Hi, friends! It’s back to sewing this week. I have a nice little backlog of sewing projects to share, but the weather hasn’t been cooperating for picture taking. When the clouds started to brighten on Wednesday, I rushed outside to take pictures of this shirt.
This is the Coco Top from Tilly and the Buttons.
l
I made the dress version around the time I began sewing regularly, but I had never made the top. The fabric came from Haberman Fabrics in Royal Oak, Michigan, and I’ve been holding onto it for over a year trying to figure out the best use for it. It’s a great substantial rayon jersey that is actually reversible: blue and white on one side and orange and white on the other. I really wanted to make a reversible garment, but in the end, the mental gymnastics became too much and I decided to go with a Breton-style shirt where I could incorporate both sides of the fabric. The Coco pattern was just right since it had the little pocket and it wasn’t hard to color block (stripe block?) the sleeves.
As far as details, I made the size 5 (Tilly has her own sizing system that is different from other patterns and ready-to-wear) in the long-sleeved shirt view with the pocket. I used the 3/4 length sleeve line as my color/stripe blocking placement line and just added in seam allowance. I used a jersey needle and a walking foot as well as polyester thread. I did try out fusible stay tape for my neckline as suggested, which worked out well. Instead of zigzagging the neckline, however, I used a twin needle, which I also used on the sleeve edges and bottom hem. And I opted to zigzag my side seams instead of using a straight stitch. I used to use a straight stitch on knit seams that weren’t going to stretch a lot, but after wearing those garments for a while, a lot of my stitches popped and I had to resew them with a zigzag, so I went right for the zigzag this time.
I liked sewing this pattern. Tilly’s directions are very easy to use, and she includes helpful tips here and there. Her pictures are really clear, and I’m a big fan of her color scheme, which makes all her images fun to look at. I would certainly make this again–maybe in the dress version. 🙂
Recommendations
-
- I recently watched the movie “Queen of Katwe” about a girl living in poverty who learns to play chess and how it changes her life. It was excellent.
- Itch to Stitch just released the free Lago Tank pattern. It looks like a great basic for summer. I’ve never tried any patterns from this brand although I’ve been tempted. This might just be the project to start with.
- Speaking of free sewing patterns, the Curvy Sewing Collective posted an EXTENSIVE round-up of free patterns with a great size range.
- And to give you a laugh this week, here is a video that reimagines an important part of the Sleeping Beauty story. 😉
Pattern and Branch 