Tailored Wrap Sheath Dress
Discover a women's sewing pattern for a sophisticated sheath dress featuring a distinctive structured V-neck wrap bodice and a gracefully tailored pencil silhouette.
When To Wear
This tailored dress is designed for versatility and elegance, making it an ideal choice for:
- Professional Settings: Ideal for office wear, business meetings, and presentations, projecting a confident and polished image.
- Formal Events: Suitable for smart-casual gatherings, cocktail parties, or dinner engagements where a refined look is desired.
- Transitional Styling: A sophisticated option that can be dressed up or down, making it perfect for various seasons and occasions.
Key Design Features
Silhouette: A classic sheath silhouette, tailored to follow the body's natural curves, gracefully falling to knee length.
Neckline & Bodice: Features a sophisticated V-neckline framed by structured lapel-like facings, creating a refined wrap-style bodice.
Waist: A broad, integrated waistband defines the waist, providing a flattering and polished demarcation between the bodice and skirt.
Sleeves: Full-length, set-in sleeves offer classic coverage and a sleek line.
Back: A clean back design with a center seam that incorporates a concealed zipper closure and a functional vent for ease of movement.
Hem: A straight, polished hemline finishes the dress at a versatile knee-length.
Level Of Difficulty
Intermediate. Requires skills in dart manipulation, precise interfacing application, lapel/facing construction, zipper insertion, and vent creation.
Fabric Recommendations
For a structured and elegant finish, select medium-weight woven fabrics with good body and a smooth hand:
- Wool Crepe
- Gabardine
- Suiting fabrics (e.g., fine wool blends, polyester blends)
- Thick cotton sateen
Additional Supplies
- Fusible interfacing (for back neck facing, front facings, and waistband)
- Zipper
CUTTER'S MUST
- From main fabric:
- Upper back part – 2 pieces
- Lower back part – 2 pieces
- Upper front part – 2 pieces
- Lower front part – 1 piece on fold
- Front facing – 2 pieces
- Back neckline facing – 2 pieces
- Sleeve – 2 pieces
- Belt – 1 piece
- From fusible interfacing:
- Back neckline facing – 2 pieces
- Front facing – 2 pieces
- Belt – 1 piece
Sewing Instructions
- Fuse interfacing to the designated pieces.
- Stitch shoulder and waist darts on back pieces, press dart allowances towards the center. Stitch upper and lower back parts, press allowances upwards and serge.
- On both back pieces, from the wrong side, fuse interfacing to the vent. Serge the center back edge separately on each piece. Serge the vent allowances. On the right side, mark the center seam line (vent fold line). Press the left part along the vent fold line; on the right part, press only the allowance of the right side of the vent (1 cm) to the wrong side. Align the pieces along the center seam and secure at the upper edge of the vent. Stitch the center back edge from the zipper mark to the vent corner. Clip the corner of the vent seam allowance on the right part. Press open the center seam allowances, press the vent allowances and secure them with machine stitching. Insert the zipper.
- Serge the outer edge of the front facing. Place the front facing onto the upper front part and stitch the lapel edge from the shoulder seam to the mark. Clip allowances at the shoulder seam and mark, turn the front facing to the wrong side, straighten, and press.
- Trim the waist dart allowances of the upper front part to 1 cm. Place the right front part over the left, secure at the lower edge. Stitch bust darts, press allowances and serge.
- Stitch waist darts on the lower front part, press dart allowances towards the center. Stitch upper and lower front parts, press allowances downwards and serge.
- Serge the outer edge of the back neckline facing. Place the neckline facing onto the back and stitch the neckline edge exactly to the marked shoulder seam line. Clip allowances, turn the facing to the wrong side and press. Attach the facing to the zipper tape.
- Stitch shoulder seams, inserting the front part between the back and the back neckline facing. Press allowances towards the back and serge.
- Stitch side seams, press allowances towards the back and serge.
- Stitch sleeve edges, press allowances and serge. Set sleeves into armholes, press allowances and serge.
- Serge the hem allowances of the garment and sleeves, press to the wrong side and topstitch.
- Fold the belt lengthwise in half, right sides together, and stitch, leaving an opening on the long side for turning. Turn the belt right side out, straighten, and press. Close the opening. Serge buttonholes, sew on buttons.
