Summer Dressmaking
Our top picks for your summer wardrobe
Spring and summer is my favourite time to update my me made wardrobe. There is something about the sunshine that just makes me want to sew and I love the fact that with a simple pull on dress or skirt you can whip up a completely new outfit in an afternoon. There's also the added benefit when you make your own clothes that you know your outfit will be unique.
Fabulous floral cotton
Part of what I love most about dress making is being able to combine glorious florals with whatever dressmaking pattern I desire, as a little inspiration we have paired these with the Tilly and Buttons Marnie pattern! This collection of 100% cottons combines some of my absolute favourite fabulous florals all in one place!
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Freya Floral Cotton Lawn Black Tex Ex 2652
£9.50 / MetreThis fab new 100% cotton lawn has a light, soft and floaty feel! Cotton Lawn is lightweight and lovely to wear as well as being relatively easy to sew for a fabric with drape, ideal for dress, skirts or shirts!
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Tex Ex 2728 Paint me flowers green
£9.50 / MetreRetro 100% printed fabric, suitable for dressmaking and craft projects. We have a huge range of cotton dress fabrics at Textile Express and free samples are available on all of our designs.

Shirred Summer Dress
This is the perfect throw on summer dress which is super versatile, it can be worn to the beach or dressed up for a wedding. We've made a few versions of this dress and suggest using a fabric with a lovely soft drape such as viscose or if you like a bit more body at cotton poplin or similar.
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F320 Sketch Flower Nude
£8.50 / MetreThis lovely lightweight, soft drape fabric is suitable for a variety of dressmaking and craft projects. The fabric handles like a viscose and has a beautiful drape so is perfect for clothes which require a floaty cloth such as dresses, skirts, blouses, kimonos and summer scarves.
Free samples available on request.
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F328 Field Of Flowers Sorbet
£8.50 / MetreThis lovely lightweight, soft drape fabric is suitable for a variety of dressmaking and craft projects. The fabric handles like a viscose and has a beautiful drape so is perfect for clothes which require a floaty cloth such as dresses, skirts, blouses, kimonos and summer scarves.
Free samples available on request.
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F321 Madeline Floral Vintage
£8.50 / MetreThis lovely lightweight, soft drape fabric is suitable for a variety of dressmaking and craft projects. The fabric handles like a viscose and has a beautiful drape so is perfect for clothes which require a floaty cloth such as dresses, skirts, blouses, kimonos and summer scarves.
Free samples available on request.

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i514 Watercolour Garden Multi
£9.50 / MetrePretty floral design printed on a high quality viscose fabric. Its composition gives its a light, soft and floaty feel making it beautiful to wear. This fabric is ideal for most of your dressmaking projects like dresses, blouses etc.
Also suitable for crafting and quilting.
This design is just one of a huge range of soft drape fabric we stock. Free samples available.
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H386 Multi Leaves Rainbow
£10.50 / MetrePretty abstract design printed on a high quality viscose fabric. Its composition gives its a light, soft and floaty feel making it beautiful to wear. This fabric is ideal for most of your dressmaking projects like dresses, blouses etc.
Also suitable for crafting and quilting.
This design is just one of a huge range of soft drape fabric we stock. Free samples available.
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H385 Batik Palms Ink
£10.50 / MetrePretty leaf design printed on a high quality viscose fabric. Its composition gives its a light, soft and floaty feel making it beautiful to wear. This fabric is ideal for most of your dressmaking projects like dresses, blouses etc.
Also suitable for crafting and quilting.
This design is just one of a huge range of soft drape fabric we stock. Free samples available.
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H384 Rouge Flowers Viscose Petrol
£10.50 / MetrePretty floral design printed on a high quality viscose fabric. Its composition gives its a light, soft and floaty feel making it beautiful to wear. This fabric is ideal for most of your dressmaking projects like dresses, blouses etc.
Also suitable for crafting and quilting.
This design is just one of a huge range of soft drape fabric we stock. Free samples available.
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Posy Viscose Rouge W45
£8.50 / MetreThis stunning viscose fabric is perfect for a variety for dressmaking projects. Viscose is a super soft lightweight fabric which drapes beautifully and feels lovely to wear. It is perfect long floaty dresses and skirts as well as blouses.
Free samples available. Weight: 110gsm
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F328 Field Of Flowers Sorbet
£8.50 / MetreThis lovely lightweight, soft drape fabric is suitable for a variety of dressmaking and craft projects. The fabric handles like a viscose and has a beautiful drape so is perfect for clothes which require a floaty cloth such as dresses, skirts, blouses, kimonos and summer scarves.
Free samples available on request.
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F326 Woodland Flowers Blue
£8.50 / MetreThis lovely lightweight, soft drape fabric is suitable for a variety of dressmaking and craft projects. The fabric handles like a viscose and has a beautiful drape so is perfect for clothes which require a floaty cloth such as dresses, skirts, blouses, kimonos and summer scarves.
Free samples available on request.
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F325 Edith Floral Antique
£8.50 / MetreThis lovely lightweight, soft drape fabric is suitable for a variety of dressmaking and craft projects. The fabric handles like a viscose and has a beautiful drape so is perfect for clothes which require a floaty cloth such as dresses, skirts, blouses, kimonos and summer scarves.
Free samples available on request.
Natural Plains
If bright and ditsy florals aren't your thing for summer check out this collection of more natural and plain fabrics. From double muslins to textured ramies we've got some really lovely options.
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Washed Ramie Linen Look Mustard B134
OUT OF STOCK£14.00 / MetreRamie is a fantastic eco-friendly cloth which behaves very similarily to linen. It is made from nettles and therefore is a sustainble option as they are easy to grow without the use of chemicals. As ramie shares so many qualities with linen, including a lovely handle and soft drape it can be an ideal choice for curtains and other soft furnishings projects.
Ramie is an extremely strong fibe and is also breathable and highly absorbant making it the perfect cloth for dressmaking. With a weight of 255gsm it is the perfect mid weisght cloth for trousers, dresses, shirts and more!
Free samples available.
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Eco Washed Linen Lavender C260
£14.00 / MetreWashed 100% linen plain soft drape fabric. Suitable for dressmaking, craft and curtains. Free samples available.
Oeko-Tex Standard 100 - 230gsm
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Washed Ramie Linen Look Petrol B177
OUT OF STOCK£14.00 / MetreRamie is a fantastic eco-friendly cloth which behaves very similarily to linen. It is made from nettles and therefore is a sustainble option as they are easy to grow without the use of chemicals. As ramie shares so many qualities with linen, including a lovely handle and soft drape it can be an ideal choice for curtains and other soft furnishings projects.
Ramie is an extremely strong fibe and is also breathable and highly absorbant making it the perfect cloth for dressmaking. With a weight of 255gsm it is the perfect mid weisght cloth for trousers, dresses, shirts and more!
Free samples available.

Simple Top Video Tutorial
For more info and fabric suggestions click here
Vintage Fabrics
These fabric are the real deal when it comes to vintage and make up the most wonderful collection
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Vintage Floral Red Pink C447
£7.00 / MetreFloral cotton print 100% cotton, suitable for dressmaking and craft. Free samples available.
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Greta Floral - Vintage collection 41
£5.00 / MetreThis amazing fabric is part of our latest range of vintage fabrics! These fabric are the real deal when it comes to vintage and make up the most wonderful collection.
Bringing together the best of retro colours and designs these cottons are perfect for dresses, skirts and shirts. They'd also work great for crafting projects and would make fab accessories or home furnishings.
As with all fabrics we'd recommend pre washing this vintage lovelies, free samples available.
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Mildred Bloom - Vintage collection 80
£5.00 / MetreThis amazing fabric is part of our latest range of vintage fabrics! These fabric are the real deal when it comes to vintage and make up the most wonderful collection.
Bringing together the best of retro colours and designs these cottons are perfect for dresses, skirts and shirts. They'd also work great for crafting projects and would make fab accessories or home furnishings.
As with all fabrics we'd recommend pre washing this vintage lovelies, free samples available.
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i514 Watercolour Garden Multi
£9.50 / MetrePretty floral design printed on a high quality viscose fabric. Its composition gives its a light, soft and floaty feel making it beautiful to wear. This fabric is ideal for most of your dressmaking projects like dresses, blouses etc.
Also suitable for crafting and quilting.
This design is just one of a huge range of soft drape fabric we stock. Free samples available.
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H386 Multi Leaves Rainbow
£10.50 / MetrePretty abstract design printed on a high quality viscose fabric. Its composition gives its a light, soft and floaty feel making it beautiful to wear. This fabric is ideal for most of your dressmaking projects like dresses, blouses etc.
Also suitable for crafting and quilting.
This design is just one of a huge range of soft drape fabric we stock. Free samples available.
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H385 Batik Palms Ink
£10.50 / MetrePretty leaf design printed on a high quality viscose fabric. Its composition gives its a light, soft and floaty feel making it beautiful to wear. This fabric is ideal for most of your dressmaking projects like dresses, blouses etc.
Also suitable for crafting and quilting.
This design is just one of a huge range of soft drape fabric we stock. Free samples available.
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H384 Rouge Flowers Viscose Petrol
£10.50 / MetrePretty floral design printed on a high quality viscose fabric. Its composition gives its a light, soft and floaty feel making it beautiful to wear. This fabric is ideal for most of your dressmaking projects like dresses, blouses etc.
Also suitable for crafting and quilting.
This design is just one of a huge range of soft drape fabric we stock. Free samples available.
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H324 Sixties Floral Viscose Magenta
£10.50 / MetreThis lovely printed 100% viscose meets the Okeo-Tex standard 100. Its composition gives its a light, soft and floaty feel making it beautiful to wear.
This design is just one of a huge range of soft drape fabric we stock. Free samples available.
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H323 Sixties Floral Viscose Turquoise
£10.50 / MetreThis lovely printed 100% viscose meets the Okeo-Tex standard 100. Its composition gives its a light, soft and floaty feel making it beautiful to wear.
This design is just one of a huge range of soft drape fabric we stock. Free samples available.
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H321 Savanna Viscose Mustard
£10.50 / MetreThis lovely printed 100% viscose meets the Okeo-Tex standard 100. Its composition gives its a light, soft and floaty feel making it beautiful to wear.
This design is just one of a huge range of soft drape fabric we stock. Free samples available.
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H317 Fuchsia Camomile Clusters Viscose
£10.50 / MetreThis lovely printed100% viscose meets the Okeo-Tex standard 100. Its composition gives its a light, soft and floaty feel but for a viscose this fabric isn't overly fluid, its finish is quite similar to a cotton lawn which will make it easy to sew and beautiful to wear.
This design is just one of a huge range of soft drape fabric we stock. Free samples available.
Skirt Video Tutorial
For more info and fabric suggestions click here
Sewing Patterns
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Tilly And The Buttons Drew Raglan Sweatshirt
NEW£15.00LET’S GET COMFY!
Meet your new obsession, the Drew sweatshirt sewing pattern. The easy-fitting style and raglan seams make for a speedy and satisfying sew, and a perfect introduction to sewing with stretch knit fabrics – whether you make it on a regular sewing machine (with a zigzag stitch) or overlocker (serger) is up to you. Keep it simple with one solid colour or print, or let your creativity loose with the playful colour block sleeve (great for scrap busting!).
- Oversized fit with deep raglan sleeves, cinched in at the hem and cuffs
- Optional colour block sleeve
- Ribbed crew neckline, hem band and cuffs
- Choice of hip-length or cropped hemlines
SKILL LEVEL - Confident Beginner
Supplies
- Fabric
- Matching thread
- 0.6m (5/8yd) ribbing (at least 90cm [1yd] wide unfolded)
- Sewing machine OR overlocker (serger), plus basic tools, incl ballpoint machine needle if you're using a regular sewing machine (a walking food can also be helpful)
Fabric Suggestions
Sweatshirt fleece or French terry (loopback).
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Tilly And The Buttons Ramona Skirt
NEW£15.00LEARN TO SEW A ZIPPED SKIRT
Meet Ramona, a sleek and chic pencil or mini skirt with dreamy details. Our step-by-step instructions and free video tutorial will teach you how to neatly insert an invisible zip at the side. Choose from patch pockets or faux flaps at the front, and make the skirt extra special with the optional lining.
- Choice of mini-length or knee-length hem with back slit
- Invisible zip closure at the side
- Four waist darts, centre back seam and gently curved waistband for a great fit
- Choice of casual patch pockets or 60s-inspired faux pocket flaps with optional buttons
- Optional lining pattern with full instructions included
SKILL LEVEL - Confident Beginner
Supplies
- Fabric (see below)
- Matching thread
- 0.3m (⅓yd) x 110cm (1¼yd) wide iron-on interfacing (similar weight to your fabric)
- 22cm (9in) invisible zip
- Optional: 2 x 15-20mm (⅝ -¾in) wide buttons for faux flap version
- Sewing machine and basic tools, incl invisible zip foot and regular or adjustable zip foot
Fabric Suggestions
Main fabric: Medium- to heavy-weight woven fabrics that hold their shape, such as corduroy, denim, drill, jacquard, tweed, or wool suiting.
Optional lining: Slippery lining fabric such as cupro (Bemberg), viscose (rayon), acetate or polyester lining. -
Tilly And The Buttons Mabel Dress and Top
£15.00Make it yourself Tilly and the Buttons sewing pattern.
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Tilly And The Buttons Nell Dress and Top
OUT OF STOCK£15.00Make it yourself Tilly and the Buttons sewing pattern.
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Tilly And The Buttons Thea Wide Leg Trousers
£15.00Make it yourself Tilly and the Buttons sewing pattern.
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Friday Pattern Company The Ilford Jacket Sewing Pattern
OUT OF STOCK£19.00Make it yourself jacket sewing pattern.