Sleeveless Empire Waist Dress with Gathered Bodice and Loose Skirt
Discover our sleeveless dress pattern, featuring a flattering empire waist with a gathered bodice and a relaxed, flowing skirt, complemented by a chic high halter neckline and a keyhole back detail.
When To Wear
This versatile sleeveless dress is perfect for a range of relaxed and celebratory occasions, offering effortless style:
- Casual & Everyday Wear: Ideal for comfortable yet chic daily outings or warm-weather activities.
- Summer Gatherings & Parties: A light and flowing option for garden parties, picnics, or informal events.
- Bridal Attendant: Suitable for bridesmaids or wedding guests seeking a comfortable and elegant silhouette.
Key Design Features
Silhouette: An empire waist dress with a fitted, gathered bodice transitioning into a loose, flowing skirt.
Neckline: A high, halter-style neckline with a clean finished edge, extending around the back of the neck.
Closure: Upper back features a keyhole opening secured with two button-and-loop closures at the neckline.
Sleeves: Sleeveless design with neatly finished armholes.
Waist: Defined empire waistline created by elasticized gathering within the bodice for a comfortable fit.
Back: Features a keyhole opening at the upper back above a center back seam.
Length: Finishes at a versatile knee-length.
Level Of Difficulty
Intermediate. Requires skills in facing application, creating button loops, working with elastic thread for gathering, and precise edge finishing.
Fabric Recommendations
Choose light to medium-weight fabrics with good drape to enhance the flowing silhouette:
- Light dress fabrics made from natural fibers
- Light dress fabrics made from blended fibers
Additional Supplies
- Fusible interfacing
- Elastic thread
- 2 buttons
CUTTER'S MUST
- From main fabric:
- BACK PANEL – 2 QTY
- FRONT PANEL – 1 QTY with fold
- FACING – 2 QTY
- From FUSIBLE INTERFACING:
- FACING – 1 QTY
Sewing Instructions
- Fuse the upper FACING with FUSIBLE INTERFACING.
- Overlock the center back seam of the BACK PANEL. Stitch from the mark downwards, press SEAM ALLOWANCES open, pressing the slit. Topstitch the edges of the slit at 0.1 cm.
- Stitch the side seams. Press SEAM ALLOWANCES towards the BACK PANEL and overlock.
- Overlock the armhole edges, press them to the wrong side, and topstitch.
- Cut a BIAS BINDING strip 2.5 cm wide and 10 cm long. Fold the strip in half lengthwise, right sides together, and stitch 0.3 cm from the fold. Trim SEAM ALLOWANCES close to the stitching, turn the strip right side out, and straighten the loop. Cut loops. The length of one loop is 4 cm.
- Place FACING pieces right sides together and stitch along the neckline edge, simultaneously stitching the side edges and inserting the loops. Trim SEAM ALLOWANCES. Turn the piece right side out and press. Press the lower edges inwards. According to the markings, attach the upper edges of the BACK PANEL and FRONT PANEL to the lower FACING. Topstitch the upper FACING to the edge of the lower FACING. Press the pieces.
- Overlock the bottom edge of the garment, press it to the wrong side, and topstitch.
- Topstitch elastic thread according to the markings. Sew buttons onto the FACING.
