Golden goddess gown - a side tie infinity dress that is smokin' hot

How to sew a smokin' hot side tie infinity tube dress in two hours. No pattern needed!.

Measurement instructions edited 6/14/09


Four knit rectangles + elastic + thread + sewing machine + 2 hours = one fabulous knit tube dress.

Front views



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Back views

That’s right. You can sew a fabulous knit tube dress in two hours. Here’s how:

Fabric and notions:
  • Approximately 2 yards of 60” wide knit fabric.The wrong side of the fabric will show with the tie variations, so keep that in mind when you choose your fabric. Your yardage will depend on the width and length of your rectangles. You’ll figure those out in the next step.Basically you need enough fabric to cover the width and length of your body.
  • (If your measurements + ease indicate you need to cut two rectangles wider than 24", you'll need to purchase enough fabric to cut two dress lengths)


EDITED 6/14/09:
Thank you to the Anonymous (Jun) for asking for clarification on this step. I see I skipped one very important sentence and added the clarification below.
Take your measurements:
  • Measure around the fullest part of your bust. Add 12” for ease and seam allowances. EDIT: Divide this measurement by 2. This will be the width of your two rectangles. Example: bust measurement = 36" + 12" = 48". 48" divided by 2 = 24".
  • If your hips are larger than your bust add 12” to your hip measurement and use that number as the width of your rectangle.
  • Measure from underneath your underarm to the floor. Add 3 inches for upper casing and hem. This will be the length of your rectangle.
  • Each dress rectangle for my golden goddess gown was 24” (w) x 61” (l). For this dress: bust measurement = 36" + 12" = 48". 48" divided by 2 = 24". The front dress rectangle was cut at 24" x 61" and the back dress rectangle was cut at 24" x 61".



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Cut your dress:
  • Find a large flat surface to cut out your dress.
  • Fold your fabric in half, wrong sides together, and lay on a large flat surface.
  • I used the floor in my sewing room, much to the delight of my little helper Sophia, who promptly plopped herself on the fabric and refused to budget. (Until a puppy treat magically appeared.)

  • Measure, mark and cut your rectangle. Because you had your fabric folded you will now have two fabric rectangles.


Cut your ties:
  • Cut two rectangles that measure 6”(w) x 50” (l). You can cut the ties longer if you think you'll need it to do the tie variations.
  • Edit 6/14/09: If you have a larger bust line you many want to cut the ties wider and longer. If you choose to do so you will need additional yardage. My fabric, when folded, measured 30" wide, which allowed enough width for the dress rectangles (24") and the tie rectangles (6").



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Sew your dress:
  • Hem the two long edges and one short edge of the ties.
  • On the golden goddess gown I turned one edge under 1/4" and stitched over it using a a wide zig-zag stitch making sure the right swing of the zig-zag was just off of my fabric. You could also turn the edges under 1/4" and stitch in place, or leave the edges raw.


  • Run gathering stitches along the unhemmed short edge of the ties.

  • Pull up gathers to measure 3”
  • On wrong side of dress beginning at the top edge, measure down 2” along side edges (the long sides) and make a mark.



  • Place the upper edge of the tie along the mark you just made, right sides together and matching raw edges. Baste in place.


  • Pin the two large rectangles together along the long edge, right sides together.
  • Using a 1/2” seam allowance, stitch the side seams.
  • If you don’t have a serger, sew the seam using a narrow zig-zag stitch stretching the knit fabric slightly as you sew. Sew a second narrow zig-zag seam next to the first seam and trim the seam.

  • Turn under 1” on the top edge of the dress. Pin in place.

  • Stitch 3/4” from the folded edge forming a casing for the elastic, being careful not to catch the ties. Be sure to leave an opening so you can insert the elastic.

  • Cut a piece of 1/2” elastic that fits snugly around your chest (above your bust).

  • Place a safety pin on one end of the elastic and thread it through the casing you just created.
--> Don't forget to pin the other end of the elastic to the garment or you’ll lose the elastic in the casing when you begin to pull to thread the elastic through.
  • Once the elastic is through, secure the elastic to the dress by pinning both ends to the dress seam.
  • Try the dress on to make sure the elastic is tight enough to hold the dress up. Adjust if necessary.
  • Remove the pins, overlap the two edges of elastic, stitch together securely (you don't want that elastic to come undone while you're wearing the dress now do you?) and tuck into the casing.
  • Sew the casing opening closed.
  • To hem the dress, turn under 1” on bottom of dress and stitch in place.

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    Done!
    Put your dress on, twist the tie ends to form different bodice variations and then prepare yourself for the onslaught of compliments that are sure to come your way.

    This beautiful yellow dress was sewn for beautiful Julie who has been learning to sew in my Sewing Studio Sundays. I'm hoping to convince her to model it for us for a future post.

    It's a bit reminisce of these Greek Goddess dresses. And for all of you gorgeous older babes who remember this style from decades ago...yes, it was inspired by fashions from the 1970s.

    Comments

    1. that is smokin hot and I wouldn't be caught dead in it because I don't have the body for it. I hope you can convince her to model it for us!

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    2. That brought back memories. I made something like that in the 70's when I had the nice body to fit into it. Ahh...to be young again :)
      Very cute! Thanks for the tut. I'll pass it along to some of my students. I'm sure the south beach girls will love making something like this.

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    3. I love this. An easy enough project, with glamorous results, to help me get my sewing mojo back. I just might do it this weekend. Thanks for the tutorial.
      Angela

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    4. Great dress - very sexy!

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    5. Ooh, I like that!!

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    6. I definitely remember these from my younger days! I know I had several of them because they were so simple AND cheap to make!

      Love the color of this one!

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    7. SOOOOOOOOOOOOO Beautiful!!!!!
      Does a cat count as an assistant if you have no dog at hand? :-)

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    8. Great dress! It is reminicient of--Cleopatra? Very pretty.

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    9. Beautiful, that is one cool -and versitile- dress !:)

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    10. This is GORGEOUS!!! I love that it can be worn so many different ways!! I posted a link to your tutorial on Craft Gossip Sewing:
      http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-sew-a-knit-goddess-gown-for-flexible-style/2009/06/06/
      --Anne

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      Replies
      1. Thanks for sharing so others can enjoy sewing this dress

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    11. I love this! I think I want to shorten it and turn it into a very elegant beach cover-up. Thanks!

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    12. Anonymous5:51 PM

      I love this! I may have to give it a shot. As a singer/entertainer, this would be a nice addition to my wardrobe! Thanks for this tutorial!

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    13. WOW! This is gorgeous! I just saw it on CraftGossip and my jaw dropped. I would love to link to this aw well if you didn't mind!

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    14. It's cute! I bet it would make a fun maternity dress for me.

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    15. Anonymous1:10 AM

      That is the most amazing dress, and I can't believe it's so simple to make!

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    16. I love you instantly for posting this!

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    17. The dress is fabulous. And - your title is great too!

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    18. I would love to try making this dress. It would look horrible on me, but my very tall 8yr old would love it! I am going to have to look a bit closer and see if the can be altered for a girl.

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    19. Love, Love love it, but I don't have an occasion to wear it!

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    20. Anonymous8:04 AM

      hi, how is it that your bust measurement + 12'' = 24''? did you only measure the front?

      ReplyDelete
      Replies
      1. It was 24" fir each piece cause there are two pieces....

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    21. hi, how is it that your bust measurement + 12'' = 24''? did you only measure the front?

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    22. I linked to your post.

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    23. hi thanks for answering my earlier query... have a second one... i'm not clear as to how/where the tie attach to the dress? where does the other tie go? perhaps a bird's eye view would be helpful... thanks!

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    24. I MADE THIS!!! It was so easy!! Thank you soo soo much!!!

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      Replies
      1. Where do the straps come out from? The front, back or the sides?

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    25. Anonymous11:28 PM

      This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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    26. Thanks so much for the tutorial! I'm going to make it this weekend and let you know how it turns out. I'm wondering about where the tie attaches as well.

      Thanks!

      Emilie

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      Replies
      1. the ties are attached 3 inches from the top at each side seam so they are just below the top hem,

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    27. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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    28. carlene green2:19 PM

      this is an amazing dress this is perfect for what i was looking for thankyou

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    29. I'm an amateur professional quilter, and most days I can barely sew a straight quarter inch seam. That being said... Is it crazy that I want to try this?

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      Replies
      1. Not crazy at all! This is all straight lines. So I'm curious - did you try it?

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    30. I am curious to know what you think about this dress being done in linen?????? The dress looks fabulous and I am interested in trying it in another fabric other than knit. Ive got some linen and I am interested in breaking away from the traditional linen garb.

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    31. I've seen these at mall kiosks advertised as Brazilian something or other dress. The children's dresses sell for over $90! Can't imagine how much the adult sizes cost. Thanks for the tute. I think I'll make one for my daughter because she's been asking for one.

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      Replies
      1. $90 for a child's ? That's crazy! Live that we can sew our own ;-)

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    32. Anonymous10:30 PM

      I just finished making this awesome dress, I changed it up a small bit by using a patterned 2 way knit. I also made the wrap things 16 inches wide and folded them over wrong sides together before gathering them down to 4 inches. it gives a bit better wrapping coverage for us bigger girls. I have to say I absolutely LOVE this dress. it's my new summer fave :)

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    33. Holly8:42 PM

      This would make a beautiful maternity dress!

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    34. I am a beginner and I was really excited when I saw this dress, but I don't understand fully the part about the ties and how to sew them on. If you could clarify that a little more that would be great.

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      Replies
      1. Nevermind I figured out how to do the tie's and it was easier than I thought.

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      2. How do you do it then, i can't seem to figure it out!

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    35. Love the dress but where do you sew the ties on?

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      Replies
      1. Hi! I'll update the post and make the instructions clearer for you.

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    36. Love this dress and am planning on making it but would like to clarify: where to you sew the ties on?

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    37. Love this! I'm going to make some, both long and short for Tel Aviv!

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    38. Anonymous1:09 AM

      This looks gorgeous!

      I've just gotten back into sewing after about 15 years, so I think I might be giving this a go.

      Could I pin it?

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    39. Love it! I am going to attempt this for my daughter. She saw it and said she had to have it. Good luck to me ;)

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    40. I can not wait to try this and will definitely be making one this weekend! Great tut!

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    41. Anonymous4:55 PM

      This was a life saver.... Glam for a wedding and wanted an infinity dress. So easy to make, invested in some fab material. Sarah's got stitch!!!

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    42. Anonymous9:55 AM

      I want to thank you, because you save me!!!!!last week my daugther (she is 11 years old) told me that she needs an Athena costume and guess what!!!! I made it!!! following your great tutorial!!!!!!Thank you again, it turn out georgeous!!!! Happy daugther and a proud monther!

      Congratulations for a great work and for share it!!!!!!

      Proud Mother

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    43. I so love this pattern. Will be perfect for this summer, and sooooooooooo easy!!!!!

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    44. Fantastic, would love to add a link to this page from my page about the Maxi dress, I keep being asked for an easy pattern! so clear and great instructions here!

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    45. Gorgeous! Added to my to do list (toward the top!) Following you on Linky Followers now.

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    46. I absolutely love this dress! I just finished sewing my own. Granted it took me a little longer than 2 hours and I had a few hiccups along the way it turned out amazing. Now I know what to do for the next one I make. (P.S. I just got my sewing machine so that is partially to blame. I'm still learning how to use it.) And to someone's earlier post cats do count as assistants because one of mine kept laying on my fabric too.

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    47. Anonymous3:47 PM

      I just finished making the beautiful dress in the short version. I had to double it though because it was so see through lol. I absolutly love it!! I made it in purple. Thank you very much.
      Barbara

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    48. This is an amazing dress! So beautiful and VERSATILE!

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    49. This is an amazing dress! So beautiful and VERSATILE!

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    50. I'm really confused about where the ties go also? Can you show a finished photo of where ties attached as cannot be seen on any of the pics

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    51. Great dress & thanks for sharing!

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    52. I'm just getting bsck into sewing myself; I've done a lot of quilting for the last 7 years, but now I want to start making clothes for myself, and this is the most perfect for me. But I am also confused about where the ties go. Perhaps a photo of the finished dress, that would be very helpful.

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    53. Can't wait to see how this looks on a 50-something body.

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      Replies
      1. I think any age could rock it with the right attitude!

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    54. I'm also confused about the location of the ties. I get that it's stitched into the side seam. What I can't understand is how it could have 2 ends, as pictured, if one end is stitched into the side seam?

      I'd like to share this with my granddaughter, who had just gotten her first sewing machine. But if I'm confused, she will be more so. I don't want to have her give up sewing because of this.

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    55. I decided to print out the directions instead of scrolling through, and found where I got lost. There are 2 ties, each stiched into the side seams before the top elastic casing is finished. It really helped to have the printed instructions in hand! Bekkah will love this!

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      Replies
      1. I'm glad you found what you needed! I'm working on rewriting to make the instructions clearer

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      2. Hi I'm a beginner making a tote bag and have some patterns. Your dress will be my first attempt. Thanks so much I'm just wondering if I would be able to make this into a jumpsuit? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for posting something that looks so nice and simple to sew.

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    56. I am going to make this for my prom :) Did Julie ever model the dress?

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      Replies
      1. No she never did. The dress ended up with my niece who does photography and she used it in some photo shoots. I'll see if she'll send me pics to share

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    57. Is there a way I could turn this into a jumpsuit?

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