Spaghetti Strap Multi Panelled Dress
Introducing a women's sewing pattern for an elegant spaghetti strap dress, meticulously constructed with a multi-panelled bodice, a dropped waist and a flowing skirt with an overlapped front opening.
When To Wear
This chic dress is perfect for warm-weather occasions, offering effortless style for:
- Resort & Vacation Wear: Its light fabric and flowing skirt make it ideal for sunny getaways and leisurely strolls.
- Summer Gatherings: Suitable for garden parties, outdoor events, or casual-chic celebrations.
- Date Night & Cocktails: An elegant choice for evening outings, offering sophistication with a touch of allure.
Key Design Features
Silhouette: Fitted through the multi-panelled bodice down to a dropped waist at hip level, flowing into a flared skirt.
Neckline: Straight-across, creating a clean and simple line.
Straps: Delicate spaghetti straps providing a minimalist shoulder detail.
Bodice: Intricately designed with multiple horizontal and vertical panels, offering a structured, corset-inspired fit.
Skirt: Flared skirt made of front, side and back pieces; the hemmed front edge of the front skirt overlaps the side skirt, forming an open slit for ease of movement.
Back: Features matching multi-panel construction for a consistent fit and aesthetic.
Closure: Invisible zipper in the left side seam of the bodice.
Length: Midi, falling below the knee.
Hem: Finished with a narrow hem allowance.
Lining: Fully lined for comfort and opacity, especially with sheer fabric choices; the lining hem is 2 cm shorter than the dress. Horizontal seams can optionally be trimmed with gathered ruffles.
Level Of Difficulty
Intermediate. Requires precise panel matching, invisible zipper installation, and working with delicate fabrics for a clean finish.
Fabric Recommendations
To achieve the desired drape and lightness, select woven fabrics that are fluid and easy to work with:
- Chiffon
- Lightweight transparent fabrics
Additional Supplies
- Invisible zipper
- Lining fabric
Cutter's Must
From main fabric:
- Upper Back – 1 piece
- Center Back – 2 pieces
- Side Back – 2 pieces
- Upper Back Yoke – 1 piece
- Lower Back Yoke – 1 piece
- Upper Front – 1 piece
- Center Front – 1 piece
- Side Front – 2 pieces
- Upper Front Yoke – 1 piece
- Lower Front Yoke – 1 piece
- Front Skirt – 1 piece
- Back Skirt – 1 piece
- Side Skirt – 1 piece
- Straps – 2 strips (cut by measurement)
From lining fabric:
- Upper Back – 1 piece
- Center Back – 2 pieces
- Side Back – 2 pieces
- Upper Back Yoke – 1 piece
- Lower Back Yoke – 1 piece
- Upper Front – 1 piece
- Center Front – 1 piece
- Side Front – 2 pieces
- Upper Front Yoke – 1 piece
- Lower Front Yoke – 1 piece
- Front Skirt – 1 piece
- Back Skirt – 1 piece
- Side Skirt – 1 piece
Sewing Instructions
Tip: Horizontal seams can be finished with flounces. To do this, measure the length of all horizontal seams, cut a strip 5 cm wide; the length of the strip should be 2-3 times the length of the seams. Finish 3 sides with a hemmed seam, and gather the remaining side. When stitching horizontal seams, insert the flounce between the pieces.
- Stitch the Side Front pieces to the Center Front. Stitch the Side Back pieces to the Center Back. Overlock the seams and press them towards the center. Stitch the right side seam. Overlock the seam and press it towards the back.
- Join the Upper Front and Upper Back along the right side seam. Join the Upper Front Yoke and Upper Back Yoke along the right side seam. Join the Lower Front Yoke and Lower Back Yoke along the right side seam. Overlock the seams and press them towards the back.
- Stitch the horizontal seams of the assembled sections, inserting the ruffle into the seams if used. Overlock the seams and press them upwards.
- Stitch the left side seam from the bottom to the upper edge of the lower yoke, leaving an opening for the zipper. Overlock the seam and press it open, including the zipper opening allowances. Insert the invisible zipper. Press the seam.
- Join the Front Skirt, Side Skirt and Back Skirt along the side seams. Overlock the seams and press them towards the back. Finish the front edge of the Front Skirt with a narrow double-turned hem. Stitch the skirt to the bodice, inserting the ruffle if used.
- Similarly, stitch the lining pieces, leaving an opening for the zipper in the left seam.
- Cut the straps. Fold each strap lengthwise, right sides together, and stitch 0.5 cm from the fold. Turn right side out and press. Sew the straps to the front neckline.
- Try on the dress, adjust the strap length and sew the back ends of the straps to the back.
- Place the dress and lining right sides together. Fold back the lining 5 mm from the edges of the invisible zipper and pin it to the upper edge of the dress. On the right side of the dress, fold back the seam allowances along the zipper and pin them to the upper edge over the lining. Stitch the upper edges. Fold the seam allowances along the zipper to the wrong side. Fold the lining upwards and topstitch it to the seam allowance 1-2 mm from the seam. Fold the lining to the wrong side and attach it to the zipper tape.
- Finish the hem of the dress with a narrow double-turned hem. Hem the lining so that it is 2 cm shorter than the dress.
