Thursday 16 April 2015

Better late than never: I made a purple Coco!

I have to admit that at first I wasn't convinced that Coco would be my style, but having seen so many pretty versions I started to yearn after the pattern. So, I went to the backstitch shop one rainy afternoon and got it (along with the Francoise dress by Tilly and the Dahlia dress by Colette, ahem.)

I only realised after taking these photos that the fabric is a bit clingy.
So excuse the folds.
Pattern: Coco Dress by Tilly and the Buttons. It is a jersey fabric pattern and contains instructions for a dress and jumper. I made the dress with long sleeves, turned under hems and funnel neck as the fabric still screams winter.

Size: I cut a size 2 for the bust and a size 3 for the waist.

You might be able to see the backdarts I added.
Fabric: I used some plum colored jersey that was living in my stash since last year. It was one of the few solid colored fabrics I have and I wasn't at all sure about it. I tried desperately to sneak in some patterned fabric for the pockets, but Lescha kept insisting that both styles didn't go with each other, meh.



Alterations: On the tissue I made my standard pattern alteration which is a 5/8" forward shoulder adjustment. You might have spotted already the biggest alteration I made: I added two back darts. These darts have a diamond shape and thus take out a lot of extra fabric in the area of my sway back. I didn't intend to do this alteration, but when I tried on the finished dress, I just didn't like the fit of the back on me.

You can actually "see" how much fabric I removed with the darts.
Just imagine a straight line going from my back to bum. 
One of the big problems I have with similar style RTW clothes is that the fabric clings to my bum and then there is the excess of fabric just above my bum because of my sway back. Not a pretty sight. I didn't mind, but after starting to sew and caring about the fit, I just can't ignore it anymore.

Construction: With the help of Tillys instructions a joyous ride! I just love her photo instructions and how clear everything is. The whole dress was sewn on my overlocker and I used a simple zigzag stitch for the sleeves and hem. (I'm not happy with the twin needle on my Brother machine sewing machine, so avoid it as much as I can.)



Do I like it? I love the dress especially when wearing it with my mustard colored tights! I wouldn't have thought I would enjoy wearing a solid color so much. Maybe I should buy more?! Fit-wise I think there is still some room for improvements. The sleeves have some drag lines. I've had this problem before and usually the addition of height to the sleeve cap helps.

Can you wear a slip under a jersey dress? After seeing these pictures
I really wonder if I should!
Will I make it again? I definitively will! Indeed I have made another version already! I just say polka dots! Hopefully it will make an appearance on the blog soon (fingers crossed for some sun!).

So tell me: Have you made the Coco Dress or Jumper? Do you find them as comfy as I do?

Me making silly poses. The sun was out - it made me so happy!

15 comments:

  1. I really like the dress on you! I have the same problem - can't ignore the fit in the sway-back area! I'm used to sew a center back seam, but your darts are looking good either.

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    1. Thanks Yacurama. Somehow the idea to take in the back seams never crossed my mind ;) I might give it a thought so with my next project.

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  2. Hey Ela,

    your dress looks lovely and I think it fits you quite well. I've also made a Coco dress, black and white striped, but I would like to make another one, but just in red this time around.
    I love colourful prints, I really can't get enough of them, but now and then a dress or other garment in a solid colour looks great too, so yes, I agree, buy more of those, but don't forget those prints.
    A side note, I admit, my first glimpse of your dress, especially with that pin, made me think of the Star Trek dresses, I'm a fan, so I like it...so, if I made a red Coco and we each put a intercom pin on, we could both pose as Enterprise crew ;) just need the right background

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    1. Hihi, I actually had to laugh when I read your comment and then I looked up how these Star Trek Dresses look like. Yes you are right it looks very similar :) If you make a red dress, it will go very well with my purple one. A perfect match!
      My stash is full with prints (although I find it hard to find nice jersey prints), but I'm trying at the moment to make more solid colored garments so that I can combine them with the patterned one. There is such a massive gap of solid colored clothes in my wardrobe!

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  3. The colour is great on you, and it look so comfy! I made a Coco dress but it looked awful on me - a combination of bad fabric choice and not lengthening it enough so it was too short to be a dress but too long to be a top. I'll give the pattern another go at some point though! Looking forward to seeing your polka dot version!

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    1. Thank you Ruth! I went to a color consultation last week and the consultant actually confirmed that damson is my color :) Phew, haha. Oh it's such a shame that your Coco didn't work out. I hope you are finding the energy soon to give it another try!

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  4. This is fab, and looks great with the mustard tights. I have made three Cocos - two tops, one dress: and had to do a sway back adjustment too. It's such a great pattern though, and knit fabrics are so comfy!

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    1. Thanks Lynne. Mustard and purple is one of my favorite combinations :) Now I have to hop over to your blog to remind myself how you did the sway back adjustment! I would actually like to have a version without darts.

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  5. I love the solid colour on you! It's a cheerful colour. Looking forward to seeing your next version.

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    1. Thanks Claire, I'm hoping for some good weather this weekend so that I can take pictures :)

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  6. The coco is my style but I haven't had a chance to make it yet. I love this purple color on you with your mustard tights. The dress looks great - and the back darts look like they were meant to be. :) Can't wait to see the polka dots!

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  7. Thank you Kristin. I hope you are getting soon a chance to sew your own Coco!

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  8. This looks great! So comfortable yet stylish and I love the purple colour against your mustard tights. I've just traced out my first Coco too! I'm testing the waters with a top before making a dress. Hope it turns out as lovely as yours.

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  9. I love it! And it looks so great on you. The Colour is also great.


    kind regards from Germany
    Katrin

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