Oh yes, Sheb Wooley, I’m after you! Here is my Tilly & the Buttons Coco dress – is it called a franken-dress, or is that just me in it?!
It’s a Coco top, shortened a wee bit, with a sort of Merchant and Mills Factory Dress skirt on the bottom. It’s what I call a result, after the trauma of my first Coco. Last time, I managed to disfigure my fabric by drying it badly and then forcing my daughter to model it. This time I went for a more stable knit, using a lovely ponte roma bought from Plush Addict, and washed and dried it carefully.
It was a one-eyed, one-horned
flyin’ Purple People Eater!
Originally, I cut a funnel neck but I thought I looked a bit too much like a purple ET, so cut it out and used some black cotton ribbing I had lurking instead. I really liked the contrast – black/purple, purple/black – and added the ribbing to the cuffs too, using the lovely Amanda method (from Kitschy Coo), as detailed in her Lady Skater dress pattern.
So all’s well that ends well really: I had wanted this dress to be in a Kelly green (as I had pinned on one of my Pinterest boards) but thought it might be too bright, being a gal who favoured black for all seasons for most of her twenties and thirties. So I chose vibrant purple instead.
Despite cutting the same size Coco as before, this fabric behaved differently – just like my children, in fact. The end result is a little bit big, thus casting it into the “roast dinner dress” corner of my wardrobe. It also functions as a giant nighty, which means on all these balmy Spring days that have so far eluded most of the British Isles, I remain snug as a bug and asleep at my desk. Happy days.
He he I love the sound track feature to your posts they really add an extra dimension.
I think your franken-pattern has worked really well. The pleated details where the skirt meets the bodice is a lovely touch and I agree the black contrast ribbing works with the purple.
My friends and I were a bit obsessed with certain bands in the 80/90’s. I was in the indie camp but my best friend was an all out goth (which meant a palette of black, purple and the odd bit of forest green (controversial!). Well Hazel LOVED purple everything (her nickname during this period was of course Purple Haze) and she would love this dress!
Yes, I was like you and had plenty of friends like Hazel – great nickname!!
That song made me smile 🙂
The waist pleats look great as does the black and purple contrast
Thanks Alex😀
Laughing along to the sound track! The dress – and the tights – are great. And you’ve gone and put me onto another good pattern…
Hi Claire, I have nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award (although I wasn’t really sure if you may already have a nomination). I have loved following your blog since the NYLon event in May. I love your makes!
Read my reasons for nominating you on my blog: http://carolinejoynson.blogspot.co.uk/
Thanks Caroline – that really is so very kind of you! I have a number of items to blog about but unfortunately life has gotten in the way of blogging recently. Hope to see you on Saturday?? Thanks again x