Cord Strap Dress with Gathered Bandeau Bodice

Name: Cord Strap Dress with Gathered Bandeau Bodice
Brand: Minerva Patterns
SKU: 5519
Price: 5.00 EUR
Availability: InStock

Pattern #5519

A women's long straight dress with a gathered bandeau-style bodice joined to a darted lower part by a seam under the bust. Decorative trim edges the top and covers the bust seam, and a cord threaded through a small V cut-out at the centre front forms halter straps that cross behind the neck. Drafted to your own measurements. Recommended fabric: light to medium-weight woven fabrics that gather softly: cotton lawn, viscose, crepe, linen blends.

Tech. Description

Cord Strap Dress with Gathered Bandeau Bodice

When To Wear

Summer evenings, parties and holidays in warm weather.
With sandals or heeled shoes; with a shawl or light jacket over the bare shoulders.

Key Design Features

Silhouette: Straight, close-fitting column below the bust seam, shaped with waist darts at the front and back.

Length: Long, to the ankle; hem overlocked, turned up and topstitched 2.5 cm from the edge.

Neckline: Straight top edge gathered onto a strip of decorative trim, topstitched 0.2 cm from the seam. At the centre front a small V-shaped cut-out is overlocked, turned under and topstitched 0.7 cm from the edge to form a channel.

Straps: A cord threaded through the channel of the front cut-out runs up around the neck, crosses at the back and is sewn to the back after the length is adjusted on the wearer.

Front: Upper front gathered at both the top and lower edges; the seam joining it to the lower front is covered with decorative trim topstitched along both edges.

Back: Upper and lower backs cut in pairs with a centre back seam running the full length.

Closure: Zip in the upper part of the centre back seam.

Level Of Difficulty

Intermediate. Even gathering on two edges, attaching and topstitching decorative trim, a narrow channel on the cut-out for the cord, a centre back zip and strap length set at a fitting.

Fabric Recommendations

Light to medium-weight woven fabrics that gather softly: cotton lawn, viscose, crepe, linen blends.

Additional Supplies

Decorative trim (top edge and bust seam)
Cord for the straps
Zip for the centre back

Cutting Plan

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

Sewing Instructions

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.
Stitch the side seams of the upper front and upper back. Overlock the side seams and press them towards the upper back.
Stitch the side seams of the lower front and lower back. Overlock the side seams and press towards the back.
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.
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.
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.
Overlock the hem edge of the dress, fold under and topstitch 2.5 cm from the edge.