Pattern Reviews

SQ Olivia Dae Dress Front Pockets Smiling

Dae Dress

Posted
08—May 2024

Read our review of Soften Studio's recent release, the Dae Dress!

Pattern Review — Dae Dress
May 8 2024

It's no secret that we absolutely love Australian pattern brand Soften Studio, founded by former-TFS team member Melody. The Dae Dress pattern was released in April and our recent delivery of new Liberty Tana Lawn prints made it the perfect time to review the pattern! Inspired by Melody's travels to the stylish city of Seoul, the Dae Dress is a romantic and distinctive style, a must-try for those with intermediate level sewing skills. Read on for our review, kindly modelled by Olivia from our HQ team.

Olivia Dae Dress Front Smiling Up
Olivia Dae Dress Close Front Detail
SQ Olivia Dae Dress Close Back Detail
Olivia Dae Dress Close Sleeve Detail
Olivia Dae Dress Standing Bacl
Pattern Review

Soften Studio — Dae Dress

The Dae Dress features a V neckline and two drawstring ties that gather above the bust, creating a pretty smocked effect. This is an A-line dress style, with a back gathered yoke, a wide hem and in-seam pockets. The dress can be finished with fine elastic for voluminous sleeves, or without elastic for a more delicate, flutter sleeve design. We love dresses like this in Liberty prints, and our soft Tana Lawn - Meadow floral felt like a dream fabric match. We made a size 8 and this took 3m of the cotton, matching the pattern's fabric requirements to a tee. We also made the ties with matching Meadow print bias binding, which will be available in stores and online soon. The lightness and density of this Tana Lawn cotton made for a very easy sew, and the pattern instructions were simple and clear.

Soften Studio recommend this pattern for intermediate level sewists, which we would agree with. The areas with more delicate detail, such as the gathered sections and the yoke construction, require a little skill and care to bring out their best finish. We love how the Liberty floral print maximises Dae's whimiscal vintage feel, and are confident that this dress could be styled in many different ways. If you've been hunting for a new dress pattern, we'd highly recommend giving Dae a try!

Download the Dae Dress PDF sewing pattern (sizes 6-24) from Soften Studio here.

Olivia Dae Dress Portrait Front Dancing La La
Olivia Dae Dress Back Spinning
Fabric Recommendations

Liberty Tana Lawn - Meadow / E

Soften Studio recommend light-midweight woven fabrics for the Dae Dress pattern, which gives so many options! We love how it looks in a semi-sheer voile like this one, in a checked cotton like Sonya's, and in soft washed linen like Bethany's version. Here are a few fabric suggestions below, all currently available online.

From top to bottom, Liberty Tana Lawn – Philip / X, Cotton Poplin – Pistachio, Bold Daisy Lightweight Cotton Sateen – Green, Organic Cotton Shirting – Noix and Plaid Cotton / Silk Voile - Festival.

Dae Dress Fabric Recc Stack
Olivia Dae Dress Front
Olivia Dae Dress Front Tying
SQ Olivia Dae Dress Portrait Back

If you're a Soften Studio fan like us, you might like to check out our pattern reviews for the Clo Skirt, Wyn Dress and the Ora Pinafore. New season fabrics are arriving in stores and online weekly, don't forget we always love to see what you're working on over on Instagram and TikTok!

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Location — New Zealand