Itch to Stitch Summer Recoleta Dress

We’ve booked a holiday!!!

I’m not holding my breath but it’s looking more certain we’ll get to Greece in September!!

So with that in mind, I need a couple of cool summer dresses.

This the Itch to Stitch Recoleta Dress

The Recoleta is a relaxed woven dress with an empire waist. It has a notched neckline that combines a scoop neck and a V neck, with 2 sleeve options, short and 3/4 length.

It was released earlier this year, I think, and I had saved it as a possible holiday dress.

 I know an Itch to Stitch pattern is going to be drafted beautifully with comprehensive instructions. This one was no different.

 It comes in sizes 00-20 with A and B cups; sizes 00-20 with all cups (A, B, C, D and DD); sizes 16-40 with B and C cups; sizes 16-40 with D and DD cups. It’s these cup sizes that confirmed my choice as I knew it was more likely to fit me out of the packet, especially around the bodice.

I used a size 6 A cup. I’m usually a DD/E cup but because my high bust measurement is less than 1 inch less than my full bust (all that time in the gym!), this puts me in the A cup dress size.

The suggested fabrics are lightweight to medium weight woven fabric with no stretch such as linen, linen mix, rayon challis, charmeuse, lawn, chambray, poplin and sateen.

This is a cotton chambray material from the bins at Abakhan, Mostyn.

There were a couple of opportunities for up skilling in this make. I had not inserted such a yoke before. You had to be incredibly accurate in cutting out these pieces, along with using a strict seam allowance (1.25mm) to make sure everything lined up and the bodice fitted the skirt.

It also contains a side invisible zip. I don’t generally insert many zips and indeed I did mess up my first attempt.

I found a couple of You Tube videos from Lauren of Gutherie and Ghani and also Tom Kat Stitchery. They offer slightly different methods and in the end I used a combination of them both.

I’m very pleased with the result.

The skirt darts, back and front, provide for some lovely shaping. The skirt side seams also have waist shaping.

It fits, without being clingy. Just the simple day dress I was looking for. Still plenty of unrestricted arm movement and eating room!

I think that another one in black linen would be gorgeous for hot evenings.

Top marks for the Recoleta Dress!!!

Love, Lucie xx