CAN WE
HELP?
HELP?
Browse our frequently asked questions
General queries
You’ve come to the right place!
Our sewing blog is packed with free resources, perfect for beginners. Check out the Six Steps to Starting Sewing post for our top tips.
We've also got some fab products designed with beginners in mind:
Online workshops are a great way to start learning. You can take them from the comfort of your home and follow along with the lessons at your own pace. Make Friends with a Sewing Machine even has tips for getting your first machine!
Our beginner sewing patterns are also super easy to make and fit, with no fiddly zips, buttonholes, darts or set-in sleeves. Check out Easy Sewing for Beginners!
Our printed sewing patterns come with detailed instructions that walk you through each step, and colour photos to show you exactly what we mean. We also include extra sewing tips to help you out.
If the sewing problem you're having isn't covered there, check out our blog where we share tons of tutorials and sewalongs.
If you can't find the answer, email sewing@tillyandthebuttons.com for more help. Please be aware we're a small team so it might take us a little while to get back to you during busy periods.
Happy sewing!
Check out our wonderful stockists! Most of them are haberdasheries who also stock a selection of fabrics and notions.
Patterns + books
SEWING PATTERNS
Find out more about buying and using our individual sewing patterns:
All our new patterns will be released in sizes UK 6-34 in both printed and PDF formats. We’re also working hard to update our bestsellers to this size range so keep an eye out!
Older patterns have three size bands - UK 6-20, UK 6-24 and UK 16-34. Each pattern will have the size range in the description.
Our pattern sizes are numbered 1-15 to avoid any confusion with ready-to-wear sizing, which can vary wildly between brands and is sometimes misleading! It's much better to choose your pattern size based on your actual measurements for a tip top fit!
UK sizes 6-16 in the UK 6-34 size patterns, as well as all sizes in the 6-20 and 6-24 patterns, are drafted for a dressmaker's B cup* - a 5cm (2in) difference between the high bust (around the chest under the armpits) and full bust.
UK sizes 18-34 in the UK 6-34 size patterns, as well as all sizes in the 16-34 patterns and maternity patterns, are drafted for a dressmaker's D cup* - a 10cm (4in) difference between the high bust (around the chest under the armpits) and full bust.
* Dressmaker's cup size is not the same as your bra cup size, which is determined by the difference between your full bust and under bust (as opposed to high bust).
Need to adjust the bust size? Follow our free pattern fitting tutorials.
Yes! We're busy working on this at the moment, and have been gradually releasing updated versions of patterns in the 6-34 size range as they've been coming up for reprint.
As a small team, realistically we're not going to be able to update every pattern in our back catalogue, so we're focusing on the most designs that are the most popular with our customers.
Newsletter subscribers will always be the first to hear about our pattern updates so if you’re eager to hear more, please sign up
We’re so happy to hear the new size range better suits your measurements!
Get in touch with your proof of purchase and we’ll send you the updated PDF version.
Both! Our sewing patterns and books include both metric and imperial measurements. Spend less time worrying about numbers and more time sewing!
We stock a limited line of printed patterns, so it’s always worth snapping them up while you can!
Some of our wonderful stockists will still have our patterns available, even
if we don’t, so it’s worth shopping around!
When we discontinue the printed lines, they will still be available as digital PDF-only patterns.
Our PDF patterns include print-at-home and copyshop files so you have lots of options for printing the pattern. You might find these guides to printing digital sewing patterns or printing copyshop (A0) files helpful.
Oops! We put our whole heart into producing, testing and proofing each pattern but sometimes mistakes
do happen. We welcome your feedback, especially if we’ve made a mistake so please get in touch so we can fix it.
Errors will be listed on our errata page. Thanks so much for your help!
BOOKS
Find out more about buying and using our published books:
The books contain a gorgeous range of exclusive patterns, not available to buy individually. Check out which patterns are available in each book:
Sorry, the patterns included to the books are exclusive to them and not available to buy separately. We do think the books are great value though, even if you only want one or two of the patterns!
The book's patterns are in sizes:
Mini Makes: 0-12 years
Since we have less control over the books and there are more complicating factors involved, we are currently focusing on updating the sizing of the most popular patterns in our collection of individual Tilly and the Buttons sewing patterns.
The pattern sheets are included in the back of the book. They are printed on both sides of the paper to keep the price down, so it's a good idea to trace them off before cutting them out.
Alternatively you can download PDF versions of the patterns to print at home or at a copy shop (see below).
Yes, the PDF patterns are available to download with all book purchases, hooray! You can download copyshop or print-at-home files – whichever you prefer. Just follow these links to get the PDFs:
You'll be asked to log in or create a shop account. You will then be prompted to enter a password which can be found on the back of your printed copy of the book.
We'd love to, but we don't publish the books ourselves.
The way it works is that a foreign language publisher buys the rights from our UK publisher. If you know of an international publisher who might be interested, please do tell them about the book!
Online workshops
We have lots of helpful information on the Online Workshops page, including some extra FAQs at the bottom of the page.
For information about what each workshop covers, check out the product pages where you can scroll through detailed info about course content and modules, and purchase your chosen workshop.
Your workshop login details should be emailed to you as soon as you complete your order – ready for you to start learning new sewing skills straight away! This email is separate from the Order Confirmation email.
If your workshop includes a PDF pattern, you can download the workshop pattern files and other resources when you log in to the workshop.
Log in to your online workshop
To download the patterns, look in: Module 2 of:
Learn to Sew Swimwear
Learn to Sew Knickers
Sew Your Own Shirt or Shirtdress
Sew Your Own Knockout Dress
Sew an Easy Dress
Or Module 3 of:
Learn to Sew Jersey Tops
Learn to Sew Skirts
It may take up to ten minutes to receive the email, while our systems speak to each other.
If you still don't receive the email, it’s possible your order email is in your junk folder or filtered out as spam, so if you can't find your order please check there first.
Your order comes from hello@tillyandthebuttons.com which can be added to your contacts or safe senders list before you place your order to prevent it being filtered as spam.
Still can’t find your workshop access information? Contact us with your order number and we’ll be happy to look into it.
Check out the Digital Products section of our Delivery + Returns page for more information.
Wholesale + licensing
Sorry, but Tilly and the Buttons patterns are licensed for individual use only, and can only be used to make garments for yourself or as gifts. The garments you make from the patterns cannot be sold to others.
Thank you so much for your interest! Get in touch at wholesale@tillyandthebuttons.com and we'll send you our wholesale information.
Yes, you can!
Each student will have to buy their own copy of the pattern or book as they are licensed for individual use only - this applies to PDF patterns as well as paper patterns.
If you plan to include the pattern/book in the price of the course, we can offer a wholesale discount on bulk purchases. Get in touch for more information.
When using our patterns, you should credit the pattern to Tilly and the
Buttons and use the pattern/book's correct name in the class description.
Can't find what you're looking for?
DELIVERY + RETURNS ✂️
We have a whole page dedicated to this information, so that you can shop with confidence.
CONTACT US 💌
Can't find the answer on this page? Send us your customer service questions, feedback or love letters.