Oh my goodness!  Did you see the new summery pattern we just released?!?!? Daphne has hit the shop and this style is all-the-rage right now!  Its everywhere.  In every size from baby to ladies– and we have you covered with the Daphne Top, Dress & Maxi for girls and Mama Daphne!!!  Grab your copies here!

Daphne features simply sweet tie straps.  We understand that not everyone likes this style– whether you’re worried about them coming untied, sensory issues, or some other reason.  So I have a tutorial for you to make fixed straps with NO TIES!  Woo hoo!

Your construction will change a little bit, so I suggest you read through the Daphne tutorial so you understand the flow of the pattern.  Instead of cutting 4 straps, as instructed by the pattern, you will cut 2 straps.  Use the following chart as a guide.  For best fit, I recommend measuring over the shoulder (from front of chest where you want bodice to hit to your back-where bodice should hit).

Daphne for Girls
Fixed Straps Cutting Chart
Mama Daphne
Fixed Straps Cutting Chart

Instead of pressing one short end of the strap 1/4″ like the tutorial suggests, we are going to leave both ends raw since they will be sewn-in. Use same method as if you are making bias tape.  Iron each strap piece in half, wrong sides together, to find center.  Open back up.  Iron raw edge to center crease. Repeat on other side.

Iron in half again, enclosing raw edges.  Edge stitch along open long edge to close. Repeat on other strap. Set aside.

Continue your bodice construction until you reach the “Adding Straps” step in the tutorial.  This will work with either the flutter or ruffle version (or sleeve version for Mama Daphne).  I chose to make the ruffle. Lay your front bodice and 2 straps face up.

Flip strap upside down, pointing to bottom of bodice.  Place strap and bodice right sides together with raw edges aligning.  Your straps should be in line with the edge of your bodice or bias tape/binding.  Make sure your long, top stitching line if facing out towards the side seams. Remember- if you or your daughter is petite or have very narrow shoulders, you may want to move your straps in towards the center about 1/2”.

Baste straps in place.

Flip bodice over so the opposite side is face up. This is the side that does not have straps attached yet.

Loop your straps around and use the same placement as you used for the front straps.  Pin right side of straps to the right side of the bodice/ruffle top edge with the raw seams together.  Repeat with other strap.

Baste straps in place.  At this time, I would recommend slipping the bodice on to check strap lengths.  Since there is no elastic in yet, you’ll have to hold your bodice and ruffle/flutters up. Then adjust straps if necessary.

Now you will continue constructing your bodice per the tutorial.  You will have to move the straps around quite a bit while you are pressing and stitching the casing.  So just be careful!  The bigger the straps, the easier this will be.  Smaller sizes will be trickier, but not impossible.  **TIP:  If you are having difficulty sewing your casing around the tiny sized straps, I would recommend leaving the front straps enclosed but leaving the back end of the straps free for the time being.  Then once your casing and elastic is in place, you can finish the back ends of the straps with a serger or zig zag and stitch them in place.**

Just like the main tutorial directs, you will still want to stitch your straps in place along the top edge so they don’t flip-flop around on you or your little one!

Here’s a photo montage of my little one wearing her Daphne dress and the gorgeous Megan G. wearing her Mama Daphne.  Megan cut her straps slightly wider (approximately 2″ wide) so she could wear a regular bra with her dress!!  All fabrics and trim from Joann Fabrics.

But there you have it! Easy-peazy, lemon-squeezy! right?! Hahaha. Sorry, I had to- lemon fabric!! ;).  Don’t forget to share your Daphne and Mama Daphne pics in the Made for Mermaids Patterns Group page on Facebook!  We love to see what you’ve made!