Princess Seam Knit Dress With Pleats

Name: Princess Seam Knit Dress With Pleats
Brand: Minerva Patterns
SKU: 2127
Price: 5.00 EUR
Availability: InStock

Pattern #2127

A women's above-knee dress for knit fabric, with an asymmetric princess seam on the front and back, pleats laid on the right front and stitched into the front seam, and short sleeves. Pulls on without a fastener. Drafted to your own measurements. Recommended fabric: knit fabric with medium stretch, from natural or blended fibres.

Tech. Description

Princess Seam Knit Dress With Pleats

When To Wear

For office and everyday wear in spring and summer.
With tights and a cardigan or jacket in cooler months.

Key Design Features

Silhouette: Close-fitting through the bust and waist, slightly flared towards the hem.

Length: Above the knee.

Neckline: Round, finished with a folded bias binding topstitched along the fold.

Sleeves: Short cap sleeves with a turned and topstitched hem; the lower armhole is finished with bias binding.

Front: Two pieces, left and right, joined by an off-centre princess seam; pleats on the right front point upwards and fan out from the seam.

Back: Two pieces, left and right, joined by an off-centre princess seam.

Closure: None; the knit fabric lets the dress pull on over the head.

Finishing: Seams sewn with a stretch or narrow zigzag stitch or on a 3- or 4-thread overlocker; hem turned and topstitched, with a twin needle to keep the stretch.

Level Of Difficulty

Intermediate. Few pieces, but pleats must be laid into a seam on stretch fabric and the neckline and armholes are finished with bias binding.

Fabric Recommendations

Knit fabric with medium stretch, from natural or blended fibres.

Additional Supplies

Bias binding, 4 cm wide, for the neckline and lower armholes (or cut from self-fabric)
Twin needle for the hem

Cutter's Must

From main fabric:
- Left back piece - 1 piece
- Right back piece - 1 piece
- Left front piece - 1 piece
- Right front piece - 1 piece
- Sleeve - 2 pieces

Tip: Knit fabric pieces are stitched with a special elastic or narrow zigzag stitch. When serging, trim seam allowances to 0.8 cm. The hem allowance is topstitched with a twin needle to maintain elasticity. You can also stitch pieces directly on a 3- or 4-thread overlock machine.

Sewing Instructions

Stitch the back princess seam, press allowances towards the side seam and serge.
On the right front piece, create and secure the pleats (depths pointing upwards). Stitch the front princess seam, press allowances towards the side seam and serge.
Stitch the right shoulder seam, press allowances towards the back and serge.
Cut (if not ready-made) a bias binding 4 cm wide and a length equal to the neckline length + 5 cm. Fold the bias binding in half lengthwise, right sides out, and press. Place the binding along the neckline edge, right sides together, and stitch. Clip the allowances. Fold the binding to the wrong side and topstitch along the fold to the main piece. Press the seam.
Stitch the left shoulder seam, press allowances towards the back and serge.
Stitch the side seams, press allowances towards the back and serge.
Serge the lower sleeve allowance, fold inwards and topstitch. Set the sleeve into the armhole. Serge the allowance.
Cut (if not ready-made) a bias binding 4 cm wide and a length equal to the lower armhole length + 5 cm. Fold the bias binding in half lengthwise, right sides out, and press. Place the binding along the armhole edge, right sides together, and stitch. Clip the allowances. Fold the binding to the wrong side and topstitch along the fold to the main piece. Press the seam.
Serge the bottom edge of the garment, fold inwards and topstitch.