Tools and materials:
- Fabric
- Scissors
- Skirt
- Sewing machine
- Pins
- Elastic
by Rosa Padilla
DIY a Gorgeous, Low Back, Cowl Neck Dress
6 Materials
$20
3 Hours
Easy
I love a cowl neck! I knew that the next piece I made would have to have one and that’s what inspired me to make this amazing dress! This dress is so easy to sew and could easily walk the runway in an evening wear category! If you are ready for this sleek and stylish dress to become a closet favorite, this tutorial is definitely for you! Follow the simple, step-by-step guide and get started on creating this absolute stunner of a dress. You just can’t go wrong with a low back and cowl neck!
How to make a cowl neck dress
Cut the front piece
To get started on this absolute stunner of a dress, I used a skirt I owned as a pattern and cut straight for about 30 inches. This would be for the front of the dress.
Fold the top
I then folded three inches from the top and pinned at the fold to hold it in place.
Cut the top
I measured 1.5 inches in width and 6 inches in length from the top and cut at a curve starting from the edge of the dress at the 6-inch point.
Fold the edges
Next, I folded over the fabric at the top and sides of the dress and pinned it in place.
Cut around the skirt
Cut the back piece
In this next step, I used the skirt as a pattern for the back of the dress and cut around it. I didn’t need to add much length to the top since I was making a gorgeous low back.
Attach the front and back
Attach the front and back pieces together
It was time to sew the back and front pieces together! I Placed the back piece on the front piece and made sure the sides were aligned. I then sewed the edges together and while I was at it I finished all the edges I had pinned earlier.
Sew down the top
Fold and sew the top
Once my back and front were sewed together beautifully, I folded over the top of the front of the dress and sewed it down. This would help give my dress the amazing cowl neck!
Add elastic
Add elastic to the back
To create a gorgeous, tight-fitting back, I attached a safety pin to the end of an elastic and pulled it through the top of the back of the dress. I made sure to secure it in place once the elastic was all the way through.
Make the strap
Add a strap
Finally, it was time to add one of my favorite details! The strap on the back of the dress adds so much to this stunning piece! I cut a piece of material and folded it in half. I pinned as I folded and then sewed the strap.
Turn right side out
Next, I made sure to turn the fabric right side out.
Cut loops
To attach the strap onto the back of the dress I had to make loops to thread it through. I cut some small pieces of the fabric and folded them to create the loops.
Sew on the loops
I then pinned and sewed the loops onto the dress making sure they were an equal distance apart to give this dress a professional finish.
Thread the strap
Finally the fun part! I thread my straps through the loops creating a criss-cross design. Feel free to thread them in any way you like or even leave them off for a totally backless look
DIY cowl neck dress
How to sew a cowl neck dress
I am so excited about this stunning cowl neck dress! What shoes would you pair with this piece? Let me know in the comments below!
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This is a creative piece of sewing. You might want to change the name of your dress, it is by no means a Cowl neck.
No, it’s not! A cowl neck is something quite different. Also, walk the runway? sleek and stylish? absolute stunner ?stunning ? stunning ? gorgeous ? It’s a cute dress. Ok? You did a nice job.
I made one like this years ago. It is a simple draped neck. A cowl neck is more like an oversized turtle neck that drapes in the front.