I am happy to share my Lyra Dress today, but really, isn’t it all about my fabulous pink boots? I spent many days ooh-ing and ahh-ing over them on the Camper Website. As I may have mentioned, I have been on the job hunt, and I wasn’t going to purchase these until I actually, you know, had a job offer, but since it’s been seven months, I decided to order them proactively and hope the job would follow close behind them.
WELL, GUESS WHAT? It worked. I got these fantastic boots, and a job offer all in one week. Dreams really do come true! Now on to the dress details.
Lyra Dress
Tilly and the Buttons
Maximum Dimensions
- Bust: 60″/152.5 cm
- Waist: 53″/134.5 cm
- Hip: 61″/155 cm
Light- to medium-weight woven fabrics, such as cotton lawn, voile, seersucker, chambray, double gauze, viscose (rayon), Tencel (lyocell), lighter weight needlecord.
- Choice of short sleeves or full-length billowy sleeves with elasticated cuffs
- Gathered skirt can be hemmed at the knee or add the midi-length panel for a tiered look
- Optional narrow tie to cinch the waist
I have found that the patterns from Tilly and the Buttons run big on me. My measurements place me in size 9 on the sizing chart, but I probably could have made an 8. It actually worked in my favor for my first outing with this pattern, as I was looking for a more relaxed fit.
Making this dress was a straightforward process. The only issue was that my machine was not happy doing the buttonholes, which had nothing to do with the pattern or fabric. I think it just needs a tune-up!
I appreciated the extra resources on the Tilly and the Buttons website, though I didn’t need them for this go around since I made the most basic version of this dress, opting not even to add the second tier of fabric.
My only complaint was with the elastic casing for the sleeves. I originally made the long-sleeve version and did NOT like having that pressure on my wrists. I wasn’t in love with the balloon sleeves in the quilting cotton I used anyway, but I was irritated by the cuffs, no matter how large I made the elastic. If I make a long-sleeve version in the future, I think I will use a solid cuff instead.
I like the top’s fit so much that I may extend it for a button-up shirt. The Lyra dress is the kind of dress that counts as secret pajamas because it’s a loose comfy fit. Plus, it has pockets! What’s not to love?
My Version
Fabric
This was supposed to just be a muslin. I used a pinky purple quilting cotton that had been just sitting in my stash for a few years. I ended up really liking it though, so I have been wearing it out and about!
Size & Alterations
My Measurements
HB: 43″ B: 48″ W:42″ H: 51″ Height: 5’3″
Size
I made a straight size 9. I feel like I could probably go down a size and I may do that when I make this again.
Arms
I made the long sleeve version, but the elastic around my wrist was super uncomfortable. Guess who found another sensory issue? I even inserted it a second time with a longer elastic. I ended up chopping off the sleeves. I left it a little long and folded it up to be a cuff.
Hem
I prefer my dresses and skirts to land about knee length for me, so I didn’t add the bottom tier to this version of the dress.