Say hello to sunshine with the Kaja Strap Dress, a breezy and beautiful free sewing pattern from Initiative Handarbeit. Designed for carefree summer days, this sleeveless stunner is both effortless and elegant.

Whether you sew it up in a cheerful checked cotton or keep it sleek with a solid hue, Kaja’s got you covered. The flattering silhouette features subtle side slits that add just the right touch of flair. Lightweight and easy to wear, it’s the kind of dress you’ll reach for all season long.

Available in three size ranges — 36–38, 40–42, and 44 — the pattern includes all necessary seam and hem allowances, so there’s no fuss when cutting.

You’ll need:

  • Fabric: 1.5 m of cotton fabric (140 cm wide)

  • Thread: Universal yarn 120 in light purple (100% cotton)

  • Pattern pieces:

    • 1x front piece (cut on fold)

    • 1x back piece (cut on fold)

    • 1x front facing (cut on fold)

    • 1x back facing (cut on fold)

    • 2x straps (5 cm x 30 cm, finished size: 1.5 cm x 26 cm)

Kaja Strap Dress – Sewing Instructions

  1. Start with the bust darts.
    Sew them neatly and press.

  2. Neaten the edges.
    Overlock or zigzag the side edges of the front and back pieces and the bottom edge of the facings.

  3. Join the dress pieces.
    Sew the front and back together at the side seams and press the seam allowances open.

  4. Sew the side slits and hem.
    Press the 1 cm seam allowance at the slit inward and stitch. Then, fold the hem 1 cm and again 3 cm inward, and stitch in place.

  5. Finish the armholes.
    Neaten the raw edges, fold in by 1 cm, and stitch down.

  6. Attach the facings.
    Baste the neckline edges of the facing (right sides together) to the dress neckline. The ends of the neckline should extend 1 cm past the facing — tuck these to the wrong side before stitching.
    Sew the facing in place, press the seam allowance toward the facing, and topstitch close to the seam.
    Fold the facing inward, press flat, and stitch the lower edge 2.5 cm from the fold.

  7. Make and attach the straps.
    Press both long edges of each strap inwards by 1 cm. Then fold the strap in half lengthwise (right side out), aligning the folded edges, and stitch close to the edge.
    Slide the straps between the facing and dress fabric, adjust the length, and pin. From the outside, stitch the opening closed, catching the strap ends in the seam.

This simple summer dress is a dream to sew and even better to wear. Download the free pattern and add Kaja to your warm-weather wardrobe today!

👉 Get the free pattern here