODEL GARMENT SIZES - Megan (polka dot top + shift dress) is wearing a size 2 (UK 8). Rita (tiered dress + shift top) is wearing a size 9 (UK 22).

SIZE RANGE - UK 6-34 / US 2-30 / EUR 34-62 / AUS 6-34

FABRIC SUGGESTIONS - 

The shift dress works best in medium-weight woven fabrics that hold their shape, such as linen, cotton twill, lightweight canvas, or jacquard.

For the other versions, use light- to medium-weight woven fabrics such as cotton poplin, lawn, seersucker, double gauze, linen and blends, viscose (rayon). 

SUPPLIES 

• Matching thread 
• 1 x 8-10mm (5/16 - 3/8in) button with shank
• 2.5m (2¾yd) x 5-12mm (¼-½in) wide iron-on stay tape or bias-cut strips of lightweight interfacing
• 2.5m (2¾yd) x 12mm (½in) wide single fold bias binding OR 0.4m (½yd) of cotton lawn or poplin to make your own
• Sewing machine and basic tools (a 12mm [½in] bias binding maker can be helpful if making your own binding)

Fabric Requirements

140cm (56in) wide 

Sizes 1-4: 

• Shift top: 0.8m (7/8yd)*
• Shift dress: 1.2m (1 3/8yd)* 
• Peplum top: 1.2m (1 3/8yd)* 
• Tiered midi dress: 3m (3¼yd)* 

Sizes 5-8: 

• Shift top: 1.2m (1 3/8yd)* 
• Shift dress: 1.8m (2yd) 
• Peplum top: 1.4m (1 5/8yd)* 
• Tiered midi dress: 3.2m (3½yd) 

Sizes 9-15 

• Shift top: 1.2m (1 3/8yd) 
• Shift dress: 2.1m (2 3/8yd) 
• Peplum top: 1.6m (1¾yd)† 
• Tiered midi dress: 3.3m (3 5/8yd) 

115cm (45in) wide 

Sizes 1-6: 

• Shift top: 1.1m (1¼yd) 
• Shift dress: 1.8m (2yd) 
• Peplum top: 1.6m (1¾yd)† 
• Tiered midi dress: 3.2m (3½yd) 

 Sizes 7-11: 

• Shift top: 1.3m (1½yd) 
• Shift dress: 1.8m (2yd) 
• Peplum top: 1.7m (1 7/8yd)† 
• Tiered midi dress: 3.4m (3 7/8yd) 

 Sizes 12-15: 

• Shift top: 1.4m (1 5/8yd)  
• Shift dress: 2.1m (2 3/8yd) 
• Peplum top: 1.8m (2yd)† 
• Tiered midi dress: 3.7m (4yd)† 

*0.2m (¼yd) less if using pre-made bias binding or using a separate fabric to make your own binding 

†0.2m (¼yd) less if not adding side ties