Sewing pattern for a button-front dress with short straight sleeves and a button-front blouse with flutter sleeves. Tilly and the Buttons.
Sewing pattern for a blouse with faux bow ties, hidden snaps, and puffball sleeves. Tilly and the Buttons.
Sewing pattern for a blouse with faux bow ties, hidden snaps, and puffball sleeves. Tilly and the Buttons.
Sewing pattern for a blouse with faux bow ties, hidden snaps, and puffball sleeves. Tilly and the Buttons.
Sewing pattern for a blouse with faux bow ties, hidden snaps, and puffball sleeves. Tilly and the Buttons.
Sewing pattern for a blouse with faux bow ties, hidden snaps, and puffball sleeves. Tilly and the Buttons.
Sewing pattern for a blouse with faux bow ties, hidden snaps, and puffball sleeves. Tilly and the Buttons.
Sewing pattern for a blouse with faux bow ties, hidden snaps, and puffball sleeves. Tilly and the Buttons.
Sewing pattern for a button-front blouse with flutter sleeves. Tilly and the Buttons.
Sewing pattern for a button-front blouse with flutter sleeves. Tilly and the Buttons.
Sewing pattern for a button-front blouse with flutter sleeves. Tilly and the Buttons.
Sewing pattern for a button-front blouse with flutter sleeves. Tilly and the Buttons.
Sewing pattern for a knee-length dress with a button-front. Tilly and the Buttons.
Sewing pattern for a knee-length dress with a button-front and a gathered skirt, viewed from the back. Tilly and the Buttons.
Sewing pattern for a knee-length dress with a button-front. Tilly and the Buttons.
Sewing pattern for a button-front dress with short straight sleeves. Tilly and the Buttons.
Sewing pattern for a button-front dress with short straight sleeves. Tilly and the Buttons.
Sewing pattern for a button-front dress with short straight sleeves. Tilly and the Buttons.
Sewing pattern for a button-front dress with short straight sleeves. Tilly and the Buttons.
Technical drawings for the Nell sewing pattern: straight blouse, peplum blouse, and knee or midi-length gathered dress with various features and sleeve options. Tilly and the Buttons.
Cover of the Nell sewing pattern by Tilly and the Buttons, featuring a button-front dress with short straight sleeves and a button-front peplum blouse with flutter sleeves.
Back cover of the Nell sewing pattern by Tilly and the Buttons, featuring technical drawings, supplies list, fabric suggestions, body measurements, and fabric requirements.
Nell sewing pattern body measurements and finished garment measurements chart. Tilly and the Buttons.

Nell Blouse + Dress

Printed or PDF Sewing Pattern
Regular price£18.50
/
Tax included.
PATTERN FORMAT

ONE PATTERN, MULTIPLE ME-MADES

Meet your new favourite sewing pattern! Nell is a timeless, easy-to-wear blouse and dress that will be on regular rotation in your wardrobe. Simple to sew, this mix ‘n’ match pattern includes four blouse and dress options and four sleeve styles to choose from, plus optional patch pockets and choice of button-front style or on-trend tie opening. The only question is which version will you make first?

Fancy sewing along with Tilly? Take our online workshop!

  • Straight blouse, peplum blouse, knee-length or midi-length gathered dress
  • Relaxed fit bodice with bust darts
  • V neckline finished with a facing
  • Choice of button-front opening or faux bow ties with hidden snaps
  • Four sleeve options: short and straight, bracelet-length, flutter, or lined puffball
  • Optional patch pockets on the bodice or skirt

SKILL LEVEL - Confident Beginner

PATTERN SUPPORT - Need extra help sewing Nell? Take Tilly's online workshop! 

MODEL GARMENT SIZES - Sinead (green blouse and navy dress) is wearing a size 9 (UK 22). Man Yee (yellow dress and pink blouse) is wearing a size 2 (UK 8). 

                  Sewing pattern sizes are labelled with generic numbers from 1 to 15. Use the body measurements to determine your size.

                  Size range: UK 6-34 / US 2-30 / EUR 34-62 / AUS 6-34

                  BODY MEASUREMENTS
                  SIZE BUST WAIST HIP
                  1
                  UK 6 / US 2 / EUR 34 / AUS 6
                  76cm
                  (30in)
                  61cm
                  (24in)
                  84cm
                  (33in)
                  2
                  UK 8 / US 4 / EUR 36 / AUS 8
                  81cm
                  (32in)
                  66cm
                  (26in)
                  89cm
                  (35in)
                  3
                  UK 10 / US 6 / EUR 38 / AUS 10
                  86.5cm
                  (34in)
                  71cm
                  (28in)
                  94cm
                  (37in)
                  4
                  UK 12 / US 8 / EUR 40 / AUS 12
                  91.5cm
                  (36in)
                  76cm
                  (30in)
                  99cm
                  (39in)
                  5
                  UK 14 / US 10 / EUR 42 / AUS 14
                  96.5cm
                  (38in)
                  81cm
                  (32in)
                  104cm
                  (41in)
                  6
                  UK 16 / US 12 / EUR 44 / AUS 16
                  101.5cm
                  (40in)
                  86.5cm
                  (34in)
                  109cm
                  (43in)
                  7
                  UK 18 / US 14 / EUR 46 / AUS 18
                  112cm
                  (44in)
                  94cm
                  (37in)
                  114cm
                  (45in)
                  8
                  UK 20 / US 16 / EUR 48 / AUS 20
                  117cm
                  (46in)
                  99cm
                  (39in)
                  119.5cm
                  (47in)
                  9
                  UK 22 / US 18 / EUR 50 / AUS 22
                  122cm
                  (48in)
                  104cm
                  (41in)
                  124.5cm
                  (49in)
                  10
                  UK 24 / US 20 / EUR 52 / AUS 24
                  127cm
                  (50in)
                  109cm
                  (43in)
                  129.5cm
                  (51in)
                  11
                  UK 26 / US 22 / EUR 54 / AUS 26
                  132cm
                  (52in)
                  114cm
                  (45in)
                  134.5cm
                  (53in)
                  12
                  UK 28 / US 24 / EUR 56 / AUS 28
                  137cm
                  (54in)
                  119.5cm
                  (47in)
                  139.5cm
                  (55in)
                  13
                  UK 30 / US 26 / EUR 58 / AUS 30
                  142cm
                  (56in)
                  124.5cm
                  (49in)
                  144.5cm
                  (57in)
                  14
                  UK 32 / US 28 / EUR 60 / AUS 32
                  147cm
                  (58in)
                  129.5cm
                  (51in)
                  150cm
                  (59in)
                  15
                  UK 34 / US 30 / EUR 62 / AUS 34
                  152.5cm
                  (60in)
                  134.5cm
                  (53in)
                  155cm
                  (61in)

                  Supplies

                  • Fabric (see below + back of envelope)
                  • Matching thread
                  • 0.9m (1yd) iron-on interfacing (similar weight to your fabric)
                  • 10-15mm (⅜-⅝in) wide buttons or sew-on snaps (for faux tie versions): 6 for straight blouse, 7 for peplum blouse, 10 for knee-length dress, or 11 for midi dress
                  • Sewing machine and basic tools, incl buttonhole foot

                  Fabric Suggestions

                  Light-to medium-weight woven fabrics such as cotton lawn, poplin, chambray, flannel, linen blends, Tencel (lyocell), viscose (rayon). For the puffball sleeve, choose a fabric with body that will hold its shape. The straight sleeve dress could also be made in needlecord or lighter-weight denim.

                  Fabric Requirements

                  Lengths listed are for puffball + bracelet sleeve – see notes below for other sleeves.

                  140cm (56in) wide

                  Straight blouse:

                  • sizes 1-6: 1.8m (2yd) - with any sleeve
                  • sizes 7-11: 2.1m (2⅜yd)‡
                  • sizes 12-15: 2.6m (2⅞yd)§

                  Peplum blouse:

                  • sizes 1-6: 1.8m (2yd)†
                  • sizes 7-11: 2.3m (2½yd)*‡
                  • sizes 12-15: 2.7m (3yd)§

                  Knee-length dress:

                  • sizes 1-6: 2.4m (2⅝yd)†
                  • sizes 7-11: 2.9m (3¼yd)*‡
                  • sizes 12-15: 3.3m (3⅝yd)§

                  Midi dress:

                  • sizes 1-6: 2.9m (3¼yd)†
                  • sizes 7-11: 3.3m (3⅝yd)‡
                  • sizes 12-15: 3.8m (4⅛yd)§

                  115cm (45in) wide

                  Straight blouse:

                  • sizes 1-4: 2.2m (2½yd)§
                  • sizes 5-8: 2.4m (2⅝yd)§
                  • sizes 9-12: 2.6m (2⅞yd)§
                  • sizes 13-15: 2.7m (3yd)§

                  Peplum blouse:

                  • sizes 1-4: 2.2m (2½yd)§
                  • sizes 5-8: 2.6m (2⅞yd)§
                  • sizes 9-12: 3m (3¼yd)§
                  • sizes 13-15: wider fabric needed for peplum blouse

                  Knee-length dress:

                  • sizes 1-4: 2.8m (3⅛yd)§
                  • sizes 5-8: 3.2m (3½yd)§
                  • sizes 9-12: 3.9m (4¼yd)§
                  • sizes 13-15: wider fabric needed for dress versions

                  Midi dress:

                  • sizes 1-4: 3.3m (3⅝yd)§
                  • sizes 5-8: 3.6m (4yd)§
                  • sizes 9-12: 4.6m (5yd)§
                  • sizes 13-15: wider fabric needed for dress versions

                  *0.3m (⅓yd) less for flutter sleeve | †0.4m (½yd) less for flutter sleeve | ‡0.5m (⅝yd) less for short straight sleeve | §0.5m (⅝yd) less for flutter +
                  short straight sleeve

                  Printed or PDF

                  Printed Sewing Pattern

                  You will receive a gorgeous printed package containing full-scale pattern sheets and a colour booklet with step-by-step instructions.

                  PDF Sewing Pattern

                  You will receive an email immediately after purchase with a link to download the PDF files. Find out more about digital pattern delivery.

                  Print at at home on either A4 or US Letter paper, or use the A0 copyshop files for professional printing. 

                  You will need Adobe Reader to print the pattern to the correct scale (free to download).

                  Customer Reviews

                  Based on 21 reviews
                  95%
                  (20)
                  5%
                  (1)
                  0%
                  (0)
                  0%
                  (0)
                  0%
                  (0)
                  J
                  Julie McAleer
                  Great pattern

                  I really enjoyed making this dress. It has a lot of techniques so I would say it’s more suitable for an intermediate sewer than a beginner. However, I bought Tilly’s workshop to use alongside and it was great and really easy to follow. Very happy with the finished dress. I do d add a frill at the bottom as I wanted it longer.

                  Hi Julie, thanks so much for your review! I’m glad you enjoyed making the dress and found the workshop helpful! Adding a frill at the bottom sounds like a lovely touch, and I’m happy to hear you’re pleased with the final result. Happy sewing! Virginija x

                  A
                  ALISON HUTCHINGS
                  Love it

                  I have made the straight blouse in cotton poplin and the dress in viscose and I love them both. it is an easy to pattern to follow and the finished garments are lovely, The dress is lovely and floaty and very cool I wore it for the first time on the hottest day of the year and stayed cool and comfortable.

                  Hi Alison, thank you so much for your 5-star review! We're so happy to hear you loved both the blouse and the dress. It’s great to know the pattern was easy to follow, and your finished pieces turned out beautifully. The dress sounds like a perfect choice for those hot days - light, floaty, and super comfortable. Enjoy wearing them, and happy sewing! Virginija x

                  J
                  Jean Purdue
                  Nell Dress""

                  Love the style but unfortunatley did my normal size and it was far too big. Need to cut down two sizes at least.

                  Hi Jean, thanks so much for your review! We purposely designed Nell to have extra room, but the beauty of making your own clothes is that you can adjust the pattern to suit your preferences. :) Happy stitching! Virginija x

                  A
                  Angela Wickham
                  The gorgeous Nell

                  I love tilly and the buttons, you have made it achievable even for me to dressmake. I made the Nell peplum version and it came out so lovely, now I can't stop sewing !!

                  Hi Angela, thank you so much for your review! We’re so happy to hear you love our patterns! It’s great that your Nell peplum turned out great. We’re so glad we could help make dressmaking fun and easy for you. Keep on sewing! Virginija x

                  G
                  Gwen Asprey
                  PERFECT

                  This was the first Pdf pattern I have bought. Had a little trouble printing it off, but that was me, not the pattern. I made a size 8 but had to take it in, so next time, I will use size 7. I loved making it, and it turned out beautiful. I am going to make the top next. I don't know how to send a photo, or I would send you one.

                  Hi Gwen, thanks for your excellent review! It's wonderful to hear that you didn't hesitate and went ahead with printing your first ever PDF pattern - that takes some courage! We'd love to see your creation, so feel free to send a photo to hello@tillyandthebuttons.com. The dress is designed to have a loose fit, so if you prefer a more fitted look, you might need to adjust the size. Happy stitching! Virginija x

                  do you need some help with your sewing project?

                  we've got you!

                  EXTRA PATTERN SUPPORT