Facebook Email Pinterest Twitter Instagram Tiktok Icon YouTube Icon Headphones Icon Favorite Navigation Search Icon Forum Search Icon Main Search Icon Close Icon Video Play Icon Indicator Arrow Icon Close Icon Hamburger/Search Icon Plus Icon Arrow Down Icon Video Guide Icon Article Guide Icon Modal Close Icon Guide Search Icon
How-to

The Back Story on a Bubble Hem and Watteau Back Dress

For drama, add a gathered Watteau back
Threads magazine - 162 - Aug./Sept. 2012

This bubble-back dress uses fabric and cut to fool the eye. The billowing cape-like form on the dress back looks like a fabric rectangle gathered at the neckline and hem edges. But, there’s more to making the fabric drape and billow the way it does than a rectangle can offer.

bubble-back dress
Back view of the back cover garment.

The bound neckline and faced hemline on the dress back are almost the same width, but there’s about two times the fabric gathered into the neckline and far more into the hemline, and yet the vertical edges are on grain. The cape is closer to a quarter-circle shape, sewn with a center-back seam so the two side edges are selvage. These edges are the length of the dress from shoulder to hem, plus the drop and turn-under. The bottom edge is curved to maintain the same length. The flat fabric is gathered first into the dress hemline and then the neckline. You can sew this look to any basic, side-zipper sheath that has an unfinished hem and neckline by using the tips noted in the image below.

dress illustration

—Judith Neukam is senior technical editor.

Photo: Jack Deutsch.

Illustration: Gloria Melfi.

From Threads #162

Discuss

Threads Insider

Get instant access to hundreds of videos, tutorials, projects, and more.

Start Your Free Trial

Already an Insider? Log in

Log in or create an account to post a comment.

More From Threads

Discussion Forum

Recent Posts and Replies

  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |

Threads Insider Exclusives

View All
View All

Highlights

Shop the Store

View All
View More