Hallelujah, I made a Coco!
For those of you living under a rock (or, those who don’t sew/blog nowadays…) the Coco is a knit dress pattern by Tilly Walnes AKA Tilly and the Buttons.
I chose a cheap ponte roma from eBay and can’t get over how comfy it is. I have to check that I’m not actually wearing my pyjamas!
I finally understand what all the fuss is about these Cocos. It really was a quick and easy sew!
It would have been quicker if I sewed both sleeves on properly. Instead I decided to sew right to wrong sides…
NEVER SEW WHEN TIRED!! I called it a night after that.
The next day I quickly unpicked it and sewed it on the right way round. I stitched down the sides, hemmed it – with a cute zigzag which is not quite the right shade of blue but never mind…
… and ta-dah! It was done! The quickest dress ever.
Can you spot the little extra I added to the shoulders?
These are what I bought a couple of weeks ago in a bundle of vintage buttons:
And I had a sudden lightbulb moment when I realised they’d be ideal to add a bit of something to an otherwise quite ordinary dress.
I stitched 3 on each shoulder, and I’m pretty happy with them. They stick up quite a bit, but I think that’s OK. My youngest daughter likes playing with them!
I’m pretty damn impressed with how flat the neckline sits, seeing as it was my first attempt at the Coco. And I’ve seen others with wavy necklines, so that feels gooood 😀 No offence intended to anyone with wavy necklines! The fabric was just so nice to sew!
I have more of this lovely ponte roma so I am definitely knocking another Coco up ASAP. I added a little length of ribbon like a tag because it’s not obvious which is the front and the back unless you hold it up to check out the scoop of the neckline.
The reason it’s not obvious which is front or back is because I didn’t add any pockets. My reason? I wanted a quick sew! Next time I will put some pockets on. 🙂
I love the long sleeves. I added another inch or so to the length of them to make them extra long. This is personal preference, and what I love about sewing. You can make it how you want it!
I’m debating whether or not it’s too big. It is big… I measured a size 3 but really, I think I could cut a size 2. Or even smaller come to think of it. But I’m not sure if it’s TOO big. I quite like the cosiness of it. So I might just leave it as it is… I would hate to make it too tight!
One thing’s for sure though – I love the pattern and Tilly’s instructions are amazing, and I love love love the colour!
So that’s another goal ticked off my 2015 sewing goals list 🙂 I should get started on that quilt I aim to make this year…
Beth x
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Great Job looking forward to seeing the quilt. Be Blessed, Mtetar
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Oh yes I had better make a start on that! Thank you 🙂
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You’re always welcome, Mtetar
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Welcome to The Coco Club! The dress looks lovely on you and its a fab colour. I think the fit is supposed to be a bit relaxed, mine is like that and I am happy with it. The buttons are a nice touch. You must make another Coco!
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Thanks a lot 🙂 I will make another ASAP but I have so much I want to sew!
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A beautiful make that looks so professional and suits you very much. I like the addition of the buttons for a bit of detail and personality, plus all things nautical are back in atm!
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Thank you so much! 😀 I’m going to pretend that I totally knew that nautical is in and I added them on purpose because of that…
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The colour is lovely – it looks like a cornflower blue on my screen.
I can also recommend the Lady Skater dress by KitschyCoo – also addictive and fast.
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Thank you! Going to check out that dress now! 🙂
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A smart dress out of a casual, comfy fabric – best of both worlds really!
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Indeed! Thank you 🙂
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It looks great and super comfy! Lovely choice of fabric too – thank goodness for ebay!
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Thank you. You can get some nice fabrics on eBay 🙂
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You have to slow down a bit. Got me already with the Ruby dress, now this one. My list gets longer and longer. 😉 You did a great job, again. It looks very professional. And I love it in combination with the whine-red tights. 🙂 Best, Jana
http://www.meandmyveritas.wordpress.com
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Haha sorry!! I can’t help it! Thank you for the lovely compliments 🙂
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Looks fab, the first of many I bet! 😀
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Absolutely. The pattern has so many variations too. Thank you 🙂
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So cute! I Love the buttons on the shoulders.
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Thank you! I think they finish it off nicely 🙂
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The dress suits you so well and looks so comfy, it’s a lovely style, simple but effective. Sharon x
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Thank you, Sharon. It’s a lot easier to sew than a fitted dress like my Ruby dress, but just as satisfying because it’s so quick!
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That turned out so cute! I am totally envious of that perfect neckline–I haven’t worked with knits much and don’t have a clue what I’m doing. 😉
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Thank you! Haha just take it sloooow and be gentle so as not to stretch it!
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It looks really good and comfy!! I have never made one either. It’s hard for me to figure out if certain patterns would look good on me considering I am a much larger size than all the models…
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Thank you – it is sooo comfy! You might need to take the plunge! I think it’s quite a flattering style, I think there’s a gallery somewhere on Tilly’s website you can go and have a nosey at all the different body shapes that are wearing them?!
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This is what I was on about: https://www.pinterest.com/TillyButtons/coco/ 🙂
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Thanks I will check it out!
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Hmmmm…I do see it looks great on lots of shapes…maybe just have to be careful with fabric choice and stick to thicker knots?
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Yeah just avoid horizontal stripes! A plain fabric is probably best and easiest! I guess a thicker knit could be good, it’d skim your body. I think you need to try it!
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Hmmm maybe I will!
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*knits! Whoops
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Your dress looks amazing, I am definitely going to have a go myself. Having never sewn with jersey before I think this would be a good project to start with. Thanks for the inspiration!
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It’s probably one of the best projects to start with. Tilly’s instructions are so, so clear, and really aimed at beginners – she gives lots of tips for working with jersey. Thank you and you’re welcome!
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This looks really nice! I really like the colour and the added vintage buttons 🙂 I think I may have to join the coco brigade soon too!
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Thank you! How have you got away with not making one for so long, too?! It’s a must-sew! 🙂
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It really suits you; i love the colour. Nice work.
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Thank you. Blue is definitely my colour!
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I don’t think that many of us haven’t sewn a sleeve in the wrong way around! Definitely a sewing while tired error!
And I agree, your neckline is perfect. x
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That’s true, it is quite a common error! Thank you 😀 x
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Looks great Beth! Glad you enjoyed making it too. It’s a revelation once you realises you can sew with knits, I far prefer them now 🙂
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Oh my gosh the fact that you don’t have to finish the edges is amazing! Thanks! 🙂
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It’s really lovely. You’ve made me want to make one now!
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Thank you. That’s what happened to me when I saw other bloggers’!
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Yes! I love it 🙂 so glad you managed to make one at last and ponte is a joy to sew with I’ve found it addictive lots of easy patterns out there (this week I made leggins for myself!) on the fit if it helps I had to go down a size on my cocos as they do come up quite big but mine aren’t too tight. I am jealous though I have to grade down to a 2.5 for the shoulders but it fits you well. I also love the buttons you can’t beat a good anchor button!
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Oh wow, leggings! Thanks, I’ll cut a smaller size next time! Yeah I think my shoulders fit well, the neckline is quite wide but I like it! X
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I TOLD YOU SO! haha I’m so glad you finally made one 🙂 looks great! x
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Hahaha you did!! Thank you! X
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