GET INSPIRED #SewingWinnie
I’m a huge fan of Tilly and the Buttons patterns and have bought most, including the first three books. My lovely sewing friend Linda and I loved the look of the Winnie pants and decided to do a collab, starting off with a (hopefully) wearable toile. We carefully studied the sizing guidance, the finished body measurements and chose our size accordingly. We can’t believe how oversized they are, despite redoing the side seams to reduce the bulk, particularly in the legs. We’ve heard other people complaining about them being really oversized and wonder how the pattern testing stage didn’t flag this up. I don’t feel I can reduce the side seams any more as they will affect the side pockets. What a shame! There are many lovely photos of people wearing really nice versions. What advice can you offer, as we already followed the instructions so carefully with really bad results.
Hi Lynne, I'm sorry to hear you don't like the shape of the Winnie trousers. They are designed to be loose-fitting. The barrel leg shape can take a bit of getting used to if you haven't worn this style before. Our pattern testers loved the shape, as do our team (I wear mine constantly), and you can see some lovely versions on Instagram under the #SewingWinnie hashtag. I really hope the style grows on you :) Tilly x
My first ever trouser pattern. Simple to make but look lovely. As usual straightforward and precise instructions. Back pocket a bit big for me but easily changed . Highly recommended
Amazing! Thank you so much for recommending. May they be the first of many Winnie trousers for you! Abi x
i do like this pattern BUT based on my measurements the finished trouser was far too big.
I have downsized by 3 sizes and will try again because the pattern itself is a lovely shape and i really liked the waistband construction - the written instructions are great
Thank you for your feedback Julia. We’re glad you enjoyed the construction details and instructions - hope the smaller size works out perfectly for you. Happy sewing! Abi x
I’m a little disappointed with my first pair of Winnie trousers. I studied the sizing carefully, looking at the body measurements and finished size. My size ranged between size 5-7. (My waist was the 7) When I looked at the pattern pieces I decided to make size 6, cutting the elastic for size 7.
As with other Tilly and the Buttons patterns I’ve used, the instructions are very clear with helpful photos. Each step is easy to follow.
My Winnie trousers ended up much too large. For me there was too much fabric in the seat, thigh & crotch area. Also the waist was too large - shortening the elastic didn’t help. The front was a better fit.
I made the error of not making a toile. BIG mistake this time. If I’m honest, maybe the shape of trousers isn’t right for me. Although if there was less fabric in the bottom/thigh area it could have been ok.
I made the style with front & back pockets.
Hi Sue
I'm pleased to hear that you enjoyed our signature instructions, but I'm sorry to hear the trousers turned out too big for you. Barrel legs are designed to be loose around the hips, rise and thighs, but you can taper them in if you prefer a slightly closer fit. As the waist is elasticated, you can shorten the elastic as much as you need to. The amount of stretch in elastic does vary, so if yours has a lot of stretch you can cut it down during the trying-on step.
I hope this helps :)
Tilly
Love this pattern, easy to follow
Yay! So pleased to hear it, Sharon :)