Betcha can’t make just one! I liked my first Sewing Life Cocoon dress, so I quick made another one. I found this scuba print at a local Fabricland, and it has a perfect amount of body for this shape.
And what is the shape? It is basically just a classic dolman. It’s free with the first issue of Sewing Life magazine, so if you are interested in this shape, it’s a good one to try! I thought about adding sleeves to this version, but then I forgot… and I think I’m happy without them. It is a lot of print and colour!
Here’s what it looks like from all angles – check out that accidental pattern matching on the side seams! I planned the pattern placement to make sure I didn’t have giant light flowers across my butt, and made sure that the neckband roughly aligned with the colours where it would attach. I didn’t want the neckband to stand out and make it look sporty!
It’s the print fabulous? I love big painterly prints like this, and I also really like the combination of black, indigo, ballet pink, orange and tomato red. It’s the kind of print that makes a basic dress stand out!
That said, the scuba was a bear to sew! Look at how the coverstitched hem has big gaps in the stitching, for no apparent reason. My machine did just fine before and after on other fabrics, so I think it’s something about the scuba. Should I have used a sharper needle? Used interfacing? I’m sure I’ll have to re-hem it at some point, so I’d love some tips!
One of the things I look for in other people’s blog pictures is how the garment looks when they just stand still, as well as when they move. If a garment only looks good with a hand on the hip, or in a cute pose, then it’s not really going to work in real life, right? With that in mind, here I am above just standing still, and below, walking away. I like it from all angles!
As it happens, this version ends up eerily similar in colour palette to how I styled my first version:
The restrained polkadot works well with a statement scarf, and the bold pattern version is definitely going to get paired with some more subdued accessories!
You might have spotted this dress in my Dressing Out Loud post – it definitely fits into my new vision of a bold, more-out-there wardrobe! If only it was easier to find really bold fabrics in large scale prints. Let me know if you have a great source!
Crafting A Rainbow 
Looks great on you- as you say, from all angles. I think a lot of people just do a plain cut edge on scuba- it doesn’t NEED finishing after all, and a lot of RTW garments leave it raw.
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I recently watched a vlog by The Stitch Sisters where they talk about exactly the difficulty you describe experiencing with the scuba. Sorry I’m a bit technically challenged or I’d post the link 😁 It’s on YouTube though – easy enough to find.
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I love this dress. It is such a simple, classic but stylish shape and looks really comfy to wear. Both versions are fantastic but that big print is really the bizz. You really suit those colours. Awesome pattern matching too btw, even if it was an accident. 🙂 I have never sewn with scuba so can’t help I am afraid, However, I will be watching the comments as I have a lot in my stash that I bought to have a go with. Xx
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I always love your posts. I am currently not sewing for myself but mainly crafting, hand sewing. You are very photogenic, also! Have a great day!
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That a perfect pattern and print match!
I have had similar issues with scuba. I managed to make an Appleton dress with it, but sewing was a nightmare. I tried ballpoint needle, different kind of stitches, but nothing worked. There are microtex needles available that I haven’t tried yet. Those needles have thinner and extra sharp ballpoint. They are my last hope….
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I love it! Super print placement, and your attention to detail on the neckband is great. No scuba tips for you, but it sounds like there is some good information out there. The joys of the sewing community!
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Great use of a great print (+ colorstory), and you look radiant!
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Love the print and colors and the scuba fabric you look vibrant. I have sewn with scuba fabric and found it very manageable using a microtex 80 needle. Seam finishing isn’t required and would probably make it too bulky. Thank you for sharing. Blessings!
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I’m actually sewing with scuba right now – a New Look SO945. I’m using a regular machine, with a ballpoint needle and a zig zag stitch. My tension is fairly low. Maybe that’s it? Adjusting tension to fit fabric types is always tricky for me. But, fingers crossed, I’ll keep humming along with this dress. Good luck!
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Hmm – you’ve got me thinking that maybe my settings were off! I usually have my coverstitch set to slightly gather (ease, really) so that things don’t stretch out… maybe that was part of the problem!
Thanks!
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Aaah thank you for this post, Gillian! I noticed the dress in your previous roundup and loved how the large scale print works with the cocoon shape – and then I scoured your entire blog for the original post 🙂 The dress looks great from all angles, and that’s saying something because I’m definitely on team “show off your waist”. Also a big thumbs up for standing straight pictures! I always hate it when ALL the photos in a blog post show someone with their hands on their hips or (which seems to happen a lot lately with the fuller pants) in their pockets. I want to see how the garment hangs, and on different bodies. That’s a big part of the appeal of blogs over Burda or other fashion magazines.
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