Monday 4 January 2016

The relax dress

Another dress from Fu-Ko Basics, probably the simplest pattern in the whole book - just two pieces plus facings for the neckline. I wasn't sure how this would look on R or whether I really liked it at all, but I was after a nice quick sew after the confusing front placket dress, and that's exactly what I got.

A Japanese friend informs me that the pattern is called a 'Relax Dress', and that the fabrics used for the two dresses pictured in the book are French terry and jacquard knit. I used some rather colourful cotton jersey I'd picked up on clearance a while back, which wasn't quite the understated style I was after, but this was right in between Christmas and New Year and I couldn't be bothered to go shopping. As it turns out, I really like the way the big floral design lends the dress a summery, beachy feeling. Perfect with a pair of thongs for a day at the beach or pool... and having just had an amusing conversation with my son about the different meanings of certain words in American versus UK/Australian English, I feel obliged to clarify the word 'thongs'. These are not undergarments but footwear - what others might call flip-flops, only you'd sound like an idiot if you said that here, because thongs are the national shoe of Australia!





The Relax Dress has a high-low hem and the waist is pulled in by means of a strip of elastic stretched out and stitched to the inside (I sewed mine about 5cm lower than the line indicated on the pattern pieces). The back opening is meant to have a button but I skipped this to avoid tangly hair issues and put in a snap instead. The dress could be simplified even further by omitting the facings and back opening and binding the neckline using a stretch stitch - providing, of course, that you're using stretchy fabric, because I think the dress would be really nice in a light woven as well.



A quick and rewarding sew with a comfy, calming name - there's lots to love about the Relax Dress. And check out K photobombing the picture below!






6 comments:

  1. We could be sewing sisters, sewing similar things at more or less the same time. No doubt this dress is going be worn a lot in the summer months. They always go for the knits. :-)

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    1. You should make one too, if you haven't already - Cape Town has such a lovely long summer, it would get plenty of wear!

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  2. This does indeed look like the perfect dress to relax in! I am feeling warm and relaxed and summery just looking at these photos, even though it's freaking COLD where I am right now. Ah for a pair of flip flops and a popsicle ...

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    1. I wish you good luck staying warm - I'm really not a winter person and always feel like I'm just trying to 'get through' the colder months. Hot chocolate is nice on a cold day though... you have to take whatever consolations you can get!

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  3. This dress looks perfect for summers spent by the pool. Thanks for the thong clarification must admit I raised my eyebrows when I first read it.

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    1. Thanks Louise! I couldn't let that one go without clarifying it - I would hate anyone to think that I meant the other kind of thong!!

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