My second White Tree Fabrics Make – The Coco Dress
Tilly Coco Dress
Remember I said I was desiring simple sewing projects? Well you could not get more simple than Tilly’s Coco dress! White Tree Fabrics kindly sent me the pattern and 2 metres of their ‘warm jersey‘ for this project.
Now, I hope you are prepared to be really jealous of where I live – the tropical, glamorous beaches of the East Riding of Yorkshire were the perfect location to shoot these photos…
My feet aren’t touching the floor in this photo!
The pattern is great. Simple, but great. I was on the fence about this pattern for so long, because of its simplicity. I felt like after having been on three pattern cutting courses, I could draft it myself… but this is probably me being overly confident and, well, wrong. Maybe. We will never know, because when White Tree Fabrics started stocking Tilly’s patterns I hesitated not a moment longer and ordered it!
My feet aren’t touching the floor in this photo, either!!
Boy, am I glad to own this pattern! I traced it one evening, and I’m not kidding, the next lunchtime I made my first Coco in UNDER ONE HOUR. And I even liked it, which was itself a surprise because I wasn’t sure if it would be flattering on me (even though it looks great on everyone else).
Just running towards the North Sea. Totally tropical, don’t you know.
My White Tree Fabrics Coco is one of the plainest things I have ever made. You know me: prints, prints, and more prints! But it’s getting cold, and I wanted cosy, and after ordering some samples I just couldn’t resist the ‘warm jersey’. This fabric is actually like a woolly fine knitted fabric, like they use to make cardigans etc. It is super soft and really warm and cosy.
Neckline close up
I made the most basic Coco dress – plain neckline, no cuffs, no pockets. I added 2″ to the length which still leaves it above the knee but not too short. I was very careful not to stretch the fabric as I sewed, because the fabric recommendations call for a stable jersey and the fabric I chose was a bit too stretchy, really. I stabilised the shoulder seams with elastic (pictured below), and I also used the same elastic to stabilise the neckline before turning it under and topstitching it, too.
Elastic to stabilise the shoulder seams
I used Bondaweb to stabilise the hemline before sewing it. The stretch recovery of the fabric is great, so its stretchiness is no problem now that the dress has been sewn together. Oh, and it washes nicely too, on a machine wool cycle.
A mid-application shot of the Bondaweb, which I ironed in to stabilise the hem before sewing it with a zig zag stitch
I really love this dress, but it does feel weird to be blogging about such a simple sewing project! However, the dress is already getting worn a lot because it’s so snuggly and practical. It feels easy to wear, and stylish in an understated way. I’m on the lookout for some sort of bonkers jersey print for a future Coco, but for now I’m very happy with this one!
Thanks to White Tree Fabrics, and my photographer and co-blogger, Aileen.
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Bonkers jersey print did you say…? 🙂
http://www.whitetreefabrics.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=3609
http://www.whitetreefabrics.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=4609
Fantastic make. Sometimes the simplest makes are the best ones!
Love it x
Wow, bargains too! I don’t know if I can rock Paisley, but I do love the colours!
They’re positively psychedelic aren’t they?! 😉
Simple usually looks good and this is a very pretty fabric.
Thank you. It’s getting a lot of wear in this chilly weather. It’s easy to wear, warm and comfortable 🙂
You look great. Basics sometimes are the best!
Thank you. It’s certainly filling a wardrobe gap!
I feel the same about Coco. Love it on you, looks like a good staple pattern to own. We all have days when we just want to be snuggly and this will fit the bill for sure x
Definitely!
I have to say this is the first coco I’ve seen that I actually like. Maybe because your fabric is simple and drapier than other fabrics used? I really dislike how the skirt shape sticks out in heavier fabrics, and the pockets kinda look like an afterthought… Your dress looks great!
Thank you! I’ve made another and the skirt does stick out a bit more but I still like it 🙂
I tend to prefer simple garments because they’re the ones that get the most wear. 🙂 I love this color on you, and it looks like a cute, comfy, “secret pajamas” type dress. 🙂
This dress has got a lot of wear since I made it!
Oh, I love this! I’ve attempted a couple of Coco tops, which I’ve worn lots but like you dismissed the dress as being unflattering. However your version (love the colour and the ‘warm’ reference) look fab on you. Might have to rethink my dismissal…
It’s definitely worth a try if you already have the pattern! You could always shorten it to a top if you didn’t like it as a dress.
Great idea, hadn’t even thought of that, doh! 🙂
Love it! Sometimes we all just need a simple project. And Coco is such a great pattern, I made my third one last Saturday.
I have two and I’m definitely not stopping there. It’s hard to be bothered to sew anything else 🙂