A DIY Halter Swing Dress Tutorial Using Silk Charmeuse Fabric

Flowing silks, pastels, and peek a boo shoulders are a must this Spring. So we've teamed up with Laura from Trash to Couture to create a DIY that features all three. It’s a modern day “Pretty in Pink” for the Valentines Day season! The dress features our luxurious 100% silk charmeuse satin. The silk satin is perfect for the spring/summer season apparel and garments. Use the silk charmeuse in your next dress for an extravagant shiny that's sure to turn heads! 

Supplies

• 3 yards pink silk charmeuse
• Matching thread
• Sewing straight pins
• Scissors
• Sewing machine
• Loop turner

Lets Get Started!

Begin by folding a corner of your fabric in half (cut edge to selvage). Measure the length you want and add 2" for hem allowance (mine was 31" total). Do this for both front and back pieces.

Measure and mark using tailor's chalk or a marking pen 3 separate points (sides and middle) equaling the length you decided on (this includes the 2").

Then match the points creating a curved hemline and cut. You will do this for both the front and back piece.

You should now have 2 pieces that will appear like this for both front and back.

Now measure the length you want your armholes and add 2 inches. For example, my armhole is 9 inches for the front and 9.5 inches back so I will mark 11 and 11.5 inches down.

For just the front, hem the top corner using the armhole measurements you took (11.5 inches for me). I folded over mine 3/8 ", pressed, and then another 3/8".  I then edge stitched the pressed hem into place.

Now the front should look like this in the top corner

Fold over the top corner 2", press, and sew a straight line across where the pin is placed. You are creating a casing for the drawstring collar so make sure you sew at least an inch opening.

For the back, I wanted a key hole. Simply cut 5 inches down the middle of the top corner. Then you will need to hem the middle and outside edges according to your armhole measurement we took above (remember mine was 11.5").

As we did for the front, fold over the top corners 2" for the back as well. Pin and sew a straight line creating a casing for the drawstring collar. Cut any of the excess seam allowance.

Now sew front and back right sides together from armhole hems down to the bottom.

Now we are going to make the drawstring collar:

You can use any type of cording for the neck tie. I chose to make mine with the silk charmeuse. To do this, cut a strip from your fabric that is 36 x 3 in. Fold right sides together and sew.

Flip out with a loop turner and press so the seam is in the middle back. Hand sew the ends by using a blind stitch.

Now weave your neck tie through the casing you create front to back and tie in between the back slit you created using a safety pin.

Tie in the back or the front like this...I intended for the tie to be in the back but ended up liking it more in the front.

Hem the bottom edge of the dress by pressing the edge over 1/4", then another 1/4", and sew! 

You now have the perfect summer swing dress. Here's the final dress...