I’ve been saving this fabric until I had a firm sense of what I would love to make with it – I absolutely love Dashwood cottons and am always drawn to their bold prints and colours. I also find it really hard to resist bird prints. Dashwood cottons are such a beautiful quality and really easy to sew with, too! I had lots of pattern ideas in my head, but I’ve opted for none of them. Instead, I have gone for Deer and Doe’s Réglisse.


I have decided to make a version of Réglisse for a friend and because it is the first garment I’ll be making for a friend – I’ve only made a couple of shirts for my other half until now – I want to make sure it’s perfect so I decided to get myself in the right mindset to make it perfectly by running off one for myself. I have the pattern pieces for my measurements from when I made it last March when the first lockdown started (which was, incidentally, when I started on my sewing journey). It might seem like a straightforward enough plan – but read back… I traced off pattern pieces for my pre-lockdown measurements. So, it was actually a wee bit of a gamble that it would fit well. As an aside, I have fitted a toile for my friend so that won’t be a risky make. 🙂

Even though I haven’t revisited this pattern from March 2020 until now, I must admit I love this pattern. I’ve always intended to come back to it so I’m really happy my friend chose this for pattern for her dress. I love the simple elegance of French design, in general, and Deer and Doe really are quintessentially French. This is the loveliest of summer dresses, featuring either an elasticated or shirred waistband, bias cut bodice, cap sleeves, shoulder yokes, a pussy bow neck-tie or button front and a beautifully full-flared skirt. I did intend to make the pussy bow tie, but I didn’t have enough fabric to do that and to match the front and back bodice pieces (which are all cut on the bias). It’s fabric hungry, this pattern.

The recommended fabrics include medium weight fabrics such as cotton poplin, chambray, or lightweight linen. This Dashwood cotton poplin worked fine: for my friend’s version I’ll be using a lighter lawn which will be beautiful for summer and so easy to wear. Going back to the shortage of fabric, this was also due to the fact this is a quilting cotton so much narrower than I usually work with - 60″ fabrics will make it much easier for cutting.

Once the pieces are cut, though, the pattern comes together so well – any adventurous beginner with a few projects could take this on. It’s easy to fit, too, with only a bust dart to fit to your body. It’s also drafted for a C-cup which has saved a lot of work, too. It’s one of those patterns that is a dream to sew up and I can’t wait to make one for my friend at the weekend.

Réglisse is a dream to wear – light and floaty, it’s perfect for a sunny day. It is so effortlessly chic, as is the French way.

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