This month’s pattern is a very special one for us. Over the past few years, we have worked to integrate Deer & Doe into our existing design ethos, and as we move forward, we feel we are no longer interpreting someone else’s vision but embracing the D&D aesthetic as our own. The Eleanor Dress combines the wearability and modern sensibility of a classic Closet Core pattern with the romantic details of a Deer & Doe pattern, making it doubly special when you make it creatively yours. It is a truly magical blend of both brands, and we are so proud to see it come to life.
For the first time, we are releasing Eleanor as a standalone Deer & Doe pattern (using the D&D block and sizing conventions), while also offering it as part of our monthly Crew membership. Our Crew theme this year is Living, with a focus on classic, perennial, stylish pieces that integrate into daily life, and Eleanor is definitely the “frosting” on our calendar. June is such a dreamy month: flowers in bloom, weddings and graduations to attend. What better time to release the most romantic pattern in this year’s collection? Whether you get it as a standalone pattern over on the DD site or as part of our membership, we hope you get a ton of mileage out of this beautiful pattern.
As for the name: this year, Crew patterns are named after people who’ve had a meaningful impact on our team. Eleanor was Amy’s grandmother, hence the English spelling, but we love the connection it brings to Eléonore, Deer & Doe’s founder.
The Silhouette
We were inspired by the feminine, nostalgic styles at Reformation, and the result is a timeless dress that can be taken in many directions. We designed this pattern to shine in beautiful prints, especially in drapey fabrics like viscose and silk; it’s a beautiful canvas for both overscale bold prints and delicate ditzy florals.
Eleanor has a fitted bodice that sits at the natural waist, shaped with double bust and waist darts, and finished with a high jewel neckline. A panelled, flowy A-line skirt comes in midi or mini length, with optional in-seam pockets.
Two Views
View A is simple (bordering on minimalist) yet sophisticated, with a high jewel neckline and a sleeve that ends above the elbow in a gentle puff at the shoulder. The dress closes at the centre back with an invisible zipper. Styling-wise, this is a perfect blank slate. We love it layered with sweaters and boots for a ’90s grunge-inspired look, or chic and sleek under a blazer for the office.
View B is loaded with pretty vintage details: a double keyhole neckline with a loop-and-button closure at the front, an open back with a lined panel that buttons closed, and short gathered cap sleeves. The skirt snugs against the waist with an elastic in the back with an invisible zipper. Think of it as the special occasion version, with a few strategic peeks of skin.
Here’s what makes this pattern genuinely versatile: the front and back bodice options are fully interchangeable. Closed front with open back? Keyhole front with a closed back? Both sleeve lengths work with all bodice combinations. Mix and match based on the occasion and how much skin you want to show.
What You’ll Learn
Eleanor sits at an intermediate difficulty level and covers a satisfying range of techniques:
- Gathering and set-in sleeves
- Faced necklines
- In-seam pockets
- Invisible zipper installation
- Narrow hems
As always, the pattern instructions cover techniques for both versions, with tips for working with drapey and bias-prone fabrics. The choice you make when finishing can make this dress a heritage piece. Delicate hems, tiny loops: sew it up simply or take your time on the special details. It’s totally up to you.
Fabric Recommendations
Eleanor was designed to celebrate beautiful fabrics. We recommend:
Drapey wovens — viscose, silk, Tencel, rayon challis. These fabrics give you a fluid, elegant effect that the silhouette is made for. For the midi length View A, especially, a good drape makes all the difference.
Lightweight wovens — linen, cotton lawn, batiste, voile, chambray. These will give a crisper, more casual result. Perfect for a mini-length View B you’d wear to a summer market or a garden lunch.
One note: if you’re working with viscose or crepe, the instructions recommend doing a baste fit before final construction. These fabrics can grow, and it’s worth taking the time to check your waist seam placement before installing the zipper.
Core Fabrics has fabrics and kits available if you want to copy our samples. They also have a Perfect Match collection available here.
Shop Eleanor
The Eleanor Dress is available now in the Deer and Doe shop for $18 USD/ 16 Euros, or available at the Essential or Unlimited level of Crew if you want some extra help or to experience our community of lovely sewists!
