Sleeveless A-Line Dress with Front Insert

Name: Sleeveless A-Line Dress with Front Insert
Brand: Minerva Patterns
SKU: 2096
Price: 5.00 EUR
Availability: InStock

Pattern #2096

A sleeveless women's A-line dress with a V-neck, a V-shaped front inset set below the upper front, princess seams on the lower front and back, and a back yoke. Three fabrics are used, and the dress closes with a centre back zipper. Drafted to your own measurements. Recommended fabric: medium-weight woven dress fabrics that hold an A-line shape, such as cotton, linen, suiting or crepe.

Tech. Description

Sleeveless A-Line Dress with Front Insert

When To Wear

For work or daytime events in warm weather, on its own or over a fine top.
In cooler months with a jacket or cardigan over it.

Key Design Features

Silhouette: A-line, widening from the bust to the hem, shaped by princess seams front and back.

Neckline: V-neck at the front, round at the back, finished with interfaced front and back neckline facings.

Sleeves: Sleeveless; the armholes are finished with a folded bias strip turned to the inside and topstitched close to the fold.

Front: An upper front cut on the fold, with a V-shaped front inset in a second contrast fabric stitched below it; under the inset, a lower front of one centre panel cut on the fold and two side panels joined by princess seams.

Back: Back yoke in contrast fabric, centre back and side back panels joined by princess seams, and a centre back seam.

Closure: Zipper in the upper part of the centre back seam; the facing edges are attached to the zipper tape.

Finishing: Seam allowances overlocked; hem pressed up and sewn by hand with blind stitches.

Level Of Difficulty

Intermediate. Joining the V-shaped inset and the pointed upper and lower fronts accurately, princess seams, a centre back zipper finished with facings, bias-bound armholes.

Fabric Recommendations

Medium-weight woven dress fabrics that hold an A-line shape, such as cotton, linen, suiting or crepe. Three fabrics are used: the main fabric for the back panels and lower front, fabric 1 for the back yoke, upper front and neckline facings, and fabric 2 for the front inset.

Additional Supplies

Fusible interfacing (neckline facings)
Zipper
Bias tape for the armholes, or bias strips 4 cm wide cut from fabric

Cutter's Must

From main fabric:
Center Back – 2 pieces
Side Back – 2 pieces
Side Lower Front – 2 pieces
Center Lower Front Part – 1 piece on fold
From fabric 1:
Back Yoke – 2 pieces
Upper Front – 1 piece on fold
Back Neckline Facing – 2 pieces
Front Neckline Facing – 1 piece
From fabric 2:
Front Inset – 1 piece on fold
From fusible interfacing:
Back Neckline Facing – 2 pieces
Front Neckline Facing – 1 piece
Bias strips for the armholes (if not using ready-made bias tape): 4 cm wide, armhole length + 6 cm long – 2 pieces

Sewing Instructions

Fuse interfacing to the Back Neckline Facing and Front Neckline Facing.
Stitch the Back Yoke to the Center Back, press the allowances up and overlock. Stitch the back princess seams joining the Center Back and Side Back, press the allowances towards the center and overlock.
Overlock the center back edges separately. Stitch the center back seam from the zipper mark to the hem and press open. Insert the zipper.
Stitch the Front Inset to the Upper Front, press the allowances up and overlock.
Stitch the princess seams joining the Center Lower Front Part and the Side Lower Front pieces, press the allowances towards the center and overlock. Stitch the upper front to the lower front, press the allowances up and overlock.
Stitch the shoulder and side seams, press the allowances towards the back and overlock.
Stitch the shoulder seams of the Back Neckline Facing and Front Neckline Facing and press open. Overlock the outer edge.
Place the neckline facing on the dress right sides together and stitch around the neckline. Clip the allowances, turn the facing to the wrong side and press. Attach the center back edges of the facings to the zipper tape.
Fold each bias strip in half lengthwise, wrong sides together, and press. Place it on the armhole edge on the right side and stitch. Turn the bias to the wrong side, clip the allowances and topstitch close to the fold through the dress. Press.
Overlock the hem edge, press it to the wrong side and hem with blind stitches.