The balloon sleeves of this simple top and dress are the only detail that it requires to stand out. Less is more. The full sleeves are gathered with a tie which is threaded through a buttonhole, alternatively you can omit this buttonhole and insert elastic instead.

All seam allowances are 1.5cm unless otherwise stated. Skill level: Intermediate.

Suggested fabrics: Lighter weight woven fabrics, linen and linen blends, poplin, hemp and hemp blends, cotton chambray, Indian handweaves and block prints, tencel and tencel blends. The more structured the fabric, the more sculptural your top will look.

You will also need:

• Matching thread

Merchant & Mills patterns are now printed within Europe, the pattern paper is 70gsm white (FSC-certified) and is made only 180km away from the printers. Instructions now come in booklet format rather than A3 sheets. The paper is PEFC/01-31-126certified.

Carolyn Denham and Roderick Field began Merchant & Mills in 2010 with the intention of bringing style and purpose to the overlooked world of sewing. Merchant & Mills continues to grow steadily, evolving and developing as experience and ideas demand. Carolyn and Roderick now travel the world in search of unique and beautiful fabrics, finding aesthetic and practical inspiration along the way. Merchant & Mills products are stocked in the world’s most respected outlets and the company has successfully collaborated with London’s V&A Museum and Alexander McQueen.