Tahlia top and dress

The Tahlia top and dress pattern has released today. I am very proud of this pattern, and it is dedicated to my mum who I lost in April. My mum taught me to sew, and she was always very proud of my fashion career, and loved to hear what I was up to and what I was sewing. I have felt her around over the past few months, gently pushing me on.

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The Tahlia started out as an idea for a top with a lace back. I then thought it needed a feature on the front, and loving pleats as I do, I came up with the crossover pleats. They have truly driven me mad, but in the end I think it has been worth the effort. I hope you agree. The design has a halter style neckline and elastic at the back. The dress sits just on the knee and has inseam pockets.

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The pattern is for woven materials. I suggest a light to medium weight fabric that can be pressed, the pleats look best when they are pressed lightly during sewing. I have made samples in chambray cotton and a medium weight cotton denim, and have loved the result. For a more dressed up look a crisp shantung or dupioni silk would be gorgeous – perfect for a flower girl or bridesmaid dress.

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The are two options for the lace on the back, a spilt lace or wide lace. The split lace has ties that tie in the centre, and the wide lace has a tie on the side. The pattern is made for stretch lace, but some of my testers used a rigid non stretch lace with success.

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I have had a lot of people lately asking me where I’m getting my laces from. I have access to many beautiful laces here in Hong Kong, and plan to add some of them to my Etsy shop soon. Stay tuned.

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The Tahlia top and dress pattern is an intermediate sewing pattern. The instructions have full illustrations to help you with every step. The pattern is available as an instant download PDF pattern to be printed at home on A4 or letter paper.

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