Hello! I am thrilled to share the result of my second collaboration with Backstitch – a Tilly and the Buttons Lyra Dress made from Robert Kaufman Dot Chambray in Indigo.

The fabric was a pleasure to sew with. It pressed well, didn't stretch or distort, and - to my surprise - didn't fray much when cut. I had worried that because of its’ unique weave it might unravel easily but fortunately this wasn’t the case. What's more, it's surprisingly resilient, as I accidentally messed up one of the buttonholes (every sewist's nightmare!) and had to unpick it, but there was no visible mark left on the fabric!

 

The moment I saw this fabric, I knew it had to be a shirtdress, which is one of my favourite styles. The combination of the classic look of a button-down shirt with the flowy, feminine silhouette of a dress never fails to impress me. For this one, I used my tried-and-tested Lyra pattern by Tilly and the Buttons. I’ve already made four Lyras, two in viscose, one in viscose twill, and one in needlecord. To change things up a bit, I modified the sleeves by shortening them, using the slash-and-spread method to add volume, and finishing them with ties. I also added small bits of vintage lace to the ties for a more romantic feel. While I absolutely love how they look, I must admit they are not very practical. I have already had a mishap where they got in the way while doing the dishes and I have accidentally soaked one of them in my tea. I will try different methods of tying them. Like with all my Lyra dresses, I added ties in the back too, so I can cinch it in if I want to. 

As I've created this pattern multiple times, I no longer need the instructions. Nonetheless, as with all TATB patterns, they're comprehensive, well-illustrated, and easy to follow. I would definitely recommend this pattern for a beginner wanting to have a go at shirt making. One small change I have made to the construction method is the way I attach the collar stand. For whatever reason I can’t master the stitch-in-the-ditch method and prefer to hand stitch the inside of the collar band instead.I actually enjoy a bit of hand stitching, so it's never been an issue for me.  

 Luckily, I had the perfect buttons in my stash - white with a grey rim - that happened to be an exact match for the dress.

I ordered 3.5 meters of this fabric and still have some left. I'm planning to use the remaining fabric to make two pairs of shorts for my sons. The fabric is perfect for the summer season, and I don't want any of the leftover scraps to go to waste.

From my photos, you can see that it may take a while before I can wear this dress outside without tights and a jacket. Last year I moved out of the UK and currently live in the mountainous region of southwest Poland, where the snow is still going strong, even as I write this on the last day of March. However, I'm looking forward to wearing this dress a lot once the weather gets warmer.

By chance, it pairs perfectly with the quilted jacket featured in my previous Backstitch blog post!

Pattern: Lyra by Tilly and The Buttons

Fabric: Robert Kaufman Dot Chambray - this is now out of stock (sorry!), but great alternatives would be Robert Kaufman Neon Neppy Chambray or our classic blue cotton chambray fabric. Either would create this look perfectly!

Pattern adjustments: I've narrowed the shoulders using the BHL method, which has also helped with my square shoulders. I've also moved the bust darts, raised the waistline, added ties in the back, and made modifications to the sleeves.

Size: Bust: 95cm, Waist: 76cm, Hip: 100cm, size made: 4

Notes on construction: I hand-stitched the inside of the collar stand and skipped the pockets.

About Zuzanna: Zuzanna is an avid sewist and fabric lover who moved out of London last year to a hilly village in her native Poland.

Instagram: @seams_that_way