Halter Dress with Cross-Back Straps and Waist Tie

Halter Dress with Cross-Back Straps and Waist Tie

A sleeveless women's dress above the knee in silk dress fabric, made of just two pattern pieces. Each half of the bodice ends in a long strap ("tail"); the straps twist together at the front of the neck, cross over the back and tie at the front waist. The back upper edge is shirred with elastic thread.

When To Wear

• In hot weather for holidays, beach evenings and summer parties.
• With flat sandals during the day or heeled sandals in the evening.

Key Design Features

Silhouette: Straight skirt, with a seam joining the bodice and skirt at the waist; the waist is drawn in by the tied straps.

Length: Above the knee.

Neckline: Halter: the straps, cut in one with the bodice, are twisted together at the front of the neck.

Front: Centre front seam from neckline to hem; no side seams, as the bodice and skirt are each cut in two halves that run from the centre front to the centre back.

Back: Centre back seam; the upper edge of the back is shirred between marks with rows of elastic thread, and the straps cross over it.

Waist: Waist seam pressed downwards; the strap ends wrap around and tie in a bow at the front.

Sleeves: Sleeveless.

Finishing: Back upper edge and both edges of each strap overlocked in one pass, turned in and topstitched; hemline levelled on the body, then overlocked, turned up and topstitched.

Level Of Difficulty

Beginner. Two pattern pieces, straight seams, turned and topstitched edges and shirring with elastic thread; the long narrow strap edges in silk need patience.

Fabric Recommendations

Silk dress fabrics in natural or blended fibres.

Additional Supplies

• Elastic thread for shirring