Bang for Your Buck
Before I go into the patterns, I want to say that many basic sewing patterns can be "cottagecore-ified" haha. Much of the romantic feeling of the aesthetic comes from design elements that can be added to any pattern: lace trims, ruffles, tiers, shirring, smocking, pintucks, large collars, etc. (See my post "7 Cottagecore Essentials") Even sleeves can be altered to be larger and flouncier, etc. There are blog and video tutorials available all over the web, if your goal is complete customization of your handmade wardrobe.
What I want to do with this post is suggest patterns that will give you the most bang for your buck, by checking off as many of the essential silhouettes of the cottagecore aesthetic as possible OR being the most customizable. Let's be honest, most patterns are not cheap, especially if you're buying a few at a time. If you're like me, you are wondering which patterns you can afford that will give you the most sewing options for your chosen silhouette, and that's what I've searched for and listed here. This project is as much to help myself as it is any readers, so I haven't made these patterns myself (yet!). If you've made any of these patterns, leave a comment reviewing them; I would love to hear from you!
Sizing
I should also make a note about sizing; to qualify for this list, the patterns had to reach at least be in my own size range and I use finished garment measurements where available:
- Bust: 54 in.
- Waist: 50 in.
- Hips: 60 in.
I also have a bias against knits as I haven't sewn with them before and a lot of my cottagecore love comes from historybounding eras that didn't use knit fabrics as much.
The Patterns
Largest Size: Bust 59" - Waist 48.875" - Hip
What Makes It Cottagecore: princess seams, gathered skirt, puffed sleeves
Largest Size: Bust 62" - Waist 59.5" - Hip 79.5"
What Makes It Cottagecore: gathered skirt, button-front
Largest Size: Bust 62" - Waist 52" - Hip 62"
What Makes It Cottagecore: square and wide necklines, MANY sleeve options, classic a-line shape, long voluminous skirt with options for pleating
Largest Size: Bust 58" - Waist 50" - Hip 60"
What Makes It Cottagecore: Bishop sleeves, shirred bodice, square neckline
Size Range: Bust 60" - Hip 83"
What Makes It Cottagecore: Neckties, gathered tiers
Size Range: Bust 67.5" - Waist 66.5" - Hip 98.5
What Makes It Cottagecore: wide sleeves, tie waist, princess seams, pintucks!
Size Range: Bust 58" - Waist 51" - Hips 60"
What Makes It Cottagecore: Princess seams, tie waist, optional button-front, wide sleeves
Fabrication
Sometimes it helps to get an idea of what you want to use to make a pattern before you jump in, I've included fabrics in both classic cottagecore colors and a few darker colorways for us Gothy Ones. I have also included links to the instagram hashtag for each pattern, check out how others have made these beautiful dresses! All fabric below is $14/yard or less at the time of this posting.
The
Sofia Dress and
Wilder Gown beg to be made in sheer lightweight fabrics, that require some kind of slip underneath:
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Slate Black Cotton Lawn
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However, the
Lima,
Hinterland, and
Tamzin Dresses demand a
little bit more structure, like a midweight cotton, linen, or rayon and there's something about the Hinterland that calls for stripes or checks:
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Purple/Black Solid Linen Twill
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I'll be honest; I think the Belemnite Dress and the Upton Dress are the crowning jewels of this list; just check out the instagram feed for each and see what I mean! I've seen both in a wide variety of fabrics, and I've noticed that the somehow simple but unique features of each dress makes it a great palette for sumptuous patterns and textures:
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Kaufman 21 Wale Corduroy Cloud
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Black/Charcoal Wool Blend Stripe Woven Suiting
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