Crafting with Purpose: How Tilly and the Buttons Supports Children Through Creative Giving.
For Tilly and the Buttons, sewing is about more than creativity - it’s about empowering people and making a positive difference beyond the craft itself.
Founded by Tilly Walnes, the business creates easy-to-follow sewing patterns, alongside free tutorials and a popular blog, all designed to make sewing fun, accessible and beginner-friendly. Built on a foundation of creativity and community, giving back has become an important part of that journey.
“Our brand's purpose is to inspire and empower people to make their own clothes, because we know firsthand the incredible impact this can have on people's confidence, well-being, and their sense of agency in the world. Charitable giving allows us to go one step further by helping people in urgent need and contributing to wider society in other ways.”
Tilly and the Buttons supports a range of humanitarian charities, with a focus on organisations helping people through challenging circumstances. Most recently, they’ve partnered with Action for Children, supporting their work with vulnerable children and families across the UK.
“We like to be able to give back and help others where we can.”
Through Work for Good, the team has been able to integrate charitable giving in a way that is both flexible and impactful. One standout example is their Christmas campaign, where they donated the proceeds from a festive stocking sewing pattern to Action for Children’s Secret Santa appeal.
The campaign invited customers to sew stockings for loved ones, while also contributing to a cause — turning a creative activity into something with wider meaning.
A small percentage of our overall turnover can make a huge difference to people facing hardship.
This approach is shared across their website, newsletters and social media, particularly during key moments like the festive season. Their customers — many of whom are socially conscious and values-driven — respond positively to the opportunity to support a good cause through their purchases.
“It makes us as a team feel good to know we are helping others.”
Work for Good has helped simplify the process behind the scenes, making it easy to give while ensuring everything is done in a legally compliant way.
“It’s a great way of being able to support charities without the legal complications that may otherwise be involved. The CPA solution is the most helpful aspect of Work for Good. The charity search tool has also been helpful - it would be great to see even more charities sign up.”
For Tilly and the Buttons, charitable giving is a natural extension of their values - combining creativity, community and compassion in a way that makes a real difference.