Cowl Back Shift Dress With Tie

Cowl Back Shift Dress With Tie

A women's shift dress in stretch velvet, ending above the knee, with a deep draped cowl at the back, cut-on cap shoulders with stitched pleats, and a separate chiffon sash tied at the front. Two main pieces and no fastenings.

When To Wear

• Evening parties and dinners in autumn and winter.
• Festive events, with tights and heeled shoes.

Key Design Features

Silhouette: Straight shift shape, slightly narrowed towards the hem, defined at the waist by the sash.

Length: Above the knee; 2 cm hem allowance turned under and topstitched (a twin needle keeps the stretch).

Neckline: Wide, shallow front neckline turned under and topstitched.

Sleeves: Cut-on cap shoulders; armhole edges turned under 2 cm and topstitched.

Front: One piece with pleats at the shoulder seams, stitched down for 2 to 2.5 cm perpendicular to the seam.

Back: One piece cut on the fold, with a cowl drape falling to the waist; the cowl edge has a 2 cm allowance turned under and topstitched.

Waist: Separate chiffon sash wrapped around the waist and knotted at the front, its edges finished with a narrow rolled hem on the overlocker.

Finishing: Seams sewn with a stretch or narrow zigzag stitch or on a 3- or 4-thread overlocker; all pieces cut with the velvet nap running upwards.

Level Of Difficulty

Intermediate. Few pieces and no closure, but stretch velvet needs one-way cutting, careful pressing on a velvet scrap or terry towel, and stretch seams and hems.

Fabric Recommendations

Stretch velvet for the dress; chiffon for the sash.

Additional Supplies

• Chiffon for the sash
• Twin needle for the hems