Slip Dress with Side Bows and Spaghetti Straps

Slip Dress with Side Bows and Spaghetti Straps

A short women's slip dress with no side seams: the front and back are hemmed separately along the sides and held together by eight small fabric bows, leaving open gaps between them. The front has princess seams, the back has waist darts, and the neckline and armholes are bound with bias binding that continues into the straps.

When To Wear

• As a nightdress or lingerie piece.
• In summer, as a slip with open sides.

Key Design Features

Silhouette: Close-fitting, shaped by princess seams at the front and darts at the back.

Length: Short, above the knee.

Neckline: Low scoop at the front and back, bound with bias binding.

Sleeves: Sleeveless; the armhole binding is extended to form thin straps.

Front: A centre front panel and two side front panels joined by princess seams, pressed towards the centre.

Back: One piece with waist darts pressed towards the centre back.

Finishing: Side edges and hem turned twice and topstitched. A strip of fabric is hemmed along both long edges, cut into eight pieces and twisted into bows, which are stitched under the front and back side edges at the marks, four on each side.

Level Of Difficulty

Intermediate. Princess seams, bias binding with continuous straps, and joining the sides with bows placed to the marks.

Fabric Recommendations

Fabrics of natural or blended fibres.

Additional Supplies

• Bias binding (the approximate length is marked on the front pattern piece)