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Minervainervabeta
#5518
#5520

Cord Strap Dress with Gathered Waist

Pattern #5519

This Minerva sewing pattern, drafted to your own measurements, creates a sleek and elegant maxi dress with a gathered bandeau-style bodice and slender cord straps. Designed for formal and special occasions, its close-fitting column silhouette and decorative trim make it a sophisticated choice for evening events, weddings, or upscale resort wear. You can also choose a standard size if preferred.

Tech. Description

Cord Strap Dress with Gathered Waist

A sleek and elegant women's maxi dress pattern featuring a gathered bandeau-style bodice edged with decorative trim and slender cord straps that cross behind the neck for a sophisticated silhouette.

When To Wear

This dress is designed for formal and special occasions, making it an ideal choice for:

  • Formal Events & Dinners: Perfect for elegant gatherings or evening soirées where a refined look is desired.
  • Special Occasions: a sophisticated choice for weddings (as a guest), anniversaries, or celebrations.
  • Upscale Resort Wear: Its flowing nature and chic design make it suitable for glamorous warm-weather events or destination holidays.

Key Design Features

Silhouette: a close-fitting column/sheath silhouette, shaped with waist darts on both the front and back for a flattering fit.

Neckline: a straight, gathered bandeau-like top edge finished with decorative trim, with a small shaped cut-out at the center front, creating a soft, voluminous look across the bust.

Bodice: The upper bodice features soft gathering at both its top edge and where it joins the lower part of the dress under the bust, adding subtle texture and volume.

Straps: Slender cord straps are threaded through the turned-under edge of the front cut-out, cross behind the neck and are sewn to the back after adjusting their length.

Waist: a high seam under the bust is accentuated by decorative trim, cleanly separating the gathered bodice from the straight lower part, which is shaped with darts.

Back: Features a center back seam with a zipper closure; the strap ends are sewn to the back.

Length: Maxi length, designed to fall gracefully to the floor.

Level Of Difficulty

Intermediate. Requires skills in gathering, accurate application of decorative trim, zipper insertion, and neat finishing of the shaped front cut-out and strap attachment.

Fabric Recommendations

For a beautiful drape and elegant finish, choose woven dress fabrics that gather softly:

  • Light to medium-weight woven dress fabrics of natural or blended fibres (the pattern author's choice)

Additional Supplies

  • Decorative trim/tape for finishing
  • Decorative cord/tape for the straps
  • Invisible zipper, 25 cm
  • Bias tape

Cutting Plan

  • From main fabric:
  • Upper Back – 2 pieces
  • Lower Back – 2 pieces
  • Lower Front – 1 piece
  • Upper Front – 1 piece

Sewing Instructions

  1. Mark and stitch the waist darts on the lower front and lower back. Press the darts on the front towards the center front, and on the back towards the center back.
  2. Stitch the side seams of the upper front and upper back. Overlock the side seams and press them towards the upper back.
  3. Stitch the side seams of the lower front and lower back. Overlock the side seams and press towards the back.
  4. Sew a line of long, loose gathering stitches along the lower edge of the upper part of the dress, 0.5 cm from the edge. Gather and stitch the upper part to the lower part. Overlock the seam and press towards the lower part. Place the decorative trim over the seam, pin it, and topstitch it onto the lower part of the dress along the upper and lower edges of the trim, 0.2 cm from the edge. Remove pins.
  5. Sew a line of long, loose gathering stitches along the upper edge of the upper part of the dress, 0.5 cm from the edge, and gather. Stitch the decorative trim to the upper edge. Overlock the seam and press towards the upper part of the dress. Topstitch along the trim attachment seam, 0.2 cm from the seam. Overlock the edge of the shaped cut-out on the upper front, fold under and topstitch 0.7 cm from the edge. Thread the cord for the straps through this topstitched channel.
  6. Overlock the center back edges of the dress, stitch the seam up to the zipper notch and press open, pressing the zipper opening allowances. Insert the zipper. Try on the dress, adjust the strap length, and sew the back ends to the back.
  7. Overlock the hem edge of the dress, fold under and topstitch 2.5 cm from the edge.

Order Pattern

Standard Sizes

Individual Measurements

Please double-check the file format and paper size. Your pattern is drafted in exactly the format you select; a different format or paper size later is a new order.

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