Tilly and the Buttons Cleo dress

I have made a fourth Cleo dungaree dress! My others are feeling a bit tight at the moment so I wanted a bigger version because I’m really missing being able to wear them. I had a remnant of dark green needlecord in my stash that I picked up for about £4 at a craft cafe in Hornsea last summer. I originally thought I’d make a Moss Skirt with it as it didn’t appear to be big enough for much else, but with a bit of fiddling I was able to squeeze out a Cleo. I had to use contrasting fabric for the facings, though. I also had some brown poly lining – no idea why or where it came from, but I used it to underline the front and back dress pieces. As a consequence, it is slinky on the inside and so doesn’t ride up on whatever I’m wearing underneath.

This time I chose to make the knee-length version of the dress with the split at the front. I like it but when I bend or crouch down the bit where the split stops is under quite a lot of strain. I did the securing stitches as directed by the pattern, but I do wonder if, over time, the stitching may give way. Time will tell!

I have worn the dress twice already, once with a t-shirt underneath and the next time with a shirt. With the shirt on, I know I look as if I’m size 1000, but I’m working on trying to accept my body, mainly because I love food too much to deprive myself at the moment, and I have a bad back so I don’t feel like running.

Although my red Cleo dress is still my favourite, I think this new one is my best in terms of quality of make – underlining it makes a big difference to how it ‘hangs’. I would definitely do this again on future dresses. I didn’t technically need the facings, but I liked to add then for increased stability, and also because they make the insides prettier!

Cleo pattern: I am not done with you yet. I definitely want to make a denim one at some point, and maybe another red one in the bigger size.