How to Sew a Bodice for a Beautiful Square Neckline Dress
For this project, I made up the Betty dress with a square neckline.
In this post, I'll show you how to make the bodice for this gorgeous dress. To see how I create the rest of the dress, check out my video How To Sew A Boho Tiered Midi Dress.
I used a linen bed sheet but this dress would look great in any similar cotton or cotton-mix fabric.
Tools and materials:
- Betty square neckline dress pattern
- Linen or cotton bed sheet or 54 inch wide fabric
- Paper for pattern
- Pins
- Scissors
- Tape measure
- Sewing machine
- Serger (optional)
1. Prepare the fabric
Print out the pattern pieces, cut them out and tape them together.
Place the pieces on the fabric so that all the grain lines are parallel to the selvedge edge and cut around them.
2. Join the back
Place the back pieces right sides together and sew the center seam, taking a 1/2 inch seam allowance.
I finish all my edges with a serger. You can make a French seam, sew with a zigzag stitch on a regular sewing machine or use pinking shears.
Press the seam to one side and top stitch it.
3. Neck facings
Join the back neck facings with right sides together, taking a 1/2 inch seam allowance.
Finish the outer edge of the facing using your preferred method, then turn in a narrow hem, press and top stitch it.
Sew the front neck facing in the same way. Join the back and front facings at the shoulder seams with a 1/2 inch seam allowance, and press the seams open.
4. Join bodice
Pin and stitch the front and back bodice pieces at the shoulder seams, with right sides together, lining up the notches.
Press the seams to one side.
5. Attach neck facings
Pin the neck facings to the bodice, with right sides together. Match the shoulder seams and the corners of the square neckline.
Sew around the facing, taking a 1/4 inch seam allowance.
Carefully snip into the corners of the square neck on the front and back, without damaging the stitches.
Fold the facing to the inside and press it in place, making sure the edge of the facing doesn't show on the right side.
Top stitch the facing to the bodice, 1 inch from the edge.
Dress with square neckline
I think square neckline dresses have a classic, simple, even romantic look. This dress is such a favorite of mine and I especially love this version of it.
The linen bed sheet is a great way of buying a lot of good quality fabric at a reasonable price, too.
Please let me know in the comments which is your favorite version of this pattern.
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