My girls and I chose to sew up the Elizabeth Dress with Waterfall Skirt and Coco Sport Bra. Lisbon picked the Elizabeth and Ansley picked the Coco, which is what I also picked for myself.
The Elizabeth Dress with Waterfall Skirt is a leo with cap sleeves and an optional waterfall skirt. The skirt doesn't fully close in the center front so it doesn't match the "dress" definition in my head, if that makes sense? Lisbon has been wearing it for online dance and online tumbling classes and loves it! The top looks like it has raglan seams and has an optional sweetheart insert. There are so many different possibilities for colorblocking and mesh and various looks! Ansley is a little bit jealous of the sleeves because they are the perfect proportions to her. The little keyhole in the back is my favorite detail. I'd never sewn one before and it looks so sweet. I was unable to find the recommended clasp in time (I actually ordered it pre quarantine so more than 45 days ago and it hasn't arrived yet) so I substituted a nursing bra clasp that I was able to find. It works just fine and Lisbon can get it on and off by herself. I will reevaluate swapping it out once the other clasps arrive. :) Lisbon designed the color scheme for her Elizabeth. We talked about how the wrong side of the silver skirt fabric may show and she picked other colors that wouldn't contrast as much. I think she did a good job with the color scheme!
The Coco Sport Bra immediately caught my eye with the different color block options and the two different strap styles! The Coco is fully lined and has instructions for optional cups in the larger sizes. View A has a crossover back option and View B is the traditional racer back. I thoroughly enjoyed the construction of both views!
Ansley picked View B, which uses the burrito technique. It still feels like magic every time when the garment is turned right side out! She chose this swim fabric (from Raspberry Creek Fabric last summer) and I also opted to line it in thinner swim fabric (from Joann). I used clear elastic for the neckline and racer back, as instructed.
The next one I sewed was also in swim fabric (fuschia and yellow and navy, leftover from these Raspberry Creek Fabrics suits) and for fun I used swim elastic instead of clear elastic so I have the option of wearing it under a rashguard whenever life gets more back to normal! I chose View A and it was fun to sew the elastic in the straps and follow the instructions to make it fully lined. I gave myself the option for removable cups. I didn't think I'd actually take the cups out but it turns out I don't have enough extra cups laying around to not swap them out. It is the most comfortable bra I own. The straps are actually wide enough that I can wear it with most of my scoop neck tees!
After admiring Ansley's View B I decided I wanted to try it too. It was time to cut the precious Katie Kortman fabric I'd picked up from Spoonflower (probably in a fat quarter sale) and leftover scraps from the unblogged Mary Poppins costumes' circle skirts; this royal solid nylon tricot from Fabric Fairy. I was delighted the fabrics coordinated well enough! I was supposed to use the blue and pink fabric for Lisbon but there are still a few tiny scraps left. I'm trying to figure out what I should make her! What do you think? I used the blue tricot to line this Coco Sport Bra and I used swim elastic again. I had a scrap barely big enough for the 1 inch band (without piecing scraps together) so this is the only 1 inch band I made for myself. (both of my View As have the 1.5 inch band)
When I was looking for fabrics I found this grey supplex I think I got from Imagine Gnats. I sewed this one up using actual swim lining (as recommended in the pattern) and using clear elastic (as recommended in the pattern). It is the most supportive/compressive of the ones I've made and I'm guessing it's the fabric. I am not a runner but this grey Coco is enough support for High Fitness and Body Combat for me. The others are great for Body Combat and daily wear (and High Fitness if it doesn't have a lot of tracks with jumps).
I thoroughly enjoyed sewing the Elizabeth and Coco. These makes are getting so much wear in our home and make me happy every time I see them! Which new pattern is your favorite?