Sleeveless Gathered Empire Waist Dress
This elegant maxi dress pattern features a flattering crossover V-neck, a gathered empire waistline, and a flowing skirt for a gracefully relaxed silhouette.
When To Wear
This dress is perfectly suited for warm-weather occasions, offering both comfort and style:
- Summer Outings & Vacations: Ideal for beach holidays, resort wear, or daytime sightseeing.
- Casual to Semi-Formal Events: a versatile choice for garden parties, brunches, or relaxed gatherings.
- Everyday Comfort: Perfect for a stylish and comfortable look during warmer months.
Key Design Features
Silhouette: a flowing maxi dress, gracefully extending to an ankle-grazing length, with a defined empire waist.
Neckline: An elegant crossover V-neckline creates a flattering bodice.
Sleeves: a sleeveless design supported by broad, comfortable shoulder straps.
Waist: a high empire waist features delicate gathering, transitioning into a full, voluminous skirt.
Back: a gently scooped back neckline is complemented by elastic gathering at the back empire waist for an adaptive fit.
Level Of Difficulty
Intermediate. Requires attention to detail for delicate fabric handling, gathering techniques, and precise lining attachment.
Fabric Recommendations
Choose light to medium-weight fabrics with excellent drape, ideal for flowing silhouettes:
- Chiffon fabrics (natural or blended fibers)
Additional Supplies
Cutter's Must
- From main fabric:
- Upper front – 2 qty
- Middle front – 1 qty
- Lower front – 1 qty on fold
- Upper back – 1 qty
- Middle back – 1 qty
- Lower back – 2 qty
- Strap – 2 qty
- From lining fabric:
- Lining for upper front – 2 qty (cut according to main fabric pieces)
- Lining for upper back – 1 qty (cut according to main fabric pieces)
- Lining for lower front – 1 qty on fold
- Lining for lower back – 2 qty
The lining can be cut from the main fabric.
Sewing Instructions
- Fold the strap in half lengthwise, right sides together, and stitch along the long side. Turn right side out, smooth, and press.
- Stitch the side seams of the upper back and front on both the main fabric and lining pieces. Press seam allowances towards the back. Attach the straps to the main fabric pieces. Fold the straps down, place the main fabric and lining pieces of the upper sections right sides together, and stitch the upper edge of the back, the armhole edge, the upper edge of the front, and the wrap edge. Clip the seam allowances at curves, turn pieces right side out, and press. Then, secure the main fabric and lining pieces together and treat as a single-layer piece.
- On the upper front pieces, along the lower edge between the notches, sew a gathering stitch with loose tension and gather.
- Along the upper edge of the lower front, sew a gathering stitch with loose tension and gather. Stitch the middle and lower front pieces together. Overlock the seam and press towards the middle section.
- Stitch the center seam of the lower back. Overlock the seam and press. Along the upper edge of the lower back, sew a gathering stitch with loose tension and gather. Stitch the middle and lower back pieces together. Overlock the seam and press towards the middle section.
- Stitch the side edges. Overlock the seams and press towards the back.
- Stitch the lining pieces. Overlock the seams and press towards the back.
- Attach the upper of the dress to the middle. Fold the upper down to the right side of the dress. Place right sides together with the lining, aligning the upper edge of the lining with the seam joining the upper and middle main fabric pieces. Attach the lining to the dress in the seam joining the upper and middle parts. Overlock the seam and press towards the middle. Turn the pieces right side out.
- Overlock the lower edge of the garment. Fold the seam allowances to the wrong side, press, and topstitch.
- Stitch with elastic thread into the seam joining the middle parts with the lower front and back parts along the entire length of the edge, along the upper edge of the back between the straps, and into the seam joining the upper and middle back parts at the level between the straps.
