Open-Back Sundress with Racerback Straps and Cutout Waist

Name: Open-Back Sundress with Racerback Straps and Cutout Waist
Brand: Minerva Patterns
SKU: 5893
Price: 5.00 EUR
Availability: InStock

Pattern #5893

A long women's sundress with a gathered halter bodice set into an interfaced neckband, straps that continue from the band down the back in racerback curves and are joined at the upper back by a decorative clasp, and side cut-outs between the band under the bust and the curved waistband. The gathered skirt closes with an invisible zip at the centre back. Drafted to your own measurements. Recommended fabric: dress fabrics in natural or blended fibres.

Tech. Description

Open-Back Sundress with Racerback Straps and Cutout Waist

When To Wear

Hot summer days and evenings, with flat or heeled sandals.
Holidays and summer parties, with a shawl over the open back in the evening.

Key Design Features

Silhouette: Gathered bodice and a full, gathered skirt; the back is open above the waistband.

Length: Long, below the knee.

Neckline: High round halter neckline: the upper front is gathered into a two-layer, interfaced neckband.

Sleeves: Sleeveless; the armhole edges of the upper front are overlocked, turned to the wrong side and topstitched.

Front: Upper front gathered at the top and bottom; below it a two-layer band runs under the bust and around the sides, crossing the curved front waistband at the centre front.

Back: Open back. The straps, cut in one unit with the neckband and the under-bust band, curve down the back; two loops caught in the strap seam hold a decorative clasp between them.

Waist: Shaped, two-layer interfaced waistband (front waistband and back waistband pieces) rising to a curve at the front; side cut-outs open between it and the under-bust band.

Skirt: Front skirt in one piece and back skirt in two, gathered into the waistband.

Closure: Invisible zip in the centre back seam of the skirt; decorative clasp on the back straps.

Finishing: Inner layers of the bands and straps turned under and topstitched 0.1 cm from the edge; hem overlocked, turned up and topstitched.

Level Of Difficulty

Advanced. Two-layer interfaced band, strap and waistband units sewn with the gathered bodice and the loops caught in, cut-outs that depend on accurate matching of the bands, gathering and an invisible zip.

Fabric Recommendations

Dress fabrics in natural or blended fibres.

Additional Supplies

Fusible interfacing (neckband, straps, under-bust band, waistband)
Invisible zip
Decorative clasp

Cutter's Must

From main fabric:

Back Skirt – 2 pieces
Front Skirt – 1 piece
Upper Front – 1 piece
Strap – 4 pieces
Front Neckline Facing – 2 pieces
Back Facing – 4 pieces
Front Facing – 4 pieces
Front Placket – 2 pieces
Also cut a strip 5 × 5 cm for the clasp loops.

From fusible interfacing:

Strap – 2 pieces
Front Neckline Facing – 1 piece
Back Facing – 2 pieces
Front Facing – 2 pieces
Front Placket – 1 piece

Sewing Instructions

Fuse interfacing to the designated pieces.
Serge the armhole edges of the Upper Front, press to the wrong side, and topstitch. Run lines of loose gathering stitches along the upper and lower edges and gather.
Take the 5 × 5 cm strip for the loops. Fold in half lengthwise with right sides out and press. Unfold, press the side edges towards the center, and fold in half again. Stitch 0.1 cm from the edge, cut into two pieces. Insert the loops into the decorative fastener.
Stitch together the interfaced Front Neckline Facing, Straps and Front Facings. Stitch the Upper Front to the Front Neckline Facing. Stitch the lower edge of the Upper Front to the Front Facing from the edge to the mark. Press seam allowances towards the facing.
Stitch together the non-interfaced Front Neckline Facing, Straps and Front Facings. Place these pieces onto the interfaced ones and stitch the front neckline, the outer edge of the straps, and the lower edge of the front facing, inserting the loops with the fastener. Clip seam allowances, turn to the right side, and press. Fold the raw seam allowances of the facings and straps inwards, align, and topstitch 0.1 cm from the edge.
Stitch the side seams of the skirt, press seam allowances towards the back, and serge.
Stitch the side seams of the interfaced Back Facings and Front Placket. Run loose gathering stitches along the upper edges of the Back Skirt and Front Skirt and gather. Stitch the skirt to the interfaced Back Facings and Front Placket. Press seam allowances upwards.
Serge the center back edges of the Back Skirt. Stitch from the zipper mark downwards, press seam allowances open. Insert the zipper.
Stitch the non-interfaced Back Facings to the non-interfaced Front Placket, place them on the outer pieces right sides together and stitch along the upper edge, inserting the Upper Front between them. Turn the inner pieces to the wrong side and press. Turn under their raw seam allowances and topstitch them into the skirt seam.
Serge the bottom edge, press to the wrong side, and topstitch.