Cowl Neck Relaxed Dress

Cowl Neck Relaxed Dress

A women's above-the-knee knit dress in a relaxed, straight cut, with short sleeves set on a dropped shoulder line and a cowl collar sewn as a tube into the neckline. Front and back are each cut in one piece on the fold.

When To Wear

• Everyday wear in autumn and spring, with tights and boots.
• Over a long-sleeved top or with a cardigan in cooler weather.

Key Design Features

Silhouette: Relaxed and straight, with no darts or shaping seams; for knit fabric with low to medium stretch.

Length: Above the knee.

Collar: Cowl collar cut as one piece, joined into a ring and sewn into the neckline with its seam at the left shoulder. The upper edge is turned to the wrong side and topstitched; the collar falls in soft folds at the front.

Sleeves: Short, set into the open armhole on a dropped shoulder line; the underarm seam and side seam are sewn in one pass.

Front: One piece cut on the fold, no centre seam and no closure.

Back: One piece cut on the fold.

Finishing: Shoulder and side seams pressed towards the back. Hems of dress, sleeves and collar turned under and topstitched with a twin needle or on a coverstitch machine to keep the stretch.

Level Of Difficulty

Beginner. Four pieces, sleeves set in flat, no closure; the only special skill is sewing knit fabric with a stretch stitch or overlocker.

Fabric Recommendations

Double-faced knit with low to medium stretch, made from natural or blended fibres. The collar can be cut from a thinner knit for contrast, which must also be double-faced.

Additional Supplies

• Contrast thinner double-faced knit for the collar (optional)