Tie-Shoulder Gathered Dress
Introducing a charming women's dress pattern featuring adjustable tie-shoulders, a beautifully gathered bodice, a smooth midriff yoke and a gently flared gathered skirt for an effortlessly elegant silhouette.
When To Wear
This versatile dress is perfect for warm-weather elegance, making it suitable for:
- Summer Gatherings: Its light fabric and relaxed fit are ideal for garden parties or picnics.
- Vacation & Resort Wear: a stylish choice for beach holidays or sightseeing in warmer climates.
- Casual Daytime Events: Easily dressed up or down for brunches, lunches, or relaxed outings.
Key Design Features
Silhouette: Flared A-line silhouette, softly draping from a defined midriff.
Neckline: Straight-across neckline: the upper edge of the front and back is turned into a casing, gathering the bodice softly.
Shoulder Straps: Adjustable tie-shoulders formed by a decorative ribbon threaded through the casing and tied in bows at the shoulders.
Bodice: Comfortably gathered across the bust and joined to a smooth, interfaced midriff yoke.
Waist: The double-layer front and back yokes form a midriff band that visually separates the gathered bodice from the flowing skirt.
Skirt: Gently gathered at the waist, flowing into a graceful a-line shape.
Closure: Invisible zipper neatly concealed in the left side seam.
Length: Midi length, finishing below the knee, offering a light and airy feel.
Level Of Difficulty
Intermediate. Requires skills in gathering techniques, inserting an invisible zipper, and working with bias binding.
Fabric Recommendations
Opt for lightweight, fluid fabrics that drape beautifully and enhance the garment's airy feel:
- Fabrics made from natural or blended fibers
Additional Supplies
- An invisible zipper
- Fusible interfacing
- Decorative ribbon for shoulder straps
- Bias tape for armhole finishes
Cutter's Must
- From main fabric:
- 1. Upper Back – 1 piece
- 2. Lower Back – 1 piece
- 3. Back Yoke – 2 pieces
- 4. Upper Front – 1 piece
- 5. Lower Front – 1 piece
- 6. Front Yoke – 2 pieces
- From fusible interfacing:
- 1. Back Yoke – 1 piece
- 2. Front Yoke – 1 piece
Sewing Instructions
- Fuse interfacing to one back yoke piece and one front yoke piece.
- Stitch with loosely tensioned stitches 0.5 cm from the edge along the upper edge of the lower front and lower back (skirt) and along the lower edge of the upper front and upper back. Pull up the gathers.
- Place the front yoke pieces right sides together. Sandwich the upper front between them so that the right side of the upper front faces the right side of the interfaced yoke piece. Stitch all three layers in one seam. Finish the seam, turn right side out, and press. Join the back yoke to the upper back in the same way.
- Place the lower edges of the front yoke pieces together with the lower front. Stitch the seam, finish, and press upwards. Topstitch 1 mm from the seam. Join the back yoke and lower back in the same way.
- Stitch the side seams, leaving the left seam open down to the zipper notch. Finish and press the seams open, also pressing the zipper opening allowances. Insert the invisible zipper.
- Press the bias binding in half lengthwise and use it to finish the armhole edges.
- Turn under the ends of the bias binding and secure by hand.
- Finish the upper edge of the upper back and upper front, fold it under first by 0.5 cm, then by another 2 cm, and topstitch to form the casing.
- Thread the decorative ribbon through the casings, forming shoulder straps of the desired length.
- Finish the lower edge of the dress, fold under, and topstitch 0.5 cm from the lower edge.
