1 Download, print and cut out the pattern. Neaten the edges of the shoulder seams on the front and back pieces. Lay a strip of tape along the stitching line, then match and sew the shoulder seams and press open.

2 Match and stitch the two ends of the neck band, then fold and press the strip in half lengthways. Match the join in the strip to the centre back neckline, then pin it around and down the wrap part, stretching the strip slightly to fit. Towards the end, on the side edge of the front wrap, angle the strip upwards so that the binding disappears when looking at the right-hand side of the dress. Neaten the seam allowances, then fold the binding and press upwards so that the neatened edges fold inside the garment.

3 Neaten the edges of the side seams on the front and back pieces. Match them both, right sides together, pin and sew. On the right-hand side, leave a gap in the stitching line to thread the belt through. Make up the ties, fold in half lengthways and sew the edges, making a point in the stitching line at one end. Trim the pointed area, then turn the tie to the right side through the open end. Place the righthand tie on the right-hand side of the dress, at the base of the bound neck edge, and the left tie to the left-hand side, then stitch.

4 Fuse the interfacing to the pair of front skirt facings, then neaten the longest edges. Match the facings to the edges of the front skirt, then stitch in place, sandwiching the ends of the ties inside. Sew across the bottom of the facing, 3cm up from the base of the dress. Clip the corners, then turn the facing inside the dress. Tease out the corners and the seam line, then press flat. Turn under the curved top of the facing, then hand slip-stitch in place along the edge of the neck binding.

5 Neaten the edges of the underarm sleeve seams. Make a row of gathering stitch around the head of the sleeves, starting from the front notch and finishing at the back. Match, pin and sew the underarm sleeve seams, right sides together. Press them open, then turn the sleeves to the right side. Pull the gathering threads up slightly, then place the sleeve into the armhole of the top.

6 Match the side seams and the underarm seam of the sleeves; place the notch in the centre of the sleeve at the end of the shoulder seam, then adjust the gathers to fit the armhole of the top and sew. Pull out the gathering stitches and neaten the seam allowances. Tidy around the base of the dress and the ends of the sleeves, then fold and press up a 3cm hem. Use Bondaweb to secure the hems before twin-needling the hems in place.