Staff Pattern Review May 2026

Becca made the Rivi Shirt by Chalk and Notch, an oversized shirt pattern with interesting yoke seam details and options for both shirt and dress versions. She used our Natural Lurex Stripe Viscose Linen Fabric, which added a soft drape and subtle shimmer to the relaxed silhouette.

Although the pattern recommended 1.6m of fabric, Becca managed to squeeze her version out of an awkward-shaped 1m remnant by cutting everything flat, with only scraps left over!

The instructions were clear overall, though the placket construction took a little figuring out at first. Rated as an Intermediate pattern, Becca feels a confident beginner could definitely tackle it too.

For fit, she chose her size based on her bust measurement, then shortened the hem and sleeves slightly and lengthened the dart for a better fit. Her top tip? Don’t skip the French seams on the front yoke, they make such a difference to the finish!

Becca’s verdict: “I’m really happy with how it turned out, I think it’ll be lovely with shorts in the summer.”

👉 A versatile oversized shirt pattern with thoughtful details and loads of styling potential.

Gen made the Mile End Sweatshirt by Closet Core, a casual crewneck sweatshirt with some lovely elevated details. She chose our Cosy Colours Multi Fleck Fleece Sweatshirt Fabric in Black, paired with Organic Cotton Tubular Ribbing for the collar to practise working with ribbing for the first time.

The pattern is designed for thicker knit fabrics with stretch, and Gen loved the helpful stretch guide included in the instructions — “must stretch past the arrow!” made choosing fabric feel much less intimidating.

The instructions and diagrams were clear, though she thinks a complete beginner might find the tie opening construction a little tricky. Overall, she found the fit true to size, with a relaxed shape that works well layered over other clothes. After hearing the sleeves could come up short, she lengthened the cuffs slightly to keep her wrists extra cosy.

Her top tip? Use plenty of pins when setting in the sleeves and practise your topstitching on scraps first to test the finish.

Gen’s verdict: “I’m really chuffed with it! It’s not perfect, but I know I’ll wear it loads.”

👉 A cosy, confidence-boosting sweatshirt project that’s perfect for sewists looking to build their stretch sewing skills.

Laura made the Frida Shirt by Tilly and the Buttons, choosing the short sleeve version with its relaxed, boxy silhouette and cropped shape. She used a beautiful gingham embroidered cotton, letting the embroidered detail really shine as a feature of the garment.

The pattern is designed for a wide range of light- to medium-weight woven fabrics, and Laura found the instructions super easy to follow, especially alongside the TATB sew-along workshop. She also experimented with pearl snaps instead of buttons, inspired by Lauren’s helpful video tutorial.

Although the pattern suggested she make a larger size, Laura sized down by two sizes after checking the finished garment measurements and found the fit much better. She also lengthened the bodice by 4cm to balance the cropped style and shortened the sleeves slightly from her practice version.

Her biggest challenge? Buttonholes! After a minor scissors-related mishap, she invested in a buttonhole opener which made the rest much easier.

Laura’s verdict: “I’m really happy with the finished shirt, and I’d definitely make it again!”

👉 A relaxed, stylish shirt pattern that’s approachable to sew and easy to personalise with thoughtful details.

Vicki made the Terra Shirt Dress by Vivian Shao Chen, a beautifully wearable shirt dress featuring pintuck details, statement cuffs, and two different tie belt options. She chose View B, which offers a relaxed everyday silhouette with thoughtful tailoring details.

For her version, Vicki used the stunning Atelier Brunette Oat Chocolate Linen Viscose Twill, a fabric she felt was perfect for the style thanks to its soft drape and slightly heavier weight. The blend of linen and viscose gives the dress beautiful movement while still holding its shape.

Although the pattern recommended 2.25m of fabric, Vicki managed to make hers from 1.6m, even after adding an extra 4 inches through the body for her height. She found the instructions clear overall, though she did turn to the internet for extra help with the burrito method used on the shirt yoke.

The pattern is rated Advanced Beginner for View B, which Vicki felt was accurate. Her top tip? Definitely make a toile! Doing so helped her realise she needed to size up slightly for a better fit across the bust. She also recommends stay stitching the neckline when using softer fabrics to help keep everything stable while sewing.

Vicki’s verdict: “There are a few little glitches, but overall I’m really pleased with how it turned out — and I’d love to make the other version in denim next time.”

👉 A thoughtfully designed shirt dress with lovely details and plenty of potential for everyday wear.

Lorna made the Protea Pants by Paradise Patterns, a modern wide-leg trouser pattern with elegant front pleats, a curved waistband, and a relaxed fit through the hips and thighs. With their high waist and sweeping silhouette, they feel both chic and incredibly wearable.

She chose our Grey Enzyme Washed Linen, loving how the soft drape complemented the wide-leg shape and how easily the colour would slot into her existing wardrobe.

The pattern is designed for fabrics with movement and drape, and Lorna found the finished fit excellent. She cut a size 8 at the waist, grading to a size 6 at the hips, and lengthened the trousers by 1 inch for a longer finished leg length.

The instructions and diagrams were clear overall, especially for the zip fly construction, though the pockets caused a few head-scratching moments! Lorna also made a toile first, which helped her fine-tune the fit before cutting into her final fabric.

Her top tip? Definitely baste the pleats before sewing and don’t skip the toile — it’s worth the extra time for trousers like these.

Lorna’s verdict: “I’m really pleased with how they turned out and I know I’ll get loads of wear out of them.”

👉 A stylish, thoughtfully designed trouser pattern that’s perfect for sewists ready to tackle their next great pair of handmade trousers.

Gemma made the Wrap Blouse by Puff and Pencil, a loose-fitting wrap top with a high neckline and elegant shaping through the body. The relaxed silhouette makes it an easy piece to style, while the wrap detail gives it a polished, modern feel.

She chose our Black Enzyme Linen, a lightweight woven fabric that works beautifully for this style thanks to its soft drape and everyday wearability.

The pattern is rated as Beginner, which Gemma felt was accurate overall, though she found the facing pieces a little confusing at times as they look very similar and don’t have many markings. Thankfully, the illustrations and layout were really clear and the additional website tips were helpful too.

Fit-wise, Gemma found the blouse true to size, making just a couple of adjustments — adding a small wedge at the front shoulder so the seam sat correctly and shortening the sleeves by 10cm. Her top tip? Definitely make a toile first — adjusting princess seams once the garment is finished is much trickier!

Gemma’s verdict: “I’m really happy with the finished blouse — it’s such an easy piece to wear.”

👉 A stylish, beginner-friendly wrap top with elegant details and a relaxed fit.

Jo made the Cirrus Top by Merchant & Mills, a floaty batwing-style top with rib cuffs, soft shaping, and an optional drawstring hem. With its relaxed silhouette and simple construction, it’s the kind of effortless piece that works beautifully dressed up or down.

She chose a bold striped viscose, wanting something soft and drapey to suit the loose shape of the pattern. The statement stripe worked perfectly with the simple silhouette, giving the finished top a modern feel.

The pattern is rated Advanced Beginner, which Jo felt was spot on. She found the instructions and illustrations really clear, and the top came together quickly with no major challenges.

Jo did make a few clever tweaks along the way — slightly widening the neck and hem facings to make them easier to handle and understitching all the facings so they’d sit beautifully flat. She also skipped the French seams to avoid adding bulk around the shoulders.

Fit-wise, Jo made a size M and found it true to size, shortening the length by 1.5 inches for a better proportion. Her top tip? Understitch all the facings — it makes such a difference to the finish.

Jo’s verdict: “I’m really happy with it — it was such a quick and satisfying make.”

👉 A stylish, easy-to-wear top that’s perfect for confident beginners looking for a speedy sew with a polished finish.

Inspired by a high street dress she loved, Belle created her own version using the Loviisa Denim Dress by Named Clothing — with a few playful hacks to make it feel more “her”. She shortened the sleeves for a more wearable year-round style and swapped the original pockets for the Matchy Matchy Hopscotch Jumper pockets for a fun twist.

Made in our bold Tan Leopard Print Rigid Cotton, this project was all about recreating an edgy, urban mini dress with plenty of personality. The oversized collar, chunky placket, and statement print give it a really modern feel — and, as Belle says, “I LOVE LEOPARD!”

The pattern is rated Intermediate, which Belle agreed with, especially because the thick fabric made parts of the construction more challenging. Setting in the sleeves was particularly tricky, but after struggling to ease them in traditionally, she used a bias tape sleeve-setting technique from one of Becca’s blog recommendations — and now swears by it!

Fit-wise, Belle found the pattern came up quite large and would definitely size down next time. Her top tips? Snip all your notches carefully, don’t skip the sew-along videos, and avoid choosing a denim that’s too thick!

Belle’s verdict: “I’d absolutely make it again — just in a slightly lighter denim and a smaller size.”

👉 A fun, fashion-inspired make that proves you shouldn’t be afraid to hack a pattern and make it your own.

Hannah made the Saundra Skirt by Syd Graham Patterns, a casual summer skirt with soft volume and an easy-to-wear silhouette. The pattern also includes the option to add godets for an even fuller shape.

She used our Sage Check Crinkle Cotton, choosing it for its lightweight feel and soft drape — perfect for warmer weather without becoming too bulky through all the skirt panels.

The pattern is rated Confident Beginner, which Hannah completely agreed with thanks to the super clear instructions and helpful guidance for techniques like French seams. While sewing French seams on every panel was a little time consuming, she loved the neat finish they created.

Fit-wise, Hannah found the skirt true to size, adding around 1–1.5 inches to the length for her ideal fit. Her top tip? If you’re using French seams, trim your seam allowances before the second pass — and if you’re short on time, overlocking works brilliantly too.

Hannah’s verdict: “I’m really happy with it and will definitely be making another one!”

👉 A floaty, beginner-friendly skirt pattern that’s perfect for easy summer sewing.

Kate made the Luella Skirt by Tilly and the Buttons, an easy-wear boho-style skirt with lots of versatility depending on your fabric choice. It’s the perfect relaxed style for warmer weather.

She chose our Fabric Godmother Ace Animal Viscose Linen, a fabric she’d been wanting to sew for ages, and paired the finished skirt with her handmade Helen’s Closet Tofino Shirt in black viscose linen. The lightweight drape of the fabric worked beautifully for the maxi-length version and gave the skirt lovely movement.

This was actually Kate’s third Luella, though her first in a lightweight fabric. She found the instructions — as always with Tilly and the Buttons — really clear and approachable. Although the pattern is labelled Confident Beginner, Kate feels it’s very beginner-friendly, especially if you leave out the pockets.

The biggest challenge wasn’t the sewing itself, but working out how much to shorten each tier! Kate adjusted the length using notes from previous versions but still ended up trimming 4cm off the hem at the end. Her top tip? Focus on adjusting the first tier as well as the others — and definitely check finished garment measurements before cutting.

Kate’s verdict: “It was the perfect gentle project to get me sewing again, and I’m really happy with the finished skirt.”

👉 A floaty, satisfying sew that’s ideal for confident beginners and perfect for showing off beautiful drapey fabrics.

Alison made the Ramona Skirt by Tilly and the Buttons, a classic pencil skirt pattern available in both mini and knee-length versions. With its clean silhouette, invisible zip, and optional pockets and faux pocket flaps, it’s a simple but versatile wardrobe staple.

She chose our stunning Black Cut Out Floral Denim, loving both the weight and the beautiful embroidered detail. Because the fabric was openwork, Alison decided to fully line the skirt in black poplin, carefully basting both layers together and treating them as one throughout construction.

As always with Tilly patterns, Alison found the instructions clear and beginner-friendly, with extra online support for inserting the invisible zip. Although the pattern is aimed at Confident Beginners, Alison added several couture-style finishing techniques to elevate the final result, including Hong Kong binding, a hand-stitched hem, and hand-finished waistband for a beautifully clean interior.

The embroidered denim did make the invisible zip trickier to sew neatly, but Alison was thrilled with the final finish. Fit-wise, she found the skirt true to size, shortening the length by 6cm for her preferred look.

Her top tip? Check both the body and finished garment measurements carefully — this is quite a fitted style.

Alison’s verdict: “I’m absolutely thrilled with the finished skirt — the inside looks just as beautiful as the outside!”

👉 A polished, satisfying sew that’s perfect for confident beginners and easy to elevate with special finishing details.

Rosie made the Barrel Leg Trousers by The Assembly Line, a relaxed, slouchy trouser pattern with a modern barrel-leg shape. Designed for stable medium-weight wovens, they’re the perfect casual trouser for everyday wear.

She chose our Sand Washed Rigid Cotton Denim, wanting a lightweight, summery pair of trousers that would work just as well with sandals as trainers. The soft denim and warm neutral shade made it the perfect choice for a relaxed spring/summer wardrobe staple.

Although the pattern recommends 2.2m of fabric, Rosie only needed 1.5m thanks to the extra-wide denim width. The pattern is rated Advanced, mainly due to the fly front and trouser fitting, though Rosie felt the overall construction was no more difficult than other fly-front trouser patterns.

She made several fit adjustments, including lengthening the trousers by 2 inches, slightly straightening the leg shape, and adjusting the waistband fit. Rosie particularly liked that the pattern includes three different waistband options to help achieve a better fit.

Her top tip? If you’re using this denim, it’s worth sizing down slightly as the fabric softens and eases with wear. She also recommends using a preferred fly-front method if you already have one you love.

Rosie’s verdict: “They’re such an easy pair of trousers to throw on — relaxed, comfortable, and really wearable.”

👉 A modern trouser pattern with a relaxed silhouette that’s ideal for sewists looking to build confidence with trouser fitting and fly fronts.

Vivvy made the Orchards Dress and Top by Vivian Shao Chen, a beautifully versatile pattern with options for sleeveless, shirred sleeves, or short sleeves. Inspired by the Japanese and Korean designers she loves, Vivvy describes it as “pretty, girly, and easy to dress up or down.”

She chose our Sevenberry Spot Seersucker in Black/Cream, loving the soft texture and playful spot design. The lightweight woven fabric worked perfectly for the gathered details and floaty silhouette, giving the finished top a lovely relaxed feel.

The pattern is rated Confident Beginner, which Vivvy agreed with, though she noted there’s quite a bit of measuring and gathering involved. She found the instructions really well laid out, with clear illustrations and useful website tips to guide the process along.

Fit-wise, Vivvy found the pattern true to size, though she feels she could easily size down for a slightly neater fit. She’s already made three versions, which says it all! Her top tip? Take your time with the hems — especially on the layered version — and invest in a Clover Hot Hemmer for beautifully crisp finishes.

Vivvy’s verdict: “It feels very inspired by the Japanese and Korean styles I love — and it’s the perfect amount of girly for me!”

👉 A versatile, feminine pattern full of soft details and ideal for sewists who love relaxed styling with a playful twist.