Pattern Spotlight: Ellie Button Up Shirt and Smock

Pattern Spotlight

One of our most versatile patterns, with Ellie you can make a button up top or a gorgeous smock dress. Lightweight and loose fitting, Ellie is super comfortable and makes for a fab casual look. As she is two patterns in one, the possibilities with Ellie are endless so we’ve compiled a list of the best ways to design, fit, hack and style your own Ellie shirt or smock!

Design Your Ellie Shirt or Smock

Ellie works well in a light to medium weight fabric, especially in a bold colour cotton for a bright yet comfortable look! Check out our gorgeous thick weave terracotta cotton here. Ellie also works well in a range of prints, so why not try a floral for summer? We love this bright print from Sister Mintaka, or this more subtle floral design for an understated retro feel:

The button placket for Ellie is made for 0.75m buttons, however why not widen this to make room for some chunkier statement buttons? We love these faux tortoise shell buttons from the Vintage Haberdashery!

If you're not sure how to make space for larger buttons, read our mini tutorial below:

  1. Measure your button diameter and add 0.5cm. Double this and add 2cm for your seam allowance - this is the new width of your button placket.
  2. Measure the difference between the 0.75cm and your new button placket and divide it by two. Take this measurement off the centre front of the bodice.

Fit Your Ellie Shirt or Smock

Ellie is oversized and loose on the hips and waist, so the best way to fit it is based on the bust measurement. For a more fitted style, why not try adding darts to the back?

Hack Your Ellie Shirt or Smock

Ellie is super versatile, as both a shirt and a smock! Check out the square neck Shauni added to her Ellie top:

 

 

And the bow Aliss added at the back of her Ellie dress:

There is also a pattern hack for Ellie available here for a gathered sleeve and tiered skirt, perfect used in tandem for a gorgeous 70s style smock dress, especially in a bold floral print!

Style Your Ellie Shirt or Smock

For an easy, comfy spring/summer look style the Ellie smock with a belt, and add some brown leather boots to amp up the 70s vibes! 

 

Image Credit: ASOS Marketplace

If you don't have a belt, try making a waist tie! We love how Shauni has added one to her hacked Ellie here:

 

For winter, try layering the Ellie smock over a muted turtleneck for a cosy, understated look.

The Ellie shirt looks good with pretty much anything, especially worn with some high waisted jeans or culottes. We also love Ellie styled with a skirt for a casual summer look!

 

 

Learn more and shop Ellie here

Like Ellie? Check out our Hayley dungarees pattern spotlight here!


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