Coquette Style: Sewing Chic Wide Shoulder Straps

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10 April 2024

In this post, you will learn how to sew coquette style shoulder straps with free PDF pattern.

Welcome to thia ultimate guide on sewing thick, wide shoulder straps in the coveted coquette style! Whether you’re a seasoned seamstress or a curious beginner, this tutorial will walk you through the steps to create stunning, comfortable straps , two styles ! ,that elevate any outfit. Let’s dive in!

babydoll top with thick coquette style shoulder straps

What are Wide Shoulder Straps

coquette style shoulder straps fashion illustration

Wide shoulder straps are broader-than-average straps commonly found on bras, tank tops, dresses, and other garments. Unlike traditional thin straps (such as spaghetti straps), wide shoulder straps offer several benefits:

  1. Better Support: Wide-strap bras help distribute the weight of your breasts over a larger surface area, reducing stress on your shoulders. This improved weight distribution provides more comfortable support, especially for those with bigger busts.
  2. Comfort: Due to their width, wide straps are less prone to digging into your skin or slipping off your shoulders. They offer a major comfort advantage compared to thinner straps.
  3. Style and Function: Wide shoulder straps can be both functional and stylish. They come in various designs, from basic to decorative, and are often used in lingerie, swimwear, and everyday clothing.

Whether you’re looking for a supportive bra or a fashionable top, wide shoulder straps are a practical choice for comfort and style.

babydoll top with thick coquette style shoulder straps

Materials & Tools Needed:

Sewing tools needed to sew black bucket hat.
magnetice seam guid and magnet on table

You will also need a magnetic seam guide or a magnet to help you sew evenly.

Suggested Fabric For Coquette Style Shoulder Straps

Straps can be made from various types of non stretchy fabrics. These thick shoulder straps requires 0,5 yards of fabric.

Learn more on non stretch fabrics and choose best for this project.

Measurements you Need for Wide Shoulder Straps

Accurate measurements are super important for sewing.

Tools and materials you need for measuring yourself
  • A measuring tape
  • A notebook and a pencil
  • A mirror
  • A friend or a helper (optional, but recommended)
To make shoulder straps, you need to measure the following:
Measurment needed for thick shoulder straps shown on mannequin.

Free PDF Pattern for Coquette Style Shoulder Straps

Shoulder strap option 1 ( wide coquette )

Soulder strap option 2

Printing and Assembling Instructions

Check out my detailed posts on how to print, cut-out, and assemble PDF patterns.

How to print and assemble free PDF patterns

How to cut out sewing patterns with tips and tools

Seam Allowance

I suggest including an additional 1 cm | 0.4 in of seam allowance to the pattern pieces for this project. If you choose not to include seam allowance, the item will appear slimmer.

Step-by-Step Tutorial: Sewing Coquette Style Shoulder Straps

Method 1: Creating Four-Part Straps with Optional Lace

Materials Needed:
  • Strap fabric
  • Lace (optional)
  • Sewing machine
  • Pins
  • Iron
Instructions:

Cut the Fabric: Begin by cutting out four identical pieces of strap fabric.

Cutting fabric for four-part coquette style shoulder straps

Add Lace (Optional): If desired, place a strip of lace between two strap pieces.

Adding optional lace between strap pieces for a coquette style top

Sew the Straps: With right sides facing each other, pin the back piece to the front piece and sew along the edge. Repeat for both straps.

Sewing back and front pieces of shoulder straps together
Sewing back and front pieces of shoulder straps together

Turn and Press: Carefully turn the straps right side out, ensuring corners are pointed. Press with an iron for a crisp finish.

Turning sewn shoulder straps right side out and pressing
Turning sewn shoulder straps right side out and pressing

Attach to Top: Align the straps to your coquette style top and sew them securely in place.

Attaching thick shoulder straps to a coquette style babydoll top

Add Bows (Optional): For a decorative touch, attach bows to the base of each strap.

Optional bows added to the base of coquette style shoulder straps

Method 2: Crafting Single-Piece Straps with Decorative Edging

Materials Needed:
  • Strap fabric
  • Decorative elements (lace, ribbon)
  • Sewing machine
  • Iron
Instructions:

Cut the Fabric: Cut out two strap pieces, one for the right shoulder and one for the left.

Cutting fabric for single-piece coquette style shoulder straps

Decorate the Edges: Finish the raw edges with a zigzag stitch, decorative stitch, or by attaching lace or ribbon.

Finishing edges of shoulder straps with decorative stitches or lace

Press: Use an iron to press the straps, giving them a professional and polished look.

Pressing single-piece shoulder straps for a polished look

Ready to Attach: Your single-piece straps are now ready to be sewn onto your babydoll style top.

Single-piece shoulder straps ready to be attached to a babydoll top

Add Bows (Optional): For a decorative touch, attach bows to the base of each strap.

Optional bows added to the base of coquette style shoulder straps

How to Attach Straps to a Top

Try On the Top:

Put on the top without the straps attached. Adjust the fit of the top to your liking, making sure it sits comfortably on your body.

Trying on a top without straps to adjust for a comfortable fit.
Mark the Strap Placement:

Use pins or fabric chalk to mark the points on the front and back of the top where you want the straps to be attached. These points should be where you want the top of the straps to sit on your shoulders.

Fabric marked with pins or chalk to indicate the placement of straps on a top.
Measure the Distance:

Use a flexible measuring tape to measure the distance between the front and back strap placement points. This will give you an initial idea of the length of the straps needed.

Measuring the distance between strap placement marks on a top with a flexible tape measure.

The strap pattern comes with a slightly longer length than strictly necessary. This is partly due to the possibility of the ends becoming messy or looking somewhat frayed when turned through, but primarily because each individual has unique proportions, so you may find that you require slightly longer straps. Before trimming any excess length, it’s advisable to conduct a brief fitting session to determine your optimal strap length

Watch the Video Tutorial

Check out my YouTube channel to see how I created these sweet babydoll shoulder straps ! I’ll guide you through the process of sewing the top and give you some handy tips along the way.

You can watch the video here.

Make sure to give a thumbs up, leave a comment, and hit that subscribe button on my channel to get more sewing tutorials. Don’t forget to share your results with me on Instagram or Facebook. I’m really excited to see what you come up with!

Ready Coquette Style Shoulder Straps !

Congratulations! You’ve mastered the art of sewing wide shoulder straps in coquette style. These straps not only provide comfort but also make a bold fashion statement. Flaunt your creations confidently, and remember: Coquette is all about embracing your unique style.

In this post, you have learned how to sew babydoll style shoulder straps with free PDF pattern.

Disclaimer: All the patterns that I provide on this blog are for private and personal use only. You are not allowed to sell, distribute, modify, or share these patterns for any commercial or profit purposes. These patterns are my original creations and intellectual property, and I reserve all the rights to them. Please respect my work and do not violate these terms of use. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

This post has affiliate links * Affiliate Link. This means that if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive a small percentage of your purchase (at no extra cost to you).

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I create sewing patterns, refashion projects, and practical tutorials designed to make sewing feel less intimidating and more creative. Most of what you see here starts with something I wanted to wear, remake, or figure out for myself, then I turn the process into a tutorial you can try too.

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