Midi Dress with Patch Pockets
A chic midi dress pattern featuring a sophisticated round neckline, cuffed short sleeves, and a flattering empire waistline, complemented by stylish patch pockets and graceful front skirt pleats.
When To Wear
This versatile midi dress is ideal for various settings, offering both elegance and comfort:
- Business & Professional Wear: Its tailored silhouette and modest design are perfect for the office or corporate events.
- Elegant Daytime Occasions: a sophisticated choice for brunches, luncheons, or cultural outings.
- Smart Casual Gatherings: Ideal for achieving a polished yet comfortable look for social events.
Key Design Features
Silhouette: a flattering a-line midi dress with a fitted bodice and a defined empire waist.
Neckline: a classic round (jewel) neckline offers a refined and modest look.
Closure: An invisible zipper is neatly integrated at the center back for a smooth finish.
Sleeves: Short sleeves are detailed with cuffed tabs, each elegantly secured by a single button.
Pockets: Two prominent patch pockets adorn the front skirt, each featuring a shaped flap secured with a button.
Back: The back features a clean, fitted bodice with a center seam for the zipper, leading into a simple a-line skirt.
Waist: a high, empire waistline is clearly defined by a horizontal seam, creating an elongated silhouette.
Skirt: The a-line skirt gains volume and style from inverted pleats positioned at the front waistline.
Length: The dress reaches a sophisticated midi length, falling gracefully below the knee.
Level Of Difficulty
Intermediate. Requires precise construction of tailored details such as patch pockets with flaps, inverted pleats, set-in sleeves, and an invisible zipper.
Fabric Recommendations
Choose dress fabrics with good drape and some body to hold the pleats and structured details:
- Dress fabrics made from natural or blended fibers
Additional Supplies
- Invisible zipper
- Fusible interfacing
- 4 buttons
Cutter's Must
- From main fabric:
- Center back - 2 pieces
- Center front - 1 piece
- Side back – 2 pieces
- Side front – 2 pieces
- Back skirt – 2 pieces
- Front skirt – 1 piece on fold
- Sleeve - 2 pieces
- Sleeve tab – 2 pieces
- Back neckline facing – 2 pieces
- Front neckline facing – 1 piece
- Pocket – 4 pieces
- From fusible interfacing:
- Back neckline facing – 2 pieces
- Front neckline facing – 1 piece
Sewing Instructions
When stitching pieces, pay attention to the notches - they must match!
- Fuse interfacing to the designated pieces.
- Stitch the princess seams on the back pieces, overlock the allowances and press them towards the center. Attach the back skirt to the upper. Overlock the allowances and press them upwards.
- Overlock the center back edges separately. Stitch the center back seam from the zipper mark to the bottom. Press the allowances open. Insert the concealed zipper.
- Fold the pocket pieces right sides together and stitch along the side and upper edges. Trim the allowances at the corners and turn right side out. Press the pocket. Overlock the lower pocket allowance, fold it inwards and press. Topstitch the pocket along the markings on the side and lower edges. Fold the integrated flap – corner downwards and press.
- Stitch the princess seams on the front pieces, overlock the allowances and press them towards the center. Form and secure the inverted pleats on the front skirt. Attach the skirt to the upper. Overlock the allowances and press them upwards.
- Stitch the shoulder seams. Overlock the allowances and press them towards the back.
- Overlock the side edges separately. Stitch the side seams from the armhole to the slit mark. Press the allowances open. Topstitch along the slit 0.5 cm from the edge.
- Stitch the shoulder seams of the neckline facings. Press the allowances open. Overlock the outer edge. Place the facing on the dress right side down and stitch the neckline. Clip the allowances, trim at curves, turn the facing to the wrong side and press. Secure the facing to the zipper tape.
- Fold the tabs in half lengthwise right sides together and stitch along the long and short edges. Turn right side out, trimming allowances at corners, straighten and press. Overlock the open short edge. Topstitch the tabs along the markings to the wrong side of the sleeves.
- Stitch the sleeve seam, overlock the allowances and press towards the back. Set the sleeves into the armholes matching notches, press the allowances, overlock. Fold the lower edge of the sleeve by 1 cm, then by 2 cm and topstitch.
- Overlock the hem allowance of the dress, press to the wrong side and topstitch.
- Sew buttons onto the pockets. Sew buttons, securing the tabs.
