Poppy Cocoon dress is a loose-fitting, comfortable, everyday round neck, cocoon shaped, tunic with pockets set into a raglan sleeve. The pattern comes in all sizes from 8-28.

Make in soft sweat fabric (see below) or loop back jersey or a medium weight two way stretch fabric such as a cable knit would be nice. Minerva fabrics have some lovely ones.

The lovely thing about this pattern is the pockets set into the deep raglan style sleeve and the side gusset which help create its ‘Cocoon’ shape.

Here are size info, finished garment details and fabric requirements which are found on the reverse side of the pattern pack.

A few things to know….

Mark the notches with small 5mm nick within the seam allowance.

Seam allowance is 1cm.

Insert a jersey needle or a in your machine and use a stretch stitch machine setting.

Jersey fabric doesn’t tend to fray, so either leave the edges unfinished or use an over locker to finish them.

Topstitch- a line of longer length stitching (2.8mm) on the right side of the fabric close to the seamline.

RST/WST– Right Sides Together/Wrong Sides Together.

MAKING POPPY COCOON DRESS

1JOINING THE SIDE FRONT & BACK TO THE SLEEVES

With the RST, pin the Side Front (piece 3) to the Sleeve (piece 5) front section short edge. Sew. Press away from the Sleeve with the seam allowances towards the Sleeve on the reverse side. Topstitch on the Sleeve side. By the way, see how Ive stuck some masking tape on the fabric piece indicating what it is. This is such a good trick which I use all the time, especially when pieces are so similar to each other.

Repeat for the other Side Front and Sleeve front section. 

With the RST, pin the Side Back (piece 4) to the Sleeve Back section short edge. Sew. Press away from the Sleeve with the seam allowances towards the Sleeve on the reverse side. Topstitch on the Sleeve side.

Repeat for the other Side Front and Sleeve front section. 

Both Sleeves now have both Side Front and Side Back pieces attached.

POCKETS

With the RST, pin one Pocket (piece 6) at each side of the Front slanted edges, aligning the notches. Sew. Press the seam allowance towards the Pocket on the reverse side. Topstitch on the Pocket side.

With the RST, pin one Pocket to the Side Front/Sleeve piece, aligning the notches. Sew. Press the Pocket away from the Side Front. Topstitch on the Pocket side.

Repeat for the remaining Pocket and Side Front piece.

Both Sleeve pieces now have both Side Front (with Pocket piece) and Side Back attached.

SLEEVES

With the RST, pin the Front to the Sleeve front section at the slanted edge, aligning the Pocket outer raw edges. Sew. Press the Sleeve away from the Front with the seam allowances pressed towards the front on the reverse side.

On the wrong side, press the Pockets towards the Front. Match the Pocket short raw side edges to the Front side edge. Pin. Machine tack within the seam allowance.

JOINING THE FRONT AND BACK

With the RST, pin the Back to the Back Sleeve at the long slanted raw edges each side, aligning the notches. Sew. Press the seam allowances towards the Back.

With the RST, pin the Front to the Back at the side edges from the lower hem to the cuff edge, aligning the underarm sleeve cross seams. Sew. Press.

Fold 1cm at the cuff, then fold over 3cm. Stitch all around. Press.

With the dress right side outermost, fold back the cuffs 2cm each side.  

Make a 2cm hem fold at the lower edge of the dress or as required length. Sew all around. Press.

NECKBAND BINDING

With the RST, join the Neckband (piece 7) at the short sides to make a ring. Trim the seam allowance to 5mm.

With the RST, pin one Neckband raw edge to the neck all around, aligning the seam to the centre back. Sew.

Trim the seam allowance to 5mm. Press the band away from the dress.

Press under 1cm at the Neckband outer raw edge. Fold the Neckband over, to the wrong side, encasing the raw edges. Pin. Hand stitch all around to secure.

Ta dah! There you have one lovely cocoon dress.

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