1 Download and cut out the template, then neaten the shoulder seam edges on the back and front. Match both pieces across the shoulder edges, right sides together, then pin and stitch one of the shoulder and sleeve seams together. Press open.

2 Press 1cm on either side of the bias strip, then open one side and position the strip around the neckline from one end of the open shoulder to the other. Pin in place, then stitch along the pressed line.

3 Fold the strip to the wrong side of the neckline, and position the remaining folded edge over the stitching line. Pin and edgestitch in place, sandwiching the raw neckline edge inside the bias binding. Trim any excess binding.

4 Match, pin and sew the remaining shoulder edges together and press the seam open. Fold the two ends of the binding into an arrowhead and stitch in place. Lay the back and front pieces together, right sides facing, then match, pin and sew the under sleeve and side seams together.

5 Neaten the seam edges close to the stitching line and trim any excess seam allowance. If you don’t have an overlocker, clip the seam allowance at the underarm curve. Neaten the armholes, press a 3cm hem, and sew in place. Repeat for the base of the dress.

6 Stitch the tie pieces together across both short edges, and press the seam open. Fold it in half lengthways, right sides facing. Sew with a 1cm seam allowance across the angled ends and down the length of the tie, leaving a 5cm gap in the middle. Turn the belt right sides out through the gap, then tease out the points and seams before pressing flat. Slip-stitch the hole closed.